As a child of the 80s, I would be failing all you lovely readers if I didn’t start this race preview with a little Full House humor:
Joey: Hey, kids. How’d you like to hear a Mr. Woodchuck joke?
Kids: Yay!
Mr. Woodchuck: Knock Knock!
Kids: Who’s there?
Mr. Woodchuck: Isadore.
Kids: Isadore who?
Mr. Woodchuck: Isadore (Is a door) made of … wood?
Okay, with that out of the way, we can get on with this race that is even more amazing than all the jokes that you can make along the way.
At Wood You Rather, the route is all up to you. And even the number of runners you are working with is up for grabs. This checkpoint run includes nine checkpoints spread out in Forest Park. Participants get a map and two hours to get to as many as possible, then 30 minutes to get back to the finish line. Everyone at the finish by 10:30am is a finisher but that doesn’t mean you’re the winner. That honor goes to the individuals and teams who reach the most checkpoints in the shortest length of time.
Taking advantage of the amazing urban woods that is Forest Park, participants can choose how they want to get among the checkpoints, including the order to tackle them. Depending on the route you choose, you will complete between 7.5 and 10 miles for 1,200 to 1,600 feet of elevation gain.
Plus, participants can sign up as a team to tackle the adventure together or divide and conquer (with the team member with the least number of checkpoints used for finish timing). Teams can be as few as three runners and as many as six. Share the fun or add a little extra competition in the mix.
And let me share one more joke in that mix before I go…
Wood You Rather (Portland)
• When: Saturday, April 16 at 8am
• Where: Forest Park (4198-4100 NW Leif Erikson Dr)
• Register: Online
• Packet Pick-Up: Race Day 7-7:45am (Photo ID required)
• Cost: $45
