The Monster Runner Award

The Monster Runner Award is designed to celebrate the runners in our community who excel in race finishes, overcome personal challenges, run personal bests, contribute to a better life for those around them, and go far beyond their comfort zone to find something special within.

This month’s Monster Runner, Mariann Storfjord was born and raised in Mo i Rana just below the “Polar Circle” (as she mentions it) in Norway. A regular on the race scene around the Eugene area, Mariann recently captured a second place finish in her division at the Fall Celebration Run with a 39:20 clocking for the 8K event. Two weeks earlier, Mariann competed in the grueling Tri-Trail Challenge on the trails of South Eugene, placing 5th overall among the women and 1st in her division with a total time of 1:03:47 for the 7K, 1K and 3K race phases.

Mariann came to Oregon in 1989, living most of the time in Ashland, with a short stint in Eugene during 1993-94, and returned until now in 2006.  She particularly likes the liberal and physically active Eugene community with the trail network, its size, location and climate. Having worked now as a Physical Therapist for 20 years, Mariann attended the Physiotherapy College in Bergen, Norway, studying Physical Therapy. She admits that what she enjoys the most is the acquired knowledge about anatomy and physiology, and helping and motivating people to improve their quality of life.

While she’s been physically active since childhood, Mariann started running more regularly during the last several years and has learned to enjoy it even more with an increased fitness level.  Her recent experience with an “amazingly fit” personal trainer who made her realize the fitness potential regardless of age has inspired her to keep going. Mariann acknowledges, “It's a miracle the body with all its complexity actually works as well as it does, and being fortunate to have a body without disease or disability, makes me want to take care of it and not take it for granted.”

At the races, Mariann enjoys the atmosphere and being among fitness minded people, especially at trail races, since “They're more challenging and fun, besides easier on your body than street running.” Her running goals are both straight forward and profound: “Keep fit and running, feeling good, and being injury free.”  While usually having a song in her head while running - one that just pops up for some reason, she says she never runs with an iPod outside, as she wants to take in all the sights and sounds, but she admits she can't do without it in the gym.

Running helps Mariann truly live her life motto: “Try to be fully present in the moment rather than thinking too much about the past and future.” She adds that, “Fitness is one thing money can't buy, and the only way to achieve it, is your own hard work, which is quite satisfying.” All of Mariann’s family still lives in Norway, so she must be the one that ended up with the “travel gene” as she calls it. While she’s planning to move back to Norway at some point, we’re glad she’s stopped in Eugene for this phase of her life.

When not running, Mariann enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing in all forms, music (especially opera), relaxation and conversation over good food, wine and espresso with friends. While Mariann adds an international flavor to our community, when you meet her out running or at a race, you realize that she’s genuinely “Eugene, - doing her thing and enjoying the ride, or in her case, enjoying the run.