June is fast approaching and with it comes one of Bend’s premier trail races, the FootZone Dirty Half. Unlike most other events, this is a single distance race, with only the half marathon offered. However, this race draws no less than 500 runners every year and it is not uncommon to see several pro runners turn out. According to Run Oregon’s own Drew Roberts, who has run this race several times, the course is fantastic,…
Just like there are many ways to slice a pizza, there are lots of ways to split of 55 miles. With the Bend Beer Chase, it is all up to you and your team. This one-day relay event allows teams of one to six participants to divide up the 12 legs. Each leg’s distance is between 4 and 6 miles with local breweries providing exchange points, and samples for those other than the designated driver.…
The first thing that stands out to me in reading about the Smith Rock Ascent races is the lovely sense of humor by the race directors: “This race is a treat for your eyes, and for your legs.” Considering they are talking about a 50K with 4,100 feet of elevation gain, a 15-miler with over 3,000 feet of gain, and a 4-miler that goes over Misery Ridge… “Treat” isn’t the word my legs would be…
One of the oldest organized races in Central Oregon, The 2022 Salmon Run is celebrating its 32nd annual year and is benefitting The Giving Plate, a grassroots food pantry. The Salmon Run has always been about the local salmon migration and the education of the locals about the journey the salmon must make each year during this season. The race organizers can honestly boast that this is usually one of the first half marathons of…
It’s well-known by now that the Peterson Ridge Rumble is the perfect kick off to spring trail racing. The Sisters run known for it’s singletrack, good distance options, dog-friendly, socks, and burritos is back again on Sunday, April 10th. Starting and ending at the Sisters Middle School, the course is mostly trail with a few sections of dirt road and views of the mountains along the way. The 40 miler will have 5 full aid stations and…
The Bend Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k & 5k is back! This year, the event will be held on April 10th, 2022. If you’ve never done this one, it’s perfect for Marathon Junkies who have already run Portland, Vancouver and Eugene, as well as a great destination option, for anyone looking to run their first Marathon. If you’re looking for more of a family-friently even, there’s a family 5k option or a free kid’s race (1-3k)…
The marathon is the glamour distance of road racing, and the 5K, 10K, and half marathon each can lay claim to their share of devoted fans. Then there is the 10 mile race, which stands like a lonely wallflower at the high school dance. That’s too bad, because it’s an interesting distance in itself. If nothing else, 10 is a key number in human civilization, as so many things follow base-10 counting. Anyway, that leads…
Have you ever asked yourself why you run, maybe you still need to try out one of Why Racing Events many running and triathlon events throughout the year. Why Racing does a great job of offering up great swag, organized races and weekend festivals, and there is a distance or event for everyone. Even better, if you participate in more than one of their multiple events during one of their festivals (for instance, a 5k…
Ready for boot camp? If you feel a bit like it’s “been there, done that” with races now that you’re up and literally running again, it might be worth considering the 2021 RISE Troops Challenge in Bend. This event, held by Rise Events, will be on October 9th this year and it’s not your typical obstacle race. This event honors those who serve or have served in the military, and the challenges are all based…
This Bend 5K run/walk is a unique fundraiser for the Central Oregon Symphony, as the goal is to finish the race before the orchestra finishes playing Beethoven’s famous 5th Symphony – 33 minutes. Of course all racers are invited to join regardless of their finishing time, it’s a unique challenge! You can view the course map here. There is also a 1 mile fun run and a kids obstacle course, so the entire family can…
