My Muddy Valentine 5K is all new for 2023! With a new location at The Plumper Pumpkin Patch and new obstacles designed by local OCR great Jeremy Kaufman, this muddy “romantic” winter obstacle course run is shaping up to be epic! Yes, February is a crazy time for an obstacle race in Portland, but every time I’ve done this in the past, it was well worth it. You are guaranteed to get mud in your…
RISE Troops Challenge is an obstacle course race (OCR) based on actual military tasks and challenges. This year the theme is honoring those who gave all – military, first responders, health care workers, and those lost during the pandemic. Originally scheduled for Memorial Day, this event has been rescheduled to October 17. This will be a live event at Wanoga Snow Park in Bend with special precautions being taken. RISE Troops Challenge will be run…
If you are looking for an affordable obstacle course race, this year’s Terrain Race is just that. While being offered at just $40 (plus insurance/venue fee and charitable donation – totaling about $15), this event has been advertised for free for many months! That’s right – registration has been free – although you still have to pay the insurance and fees, that’s still quite the bargain! While I don’t know that it is still free…
Attention Obstacle Course Race enthusiasts – here’s your chance for a little pre-season OCR tune-up! The Dirty Leprechaun 5K is back at Lee Farms with some new obstacles promised for this year. Start our your St. Patrick’s Day weekend with 20+ obstacles and plenty of mud. Expect to run, slide, slip, and slog through the mud on this one. Just don’t lose a shoe! (Yes, I have seen it happen and have come close to…
Of all the races on my calendar this year, the Portland Spartan Sprint was my most anticipated. I have been working on various skills all year with the goal of improving my performance on whatever obstacles Spartan decides to throw in the mix. I was both excited and a bit nervous as race day arrived. My teammate and I hit the road with what we thought was more than enough time to get to the Washougal…
I am a lover of all things OCR (obstacle course races), but not having participated in one since last fall, I got really nervous as Rugged Maniac Portland approached. I’m not completely sure why I got so nervous, because every time I’ve done this event it has been so much fun, but the nerves were definitely there. On race day, I gathered my gear and loaded up with 2 of my fellow OCR enthusiasts and…
When it comes to off-road racing, there’s a wide variety of obstacle and mud races to choose from. Some are merely cross-country style races, while others will require your entire body to be covered in mud to be able to finish. X-Dog Events’ Ole’s Assault race on September 11 is one of the latter. The event takes place on private property in the hills near Astoria, and in addition to the natural hills and mud there…
Are you ready for The Inferno? This obstacle course race (OCR) will once again be challenging participants in Salem on September 10. This event includes 3 distance options: a 13.1 mile, a 6 mile, and a 3-4 mile course. The 13.1 mile course includes 30+ obstacles and distance swim. The 6 mile course has 20+ obstacles and a distance swim, while the 3-4 mile has 15+ obstacles. If you love a good physical challenge but hate…
The Spartan Sprint in Washougal, Washington was my 2nd Spartan race experience and so far, it was my favorite. (Spartan Boise in 2015 was my first.) My team and I loaded up the Sprinter van and headed over the river and out the winding roads that led to the Washougal MX Park. When we were about 2 miles away, the back up of traffic began. It was slow going, so we were glad we left ourselves plenty of…
The Portland version of the Spartan Sprint is actually in Washougal, Washington. This is the 5th year in a row that this event has been held at the Washougal MX Park. The Spartan Sprint is a 3-5 mile course with 20-23 obstacles along the way. The actual course will not be revealed until right before race day, but with a mix of wooded trails and motocross track, expect a lot of ups and downs. Pro Spartan Racer Brakken…
