Features

It’s grey, cold, and dumping buckets outside. I’ve been in a car for six hours listening to the strum thwack of wipers, squinting to determine if I’m staying between the striped lines, and white-knuckling the steering wheel driving to Marin, CA.

It may not boast the title of Tracktown, USA, or have the foodie culture and urban appeal of Portland, but the oft overlooked Corvallis, OR, has plenty to offer both locals and visitors. The city of over 55,000 residents has a wine walk, an annual Turkey Trot, an abundance of wineries and a state university offering cultural and educational experiences, as well as athletic spectatorship.

After 19 years of racing, my wife knows that road-tripping to an ultra is just another “vacation that’s not really a vacation.” However, there are a few races that happen to fall in the summer months with venues that can be fun for the whole family.

Show up at the start line of any road or trail run, triathlon, or cycling race these days and it is clear women are no longer a minority in the racing scene.

It’s a new year and many of us have our eyes on big goals to go farther or faster, start a strength routine or try some new cross training activities. If a marathon is on your list for 2019 there is certainly lots to consider before choosing one of the hundreds of events around the Pacific Northwest.

I remember a time when I was a younger and doing a lot of road races, when you simply planned out your racing calendar on the fly as you went through the year. For better or worse, those days are over. Now we’re planning, developing, mulling over, and plopping down big bucks on those race calendars.

Disneyland may be the happiest place on earth, but Whistler, British Columbia, may not be far behind if you are an outdoor enthusiast. Year-round outdoor activities, a pedestrian-only village with shops, restaurants and abundant options for lodging make Whistler a Disney-like destination for everyone.