Get ready to run … and bike. Or just run. Or, for that matter, just bike!
From the local race organizers of the Portland Trail Series and the Volcanic 50, we’re excited to tell you about a brand-new event coming on Saturday, April 5, 2014:
This new event, the Stubby Chase, involves trail running and mountain biking in a relay-like format. You and your teammate have 13 miles to cover using your feet and one bike between you, getting to 10 checkpoints before crossing the finish line.
Both team members start at the same time, one on foot and the other on the bike. The interesting part is that you get to choose your strategy. You could decide that you’ll switch between running and biking at every checkpoint, or you could divide the course in half and one person runs through the first five checkpoints and then rides the last five while your teammate is doing the opposite, or one could run the whole thing while the other rides it … or another approach. It’s completely up to you; as long as each teammate visits each checkpoint, you’re good.
Consider, if you will, the fact that I have many friends who can run a half marathon 45-60 minutes faster than me. I feel like a good strategy for me would be to let them run while I get on the bike!
The event takes place at L.L. Stubb Stewart State Park. This is Oregon’s newest state park and has 25 miles of fantastic trails and nice amenities. The course is defined, but each team will have a trail map and can choose which trail to take in the special mountain bike area. The trails are very well marked with signage and you do not need to be an advanced map-reader to figure out where you are and where you want to go. If you’re into freeriding, you might choose to have a little fun in that all-mountain skills section of the park. If you aren’t and just want to get to the finish line, you can choose simpler cross-country trails. (Me! Me!) The park is just 42 minutes drive west of Portland, near Vernonia and Buxton.
Registration is open and is $40 each ($80 per team) and includes an awesome post-race meal.
Here are the vitals:
When: Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 9 AM
Where: LL Stubb Stewart State Park, Buxton, OR
Register: $80 per team
