Hey – have you heard!? We are in the midst of a global pandemic?!? That’s about as obvious a statement nowadays, but we wanted to remind you of that fact (not that you probably needed reminding). As the spouse of a small business owner myself, there has been a lot of struggles this year with closures, changing requirements, and concerns for what the future holds. The one thing that has remained a shining light is…
Columbia Gorge Running Club is hosting it’s 15th annual Turkey Trot. It will be held on November 26th, with an 8 am to 10 am start, at the Skamania Country Fairgrounds. It will be a “Do it Yourself” 5K, 3.1 mile race. With a staggered start time, that encourages people to stay and maintain 6 feet apart. Walking or running is acceptable on this great traditional race. Bring your family and run this socially distanced run. …
Do you enjoy running or walking? Do you like supporting great causes? Are you a fan of anything in popular culture? Let me introduce you to Fanthropy Running Clubs, where fandoms intersect with philanthropy. With recent social distancing guidelines in place, virtual races have come to the spotlight, but they are not anything new. Random Tuesday, Inc started in 2014 as a single-fandom running club, became a registered non-profit in 2015, and now organizes virtual…
Oregon Road Runners Club is hosting their annual “5 on the 4th” 5K on July 4th at the Mentor Graphics campus in Wilsonville, Or. This well-attended evenyboasts a course that is USATF-certified! Every participant in this chip-timed race gets a festive red, white & blue medal at the finish. The course is fast and flat so expect some friendly competition if you are looking to really test your pace. This event is fun for…
Recently, I’ve been fortunate enough to find a network where all runners get complete and total support. This group is understandably appealing to many newbie runners, and those who might be intimidated by runs where everyone wears tank tops and split-side shorts. It made me realize that since I ran my first organized road race about 15 years ago, I’ve actually forgotten that when I first started … I had no idea what I was…
Central Oregon Running Klub (CORK) puts on a winter time fun running series called Hot Chocolate Runs. On the second Sunday of each month, November through February, come join running enthusiasts on a 5 or 7 mile, low key group run. This is great for all running abilities. Both walkers and runners are welcome, and no one gets left behind. Each participant is offered hot chocolate, coffee, and treats after. The start and finish line is at…
There are many things about being a runner that are both frustrating and fascinating at the same time. One of those things is that you can’t ever count on anything being consistent. You could do everything you are supposed to do before a race and take off at the start line with lungs on fire like you’ve never run before and it could be like that for the entirety of the race. You could also…
We are lucky in Oregon, where there are many local running clubs from Ashland to Portland and everywhere in between. We’re also lucky in that there are people out there who put on free group runs, help with races, and support youth and other cause running and racing programs. South Coast Running Club is one of these clubs. Due the distance from the majority of Oregon’s population, the South Coast of Oregon is a spot…
This time of the year is the hardest time to stay motivated to run. It’s cold, it’s windy, it’s wet, and sometimes it’s even icy. But the Shamrock Run, which many Portlanders consider the unofficial start to race season, is right around the corner, and if you’re planning on putting in some mileage, training needs to start NOW. You may or may not know that in addition to being a runner, I’m a group exercise…
Team Red Lizard’s Stumptown Cross series is hugely popular among Portland area harriers for its affordability, variety of courses, excellent organization, and no-frills spirit of camaraderie and team spirit. This annual home-grown cross-country series kicks off with one of my favorite courses, a tour of the grassy infield at Portland Meadows horse track in north Portland. The 5k course is mostly flat and takes runners on two-and-a-half loops of mostly grass and hard-packed sand. In…
