New in 2021 on the docket for our friends at Daybreak Racing is the Kalapuya Crest 50 miler. Running on the old trails in the Oregon Cascades, the race will start and end at Crescent Lake Resort (~75 minute drive from Bend; 90 minutes from Eugene; 60 minutes from Crater Lake), and circumnavigates Sawtooth Mountain in its lollipop course. With about 6,800 feet of ascent and equal descent, it’s a fairly moderate course – but…
A couple years ago I had the pleasure of writing a preview for this race. At the time, my calendar was full of ultras and this was not on the radar, but I knew I wanted to run it. So near the end of the 2019 season I made a note to sign up, and I did. I was psyched! Of course, 2020 happened and we all know how that went. The Mac was postponed…
**GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY OF THINGS DUE TO COVID-19, PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE PREVIEWING THIS RACE AS IF IT IS STILL OCCURRING . WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW THESE RACES ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR THEIR WEBSITES TO DETERMINE IF CHANGES ARE BEING MADE** The Shotgun Trail Blast put on by Level 32 Racing is sure to be a fun one especially for those looking for an early spring 50K Ultra Marathon this year. For those…
I’m not going to lie and say this was easy, nor am I going to tell you I ran the whole way with a smile on my face. To be fair, there were moments that found me smiling, especially as I crossed that finish line. But this race was all about determination and redemption, as are a lot of ultras for most of us. We kick, scratch, claw, bite at, and gnaw our way through…
Outside of a little town called Glide, there is a trailhead called Swiftwater – located a mere 25 minutes northeast of Roseburg. The trailhead gets its name from the quick current running downstream from Deadline Falls, which happens to be right next to the starting point of the NUT 100K/50K trail race, put on Go Beyond Racing. The NUT was first introduced to us in 2015, and met with much enthusiasm as a premier ultra…
Most anyone who runs trails knows that Bend is a Mecca, of sorts, when it comes to primo places to run and race. Out toward Mt Bachelor, and throughout the Cascade Lakes area, there are miles and miles of trails to lose yourself in, including some popular routes that meander near and along the Deschutes River. One such set of trails, called Tiddlywinks (I’m not making that up, I swear), makes up the entirety of…
Every Alpine Running race is on my to-do list, and having done a couple already, I know they’re guaranteed to be great. The problem: they keep adding races to the lineup and my calendar can’t keep up! They took over directing the Elkhorn Crest 50 (and marathon) from Crux Ridge Running but the details are nearly identical. If you’re not trained and ready for it this summer, put it on the list for 2020 (I…
There is something about these races at the Siskiyou Out Back Festival (SOB) that exemplifies the vibe of trail running. Maybe it is the views, the food, the multiple race distances, but this event aims (and succeeds) at feeling like a festival. Yes, we go for the run, but with so much extra going on over this weekend of races, the experience is so much more than the race itself. On Friday night, there is…
Trail races abound in Oregon, from east to west, from north to south; every distance you want is out there, pretty much. Some are much tougher than others, some offer stunning scenery, and some even have amazing race organizers and volunteers. However, few offer all that and more like you’ll find at Ochoco Trail Runs from Alpine Running. Last year at Ochoco, I completed my first 50K. Why in the world did I attempt a…
Our friends at Alpine Running have an incredible lineup of races and Old Cascadia burst on the scene last year with 100M, 50M, and 20M distances; we’re glad to see it back again for 2019! It’s moved up a few months on the calendar and if you’re looking for a gorgeous and challenging June race, there are still spots available in this one! All three races start on Saturday, June 22nd. In Central Oregon, in…
