“Wanna go run a race on a volcano?” I’ve decided that is going to be my official small talk question for the next month. It’s unique. It’s engaging. And it’s possible. Volcanic 50K+ and 25K are a weekend of running opportunities on Mt. St. Helens. Both are challenging courses that will have runners all over the volcano, including crossing boulder fields, following Loowit trail, trekking forest trails, and gazing upon the Cascade mountains. The 50K+…
**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** It’s not every race that could truly be called one of a kind, but the Banana Slug Backyard Ultra is the first of its kind in Oregon. Inspired by Big’s Backyard Ultra,…
**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…
Every year, new races pop up all over the place while some go away. This fall, there’s a trail race happening in the Columbia River Gorge, being put on by a new race director, that is sure to get your attention … if you like hills. The 25K has 4,300 feet of gain, while the 50K has 7,300 feet of gain. And while runners of ultras know that hills are often part of the bargain,…
by Marc Larson, guest community blogger Ever since I started training for my first 100 mile race I have been asked, Why? The answer to the question has changed as I progressed from the very beginning of my training to eventually completing my first 100-mile ultra race. I chose the Mountain Lakes 100 for both its description and its location (close to me in Oregon) along with knowing the race directors themselves. Both Todd and…
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…
Would you rather run up and down one mountain, or multiple mountains? Either way, on Saturday July 27, there is a race at Mt. Hood Meadows that will be perfect for you. First off, the one mountain option…Uphill Challenge includes two distance options: 1.2 miles to the top of the mountain (for 621 feet of elevation gain), or the 5K that includes running back down via the Timberline Trail. The first male and female competitors…
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…
