Drew RobertsUltra runner with an ice cream addiction.
If you’ve run in McDonald Forest in Corvallis, you know the sweet single track trails that exist out there. The Condor 25K Trail Run uses a lot of the same trails as the Mac 50K, including all 4 new sections of Bonzai trail and the TnT trail, which will be in this year’s course. Back for its 9th year, the Condor 25K turns all proceeds back to trail building, which is quite evident in the…
Here in Oregon we have some of the very best race organizers, and one of the best is Alpine Running, who continues to put on well organized events in amazing places. One such event is the Old Cascadia 50 mile/20 mile trail race near Santiam Junction, high in the Willamette National Forest. The area is known for its amazing single track trails and steep climbs, as well as views for days. To get those views,…
Today in the RO Test Lab, we’re lacing up some cool looking trail shoes from Dynafit. Never heard of them? That’s OK, they were mostly foreign to us too, but they’re definitely not new. Dynafit is most well known in the ski and mountaineering worlds, where their brand is among the very best out there. A couple of years ago, they decided to push into the trail running scene as their mountaineering customers began demanding…
Ever since Laz put on the backyard ultra, several race organizers have jumped into the game. One such group is Go Beyond, who has successfully created an amazing event in Bend called Lastest Not Fastest. For those not familiar with backyard ultra events, often referred to as “last person standing” event, the goal is simple; don’t quit until everyone else does. Sounds easy right? For reference, last year’s winner (a good friend of mine) made…
Where is Echo, you might ask. Well let me tell you! Just outside of Hermiston is the cool little town of Echo, Oregon. Population 577, this little burg is home to the a couple of great wineries, a fun golf course, and the only fall trail race in Eastern Oregon – the Echo Sage Run! The Echo Sage Run, which started in 2015, donates all race proceeds to a scholarship fund for the Eastern Chapter…
The Moore Mountain Runs are nestled in one of the best kept secrets in the heart of Klamath Falls. Over 90% of the courses are on high quality single track and include sweeping views of Upper Klamath Lake and Mt. Shasta. The Linkville Lopers, who put on the races, are all about fun and community. Every dollar from their races goes right back into local charities and places that promote outdoor recreation. The 5k is…
Need a good excuse to go to the coast for a race? We’ve got a good one! The Twisted Pine Run offers 3 race distances, and is located in Newport, at South Beach State Park. Every distance is a little different, and not just in length. The 5K is mostly single-track trail and is fully within the state park. It includes about 3/4 miles of pavement, and has approximately 124’ of elevation gain. The actual…
BADCAT? More like BADASS!!! For those of you hardcore ultra runners and athletes out there, perhaps you’ve been looking for an event to take your badassery (is that a word?) up a notch. Perhaps a mere 100 mile ultra run was too easy for you. Or maybe that Ironman Tri was a walk in the park. Maybe it’s time you signed up for the BADCAT! What is the BADCAT Ultra Distance Triathlon? Only one of…
Let’s talk trail shoes – namely Topo trail shoes. Especially, let’s take a look at the all new Runventure 4. For those who know and love the Topo brand, this latest version of the Runventure is a continuation of a solid trail shoe. For those not too familiar with Topo, they are known for their roomy toe box, their secure midfoot and heel, and their low heel to toe drop designs. For this review I…
Everyone should have a favorite running shirt. For some, it rotates based on the last one you got from your most recent event. For others, you have one or two you’ve gotten from your local or running store. Either way, that perfect running shirt is a real thing, and it’s often the first one you think of when getting dressed for your next run or race. Recently, I was asked to review a new shirt…
