Runners approach the finish line at the 2015 Good Life Halfsy.
Regular physical activity has significant positive benefits on mental health, and researchers from the University of Basel discovered that it's not just how much exercise you do, but what type
This year’s Good Life Halfsy will look a little more like it has in past years.
Organizers are bringing the field of runners up to 6,000 for this year’s 13.1-mile race, which is set for Oct. 24. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, last year’s field was cut to 3,500 runners. The previous year was capped at 6,500.
Registration for this year’s race opens Friday at 10 a.m. The race, in its eighth year, has always sold out.
Organizers said they’re prepared to take pandemic-related precautions come race day. Race co-director Ben Cohoon said they worked with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department for last year’s race and plan to do so again this year.
“We’re confident that we can hold an event, and we’re confident we can put on an event that is safe,” he said. “What that looks like, I don’t know. It’s too impossible to predict.”
Pink Gorilla Events was able to host the majority of races in person last year. Organizers worked with local health departments to make sure that runners stayed safe.
In early March, Pink Gorilla Events hosted the Leprechaun Chase, a 10K. That race went well. Runners stayed socially distant at the start and wore masks at the start and finish, Cohoon said.
As Halfsy race day approaches, runners can switch to a virtual run if they’re uncomfortable running with others. They will also have an option to defer to 2022.
This year’s Halfsy course is the same as in past years. Runners will start at Seacrest Field near 70th and A Streets and head west to the Haymarket finish line. The course takes them past Lincoln landmarks including Holmes Lake, Sunken Gardens, Antelope Valley, the State Capitol and downtown stadiums.
Knowing that outdoor events tend to be safer than indoor gatherings, and knowing that more people are getting vaccinated, Cohoon said the race is a good opportunity for people to be active and be in a group setting.
“The energy around the event and the vibe is so fun, and it’s a celebration,” he said. “All that together makes for a great day.”
Registration starts at $75 and increases as race day approaches. Runners who sign up before April 5 can snag an extra piece of swag, like a hat, T-shirt or hoodie.
11 fitness trends in Omaha
11 fitness trends in Omaha
Float spas
Float spas, where users are suspended in a salty bath, started popping up in Omaha in 2016. Spa-goers enter a private float tank nearly double the size of a bathtub. Hundreds of pounds of Epsom salt have been dissolved in the shallow pool of water so people float on top. Proponents say floating reduces muscle and joint pain, shortens recovery time from athletic training or injuries, relieves stress and increases creativity. Click here to read a World-Herald story on float spas.
Bubble soccer
If you've been dreaming of dribbling a soccer ball while encased in a plastic bubble, you're in luck. That trend made its way to Omaha in 2015. The game can be tough — experienced players tumble right alongside first-timers. Click here to read a World-Herald story on bubble soccer.
Goat yoga
Local yogis can find their flow among a tribe of baby goats. Two dairies in Honey Creek, Iowa, started offering the classes in 2018. The goat yoga trend started in Oregon in 2016 and has since swept most of the country. The wandering goats add some levity to yoga, known for improving flexibility and decreasing stress. Click here to read a previous World-Herald story on goat yoga.
Adult kickball
Kickball isn't just for kids. Adult kickball leagues have joined the mix of recreational sports in Omaha, much like sand volleyball and softball. The sport gets players moving, but it doesn't feel like a grueling workout. Some kickballers called it "exercise in disguise." Click here to read a World-Herald story on kickball.
Barre
Ballet-inspired workouts made their way to the Omaha area back in 2014. The city is home to handful of studios purely devoted to the workouts, which combine yoga, Pilates and ballet movements performed on a dance barre. Some local gyms and fitness studios offer the classes, too. Instructors said the classes are fun and motivating. Click here to read a World-Herald story on barre.
Rowing
Rowing isn't new, but it's made a splash on the local fitness scene. The exercise machines had fallen out of favor thanks to treadmills, weight rooms and group exercise classes. But they've been reintroduced through fitness trends like CrossFit and Orangetheory. At least two local studios have debuted classes built around the machines. Click here to read a World-Herald story on rowing.
Cryotherapy
Participants — wearing minimal clothing — stand in a chamber that looks like an aluminum can and grows colder over two to three minutes using liquid nitrogen. The temperature drops to between negative 200 and 240 degrees. Proponents say the high-tech ice baths reduce inflammation, relieve pain, prevent injury, increase energy and speed healing. The practice also has been credited for cosmetic benefits. But some medical professionals are skeptical. Click here to read a World-Herald story on cryotherapy.
Orangetheory Fitness
Exercisers bask in glowing orange lights and blaring upbeat music at Orangetheory Fitness. The metro area now is home to a handful of the studios, which got their start in Florida in 2009. During the classes, a trainer leads people through a circuit-style workout that rotates between treadmills, rowing machines and a strength area with free weights. Members wear heart rate monitors to track their efforts during a workout. Click here to read a World-Herald story on Orangetheory Fitness.
Pound
Pound classes debuted in Omaha in 2015. The classes are a full-body strength and cardio workout that simulates drumming. Exercisers pound the drumsticks in the air, against each other and on the ground while performing strength exercises like squats and lunges. Click here to read a World-Herald story on Pound.
Aerial yoga
Aerial yoga blends yoga poses with acrobatics. Yogis practice in hammocks, flipping upside-down. It incorporates stretching and strength exercises, cardio and meditation. Instructors say the class is good for the spine, alleviating pressure — although there are some risks, and the class isn't for everyone. Click here to read a World-Herald story on aerial yoga.
Heart rate monitors
Heart rate monitors are a standard part of curriculum for some metro high school students. They've also made an appearance in several boutique gyms. Teachers at Mercy High School said wearing the monitors prep students for a lifetime of fitness. Click here to read a World-Herald story on the monitors.
kelsey.stewart@owh.com, 402-444-3100,
Kelsey Stewart
Kelsey covers health and fitness for The World-Herald. Follow her on Twitter @kels2. Phone: 402-444-3100.
