During the initial lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, Elliot Helmbrecht and his friends were searching for a track club to join as a safe way to exercise and socialize.
When their search came up dry, Helmbrecht suggested they create their own. The Wet Bandits were formed. Their name symbolizes the frequently rainy nights of Seattle when the group trains.
Each Wednesday, following work, the Wet Bandits meet to run eight miles. Then they head to the bar for food and drinks.
Helmbrecht’s passion for long-distance running budded when he competed at the University of Washington. Now, he’s grown to love the social aspect that comes with competing alongside his teammates.
“It’s fun to go on a long run with friends and chat about life and work,” Helmbrecht said.
He came to Eugene hoping to run under 3 hours and soak in the historic site that is TrackTown USA and everything the marathon has to offer, such as running past and finishing at Hayward Field.
On Sunday, he achieved both. Helmbrecht ran a personal record of 2 hours, 58 minutes, 54 seconds. He felt the historic aura of Hayward Field as he looped around it on the 10th mile of the race.
Another of the group who competed Sunday, Micah Mohler, joined the Wet Bandits after he met Helmbrecht at a trail race.
Mohler started running marathons in 2006 when he set a personal goal of running under 3 hours in each of the 50 states. He completed that milestone when he crossed the finish line at the Maui Marathon in 2020.
Following that race, he thought he was done.
Then he met the Wet Bandits, which reinvigorated his urge to run because of the relationships that he cultivated.
“Now it’s just something I figured out how to do and I’m pretty good at it,” Mohler said. “It’s a nice way to relieve stress. Whether it’s a 3-hour run or we’re running in the mountains, it’s just kind of a nice way to chill out with your friends.”
On Sunday, Mohler finished his 61st marathon in a personal record 2:45:15.
After running his personal record, Mohler wants to shift his focus to helping his teammates reach their goals.
