Halie Andreasen stands outside in the rain waiting for the race to start.
Halie Andreasen stands outside in the rain waiting for the race to begin.

The 2021 Good Life Halfsy, a half marathon through Lincoln, was scheduled to occur on Sunday, October 24th. Anyone from first time half marathon runners to seasoned athletes gather at the start in Seacrest Field to run the 13.1 miles to the Haymarket. Approximately an hour after the start of this year’s race, the event was cancelled and moved to a virtual race due to lightening. The runners were told to stop and seek shelter immediately. So, while the race has been moved virtually, we can still see some of the faces of the 2021 Good Life Halfsy. Hear their voices before the run and see how they decided to finish the race.

Halie Andreasen
Halie Andreasen was excited to run her first race and got to the 3-mile marker before being told to stop. While she was disappointed the in-person race was canceled, she’s excited to still run the 13.1 miles on her own and submit her time for the virtual race. After returning home, friends constructed an at-home finish line for her to cross.

Hear from Halie

 
 
Mary and Cella Landen and Amanda Hardey
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Mary and Cella Landen and Amanda Hardey stand outside as they prepare for the race.

Mary and Cella Landen and Amanda Hardey were excited to run the race as a trio. Cella is 11 years old and was running her first half marathon with her mom and aunt. Hardey, her aunt, is an experienced runner. The three finished the 13.1 miles through the rain after the official race was canceled.

Hear from the trio

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Mary and Cella Landen and Amanda Hardey standing after finishing the 13.1 miles.

Seek Discomfort Group

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(back row) Monica Wahlmeier, Hannah Johnson, Madyson Hamling, Ryan Haskell, (front row) Alexis Brouilette, Jaz Ocampo and Aaron Vrbka before the race.

Listen to the group

Monica Wahlmeier, Hannah Johnson, Madyson Hamling, Ryan Haskell, Alexis Brouilette, Jaz Ocampo and Aaron Vrbka signed up for the race together. The group all donned a shirt that says “Seek Discomfort”. The group are all students at UNL who met at the UNL Catholic Newman Center Church.

“The shirts are a great reminder that we were not made for comfort here on earth, because this isn’t our forever home, Heaven is and that is where we will find all the comfort,” said Johnson.

The group joked that they were seeking discomfort by pushing themselves to run the race. Many wore their shirts as they trained for the race. Some of the members of the group will finish the race virtually.

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The “Seek Discomfort” shirts were purchased by Ocampo to encourage the group to seek discomfort in their lives.
Senior Journalism major from Elgin, Nebraska. Minoring in agricultural communications and currently interning at Vivayic.