If you have had the distinction of running the Canyon Rumble, you know all about the infamous “M” hill. The massive M stands for Madras, of course, and like one might see in many towns across the country, it represents the local high school. I love trying to spot a massive white letter on a yonder hill, whenever I travel, as it often reminds me of the youth and the runners in those local schools.…
On July 4th, 2019 come join fellow runners and walkers for the annual Todd Beamer Run. The event takes place at Sahalee Park, in Madras OR and offers a 10K run, 5K run, 6 mile walk, and 2 mile walk. This is the perfect event for the entire family. There will be awards for overall winners and top 3 in each division. Registration is only $10 and $15 race day. T shirts and shopping bags…
Madras is a city on the way to Bend from Portland, and it’s also the site of the annual Canyon Crawl race, a 7.5 mile run from the city’s Public Works parking lot to nearby Lake Simtustus. There’s no race course available on the website, but per Google Maps, the only way to get there is on local roads or trails through logged forestland. That 7.5 mile distance is one way, but you don’t have…
For many runners, the season tends to end when the weather changes from warm to cold, from dry to wet, or from ideal to disgusting. And yet, every year there are dozens of solid local races where the elements become the biggest part of the race. Now in its 7th year, the Canyon Rumble Frozen Half is just such an event. In the past 6 races, there have been ideal conditions, such as clear skies and mid-50’s…
Unless you live in Southern California, or perhaps New Mexico, racing in the winter can be a real challenge, especially when the snow and ice hit. Out in Central Oregon, most locals talk about last winter like it was an apocalyptic event, referring to the level of snow with angry outbursts and threats, as if life ended for 3 months. So far, this winter has been a dud compared to last, with little to no…
If you like casual, small, and cold runs, check out the 2018 Madras MadAss events on January 27, 2018. They are low-key, non-timed, self-supported runs where everyone is just out for the adventure. It’s a really great time and a great way to explore central Oregon! This 2018 event is the 13th anniversary Mad Ass and you can choose to run the 25k or a 50k. The loop east into the grasslands will be changed to…
I have never been, but have previewed enough Madras-area races to know that the Madras Aquatic Center is a beautiful location in a small town that is committed to fitness in the community. From swimming pools to youth and adult sports leagues to races (running and multi-sport), they really seem to do a great job. They are the host of the upcoming Madras Turkey Trot, which takes place the Saturday AFTER Thanksgiving at 9am. There will…
Hey guys – I don’t know if you heard, but there’s an eclipse coming up. Man, I can’t believe nobody is talking about this… All sarcasm aside, it is sure to be an interesting eclipse day and weekend (August 19-21), with numbers of people streaming into the state estimated to number in the 6 figures. I’m sure it will be stressful, especially for those of us in the “Path of Totality”, which will encompass the…
Typically races that have been around for 12 years are pretty well known. However, if you don’t reside in Central Oregon you may not be fully informed on the Mad Ass, an event that comes on the last Saturday of January each year. It’s low-key but continues to grow without losing it’s local feel. This past year (2016) added a new route for a portion of the race. About 2″ of snow fell south & east…
Back in mid-November, I wrote a preview for this race with a bit of a warning about the weather being a factor. Let me just say, first of all, that the weather was spectacular! This was the 5th annual running of the Canyon Rumble Frozen Half, which is put on by Madras Runners, and without a doubt, this is a race I will do again. This past year has been a real change for me,…
