I Believe in the Bigfoot 10k Run

Called out on the website as “Bend’s Oldest Foot Race,” the 2023 Bigfoot 10k Run is coming up on Sunday, October 1^st at 9:00AM. The annual Bigfoot race, hosted by Central Oregon Running Klub, has been around since 1976 and boasts a fast downhill course from Century Drive into Old Mill.

For its third year, the race will begin at the Cascade Lakes Welcome Center in Bend and will take a easy breezy jaunt down the bike path to the Deschutes River Trail before it finishes up at the popular Riverbed Park. The course is half pavement and half smooth trail and offers nearly 500 feet of elevation loss.

This event is also a great family-friendly option, as the Littlefoot Kids Race will follow the Bigfoot race. The Littlefoot, a race for kids between 5 and 10 years old, will start at 10:20AM at Riverbend Park and this multi-lap grassy loop covers anywhere between a ½ mile to a mile. There’s no need to register for this one in advance, as it’s only $5 and you can just show up and sign up!

The Bigfoot 10k costs $40 and it’s a fundraiser for the Bend-LaPine School Cross country teams.

Please plan on parking at the WorldMark Bend-Seventh Mountain Resort on race day, as it’s less than a half mile from the start. Parking won’t be available at the start line in the Welcome Center lot, though you can be dropped off there. Carpooling and biking are, of course, encouraged, but if you are in desperate need of a ride before or after the race, let the race directors know in advance and they might be able to arrange something.

Bibs will be available at the start line on the day of the race, but it’s strongly recommended that you pick up your race bibs the day before at Footzone from 2:00PM to 5:00PM. Tee-shirts will also be available at pick up and can be ordered when you register.