Among the effects of COVID-19 is a lot more focus on comfortable. We all spent so much time at home that the effort to get out can still feel overwhelming at times. I want to suggest that if you are going to go out, then make it worthwhile. Make it an experience. Make it fancy. At The Fanciest 5K Ever, you have the chance for a worthwhile experience that will help sex-trafficking survivors while going…
The Oregon Coast isn’t usually by first thought when it comes to Thanksgiving. But that may be changing after learning about these three Turkey Trots… Newport Turkey Trot The Newport Turkey Trot will have you wandering all over the town through their 10K, 5K, and Kids Fun run options. The course is primarily flat, which means absolutely no excuses to not be part of the costume contest. Think about strutting by the Pacific Ocean in…
Halloween is my favorite time of year and there’s no better way to celebrate it than to go out and do a race. There are several to choose from in the Pacific Northwest, and Fall really is a great season to showcase all the beauty of the changing leaves and the crisp weather. This year was the first time I’d done The Scary Run 5k/10k/Half Marathon and I heard I could expect flat roads and pretty…
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with friends and family…and go for a run together. What? Isn’t that how all families celebrate this holiday? Well they should. And here are two excellent Oregon Turkey Trots to choose from. HTC Turkey Trot Thanks to the folks who put on Hood to Coast, runners and walkers have the chance to be the first to see the lights at the Portland International Raceway. The HTC Turkey Trot…
Fall is thee BEST time to run and Halloween races are the greatest people-watching activity ever. There are a few different “costume-encouraged” race options this October, but I’ve decided that the 2023 Scary Run is the place I want to be THIS Sunday on October 29th!! The course, which starts racers off from Reflection Plaza in Washougal, is both flat and beautiful, boasting views of Mt. Hood and the Gorge while runners hoof it along…
The Eugene tradition, Run to Stay Warm, is back this year to raise money for EWEB’s Customer Care Program. They are once again offering a half marathon, 10K, or 5K (and a free kid’s dash!) on a flat course, so mark your calendar for November 19! The races will be chip-timed and will start and finish at the downtown Riverfront Park and run through Alton Baker Park and the Ruth Bascom River Path. All finishers will receive a…
Fall in Oregon is a great time of year to take up running. If you already run, it’s just the best! It’s a cooler time of year, it’s so beautiful out and generally not cold yet. This time of year also bring tons of races to the area, one being Eola Hills “No Hills” Harvest Run 5k/10k. This event, put on by Willamette Valley Roadrunners, starts and ends at Eola Hills Winery Cellars. It’s a…
The 2023 Battle to the Pacific 5K/10K and half marathon events, hosted by Bivouac Racing, will once again be held in November at Fort Stevens State Park (just outside of Astoria.) There is so much to explore nearby, including a shipwreck on the beach and a historic military area, so be sure to take advantage while you are there. This race is the 4th – and final – event of Bivouac’s trail races for the year. On…
With the Sunset 5K and the Appletree Half Marathon, I get to experience two very different races within about 18 hours. The 5K is a family event, starting at 6pm on a Saturday evening with lots groups walking or running together. The half marathon is Sunday morning starting at 8am (the marathon begins an hour earlier) with folks more focused, more nervous, and more aware of the number of miles ahead of them. So let…
For years, during the Portland Marathon, I saw these red lizards on sticks, bobbing up and down among the runners. It took a few years before I learned that on the other end of that stick was a pacer who I could follow to get me to the finish line right on time. And then I learned that those runners were part of this great local running club that helps at races and even puts…
