The longest day of the year is coming up in less than a month on Thursday, June 20th and two days later, to celebrate summer, long days, and dreamy trails, our friends at Alpine Running are putting on their inaugural Alpine Solstice – a half marathon near Mt. Bachelor on those classic Bend singletrack trails.
Alpine Running also hosts Run the Rock in the fall, another full weekend at Smith Rock coming up on Saturday, June 1st with their Smith Rock Classic, and a few other gorgeous [challenging] races sprinkled throughout the year, including my beloved Oregon Cascades 100M. Though this newest race is “just” a half marathon, it’ll no doubt be a fun time in Central Oregon.
The course has about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, so if you’re looking for a fast trail half, this is one to consider. There will be one aid station around the 9 mile mark (Spring Energy is a sponsor of Alpine Running events, so they always have such good fuel!). Check out their website for a map of the course, accommodation recommendations, etc.
**Please note that Alpine Running is cupless, so be prepared at the aid stations to have your own cup / bottle / bladder / etc. Also, sorry but no dogs are allowed on the course due to permit conditions!**
