Meg RobertsEducator. Learner. Runner. Writer. TBD.
After several years on the fence between the duck and beaver legacies, the Eugene Marathon was what put me firming in the green and yellow camp. I hope that doesn’t mean I have to pay attention to football now… This staple event begins with the Health & Fitness Expo on Friday or Saturday. You get to pick up your bib and goodie bag, see the starting area, check out lots of merch, and envision your…
Vernonia Marathon and Half Marathon uses one of my favorite courses in the Pacific Northwest. It is point-to-point, so every step is toward the finish line. And it is net downhill, so most steps are downhill toward the finish line. And the after-party in Banks Middle School has soup and baked potatoes, so those steps end at a warm place with warm food. As a point-to-point events, participants start by getting bused from the finish…
The Shamrock Run PDX is a staple of the Portland running community, and I am a happy staple of the 15K runners. The 15K is the perfect distance for this event. It includes the whine-worthy Terwilliger MOUNTAIN without the Naito out and back the half marathoners have to complete. Its long enough to really enjoy a beer, a burger, or whatever else you want. And the distance is a confusing enough length that folks think…
“Since 1969, this 15k Loop has defined the Zena Road Runs. Are you up for the challenge? This is the OLDEST race route in Oregon.”These were the lines on the Zena Road Runs website that had me so excited to signed up for the 15K event. The fact I had a late night event the night before, hadn’t run more than 6 miles in months, and was recovering from a leg injury… “OLDEST race route…
Mt. Tabor Park is one of my favorite hidden gems of the city. It’s tucked in the middle of a neighborhood, yet has enough paths and stairs to keep you wandering for hours. Tabor Challenge would be your perfect chance to explore this beautiful space while giving back to local high school students. Tabor Challenge honors the memory of LTJG Thomas Cameron while also supporting college scholarships for Grover Cleveland High School students. Already funds…
If you are wondering why Camelback Run is named what it is, all you have to do is look at the elevation map for the 15K course. And then incorporate more hill training into your week to have the best race possible. Otherwise, the “massive hill” in the course might mean a long slow walk on an early March morning. Camelback Run has 15K and 5K course options for youth and adults, plus a 1-mile…
Oregon Road Runners Club is a non-profit organization committed to putting on community running events throughout the year and supporting current and future runners and walkers whatever their pace, their goal, or their number of miles. ORRC’s next event will have participants in the beauty of Champoeg State Park for the Champoeg 10K, 30K, and Half Marathon. Oh, and there’s a FREE kid’s run too! Each of the courses includes a variety of forest, field,…
Shamrock Run will forever hold a place in my heart as the first major running event I participated in. And also as the first major cancellation I experienced in 2020 due to the developing pandemic. With multiple distance options, green sparkles everywhere you look, and a huge beer garden after the finish line, it is easy to understand why Shamrock Run has been part of Portland for 45 years. The event (and seriously, this is…
How fast can you run? How far can you run? Now how would you handle a race where those two answers might mean a bad ending? In The Meltdown: Last Not Fast, the starting line means heading out on ta 1.5-mile dirt/bark course at Linfield College. And then 30 minutes later, you start again. And then 28 minutes after that. And then 26, 24, 22, 20 and on until there is just one runner who…
Do you hate the pre-dawn alarm clock on race morning? Do you dread hills that go on forever? Do you fear the impact of race fees on your bank account? Then I have the perfect race for you… Vancouver Lake Half Marathon & 4 Mile Run is on Sunday, February 26 with the earliest participants starting at a lovely 9:30am and other events and runners starting later on. Both events start inside the park. The…
