For Jason Roberts, Manager of Safety, the OUC Orlando Half Marathon was his first 13.1-mile run. His wife, Kathryn, an experienced half-marathon, also entered the race.
OUC’s support for employee fitness and health was one of the reasons Jason Roberts says he came to work for Orlando’s hometown utility about six months ago. With a regular work schedule giving time to work out and an onsite gym at his disposal, the new Manager of Safety decided he would run in a long-distance race.
So, Roberts set his sights on competing in the OUC Orlando Half Marathon and Barney Butter Lake Eola 5k. His wife, Kathryn, an experienced half-marathoner, trained with him. They were among the 95 OUC employees and immediate family members who entered the Dec. 3 road race through downtown Orlando.
Thousands of half-marathon and 5k runners leave the starting line on Robinson Street by Lake Eola.
Roberts barely missed his goal of finishing the 13.1-mile circuit in under two hours. His net time of 2:02:06 placed him 751st overall in a field of 2,501 runners. He finished 66th of 150 runners in the men’s 45-49 division.
“I liked it,” he said. “I think it’s something I could doing again, maybe even run in a marathon. I was a Marine, and I would like to run in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. Having time to focus on my health and a gym at work really drew me to OUC.”
The 2022 half-marathon marked OUC’s 43rd year as the title sponsor. At the event, OUC exhibited the Tiny Green Home, a 200-square-foot mobile showroom of sustainable living, and an electric vehicle. OUC is promoting vehicle electrification as part of its initiative to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Runners and spectators also were treated to OUC swag bags and H2OUC water from hydrants and the 125-gallon Water Monster (below).
