Pacific Northwest Features

Fifteen-year-old Tatum Hagen from Wilsonville, OR, recently completed the 100 Miles to Auburn virtual event. She covered the distance in a combined time of 26:08:34 over a two-day period.

In my 20 years of running in wild places, I’ve encountered countless gorgeous, wild rivers but none of those made me younger by dipping my water filter in the cold mountain waters. I have, however, found a few strategies that have helped me continue to excel in ultramarathons and remain competitive with folks half my age.

In the past decade, something changed in the endurance recreation landscape. As long-distance triathlon finished its journey from the outskirts of sanity to the firm mainstream, those participants who longed for the hardest, longest, strangest challenges began to search outside the swim-bike-run barriers for whatever was next.

On the first Saturday in May each year, Esther Short Park is filled with the sounds of happy people, families and dogs. It is the most amazing sight to see more than 800 dogs happy to be with their people as they head out for a 5k run or 3-mile walk.

The beginning of a new year brings with it plenty of promise and possibility by hitting our internal reset button. While a plan to start anew simmers just beneath the surface, a little inspiration might be the jumpstart you need. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate bike race, ultra marathon or triathlon, we’ve compiled a list of races both old and new that promise to test your mettle for the year ahead.