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.…
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…
The city of Madras sits in a tough spot. If one is coming over from Portland on the way to Bend, the road goes directly through this town. If one doesn’t think to slow down, it’s easy to miss the fact that this is just as much a part of Central Oregon as Bend is. In fact, the high desert landscape is truly on display in Madras, from the mighty gorges that cut through this…
As a relatively new runner/racer, I spend 5 days a week running/training to get better, faster, farther and stronger. This is why I find triathlons so amazing – these triathletes train how I do on just running on THREE different athletic activities AT THE SAME TIME!! How badass is that?! Someday maybe I’ll work my way up to a duathlon (bike/run) but I doubt I’ll ever do a triathlon. If you are one of those…
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,…
For New Year’s Eve, you may be thinking of taking it easy and find yourself looking for a relaxing 3-ish mile run/walk. Or you might even think of kicking that up a notch by also doing a lovely 500 yard swim. If either of those sound appealing, the fine folks at Mountain Star are putting on just such an event – the Freeze Your Fanny!
This is a race I have talked about doing for the last two years. The first time it came into my radar I decided against it because there was snow in the forecast and I decided I was a wuss. Last year when it came up, the weather that was forecast was even worse than the year before, with ice, snow, mud and winds up to 40 mph. I opted out again. This year, I…
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, we look forward to food, family and running in the annual holiday races that pop up everywhere. This year we have 3 races taking place over the holiday weekend, including 2 on Thanksgiving Day! The first race is the ever-popular I Like Pie 2K, 5K & 10K that takes place in downtown Bend. The cost is only a $5 donation and a 5lb sack of groceries that benefits Neighborhood Impact. It’s…
For the 11th year, MadAss is back in Madras! This seems like a really big deal and yet this is truly a very well kept secret. Featuring both a 25K and 50K, this race has never been well attended and yet it’s a great run! Last year, less than 10 runners finished the 50K while less than 30 finished the 25K. And it’s not just the small race feel, this race is awesome for a…
