Get Joyously Messy at the Footzone Dirty Half

The Dirty Half in Bend, the oldest trail half in Central Oregon, turns 22 this year. Footzone started the event in 2001, saw the race move to SuperFit Productions for a number of years, and now manages it once again.

In all those years, local Bend resident Max King has won the race multiple times, including in 2010 when he set the male course record (1:11:03). That year, the USATF Championship was held in Bend, using the Dirty Half course. Coincidentally, Sopagna Eap set the female record (1:22:22) at the same race.

The course is mostly uphill for the first 8 miles, gaining nearly 1,000 feet, then descends for the final 5 miles. Having done this race twice, it’s a lot of fun to start out on the pavement and spread out before hitting the single track. The trails are winding, which makes the course a blast, even with the climbing.

The race tops out at 800 runners, and according to Footzone, there are still spots available.