One of the great traditions of middle school and high school cross-country is the early-season destination race with a special gimmick. The unique feature could be a handicapped start with staggered waves based on predicted finish times, or it could be a race with a choice of two or three different courses of varying difficulty. The travel and the special character of these events provide a great bonding experience for teams just getting to know…
For many student athletes, the beginning of the school year also marks the beginning of cross country running season. Casual (and competitive) adult athletes can get in on the fun as well, and one of those opportunities comes on Sunday, October 20th, when this year’s Cross Trot in Eugene will be run at Laurelwood Golf Course in Eugene. The course will be rolling on gravel paths and trails, and across grass fairways. This event is…
I’ve made it no secret that personally I think that Southern Oregon is one of the best places to run in the state. With clean air, relatively mild weather and great views, the Mt. Ashland 5K scheduled for July 6th is likely to take advantage of every positive aspect of the region. Dubbed ‘America’s Friendliest 5K’, with hugs for finishers and great prizes, this race is like no other. Reigstration is currently open through RunSignUp.…
Oregon has long been a hotbed of cross-country, and it seems we are now in the midst of a golden age of all-comers cross-country meets with races for all ages and all abilities. One of the most inviting of these meets is the Pacific Northwest Cross Country Championships on Saturday, October 27th, at Corban University in Salem. (Ironic that “Invitational” meets are usually less “inviting” than all-comers meets like this one — Language can be…
Team Red Lizard’s Stumptown Cross Country Series has established itself as the Portland area’s premier team-oriented xc circuit, bringing together off-road runners from around the region to compete on fun and often challenging courses in local parks, with separate races for men and women allowing for spectating and cheering as well as racing. This year’s schedule features four races spread over six weeks, beginning in late September and concluding November 3rd, and ranging in distance…
The 2018 Raw Oregon Honey 5K run/walk will be held on Saturday, September 15th, once again as a fundraiser for the Oregon City cross country team. Come join the team on the grassy cross country course – the first 100 registrants will receive a custom swag bag and there will be honey prizes in all divisions! Details: When: Saturday, September 15th, 2018 Time: 9:00 AM Where: Oregon City High School Price: $30 | 13 and under…
The 2017 Stumptown Cross Country Series wraps up on Saturday, November 18th with the USA Track & Field Regional Cross Country Championships at Fernhill Park in NE Portland. Don’t let the USATF designation scare you away though. Like the first four events in the series, this installment in Team Red Lizard’s annual celebration of fall racing is open to everyone, and while plenty of raw speed will be displayed, all paces will be represented. Squads…
As November dawns, Team Red Lizard’s Stumptown Cross Country Series moves to Pier Park in North Portland for Race #4. While the event serves as the USA Track & Field Oregon State Cross Country Championships, you do not have to be a USATF member to participate. In fact, the fun of the Stumptown Series comes from the good-natured local rivalries among various clubs and informal teams of four or more runners. There will be some…
While the first two races of the Stumptown Cross Country Series are relatively flat, the same cannot be said of Race #3! The four-mile course at Gabriel Park in SW Portland boasts some serious hills. Not only that, but the running surface is the most varied of any race I’ve run, changing from short turf to dirt to shaggy grass to asphalt to gravel trail to wooden footbridge to mud to wood chips, often three…
The Stumptown Cross Country Series kicks into high gear with Race #2 on October 14th, a relatively flat and fast 5k tour of Lents Park in SE Portland. Team Red Lizard’s popular XC series offers five races of various distances in parks throughout the city of Portland. The distances and muddiness increase as the season goes on, but the Lents Park course is only 5k and generally dry and firm (whoops, did I just jinx…
