Larch Mountain - Portland, OR

I think its odd that Dunkin' Donuts is such a huge purveyor of coffee on the East Coast. I was in Boston for a wedding last winter, and was intent on finding a good source to feed my bean addiction. I usually default to Starbucks in such situations, but a lot of people in town kept pointing me towards Dunkin' Donuts and I felt obliged to check it out. I generally associate Dunkin' Donuts with giant pieces of sugared carbs (donuts) and giant customers eager to eat anything that looks shiny (America). However, the joint actually has some decent coffee. Nothing near the level of the Portland coffee scene but it definitely hit the spot. Note - for some reason the Dunkin' staff inists on putting in the cream and sugar for you, so if you are picky about how you dress up the bean make sure to ask for it black so you can do it yourself. I was thinking about coffee when I first rode Larch Mountain because in the fog and rain that was my companion for most of the ride, coffee sounded like a great way to stay motivated. As with many days in Portland, sun and blue skies in the city does not translate to good weather in the Gorge.

I found Larch Mountain through a brochure in a local bike shop advertising the Larch Mountain Hill Climb and decided to check out the course. I have been looking for great climbs since moving to Portland, and Larch Mountain has quickly become one of my favorites. The road ascends through thick Pine forests, slowly gaining altitude over its 16+ miles until the last few miles where the road begins a series of switchbacks. I usually start at Corbett High School and ride along SE Crown Point Highway, from there I bear right onto Larch Mountain and churn for the next 14 miles. The road will eventually dead end in a parking lot. If you dismount and walk on the concrete path that veers into the forest it will bring you to an amazing view of the Cascades. The descent is a blast; it's fast and easily navigable. The best views are on the way down; wide open vistas of the Columbia River and the Gorge. Larch Mountain is one of those "only in the Northwest" type of rides - a great reminder of why Portland is such a great place to be.

Distance: 16.40 miles from Corbett High School to the Summit

Directions: from Portland take I-84 East to exit 22. Take a right onto NE Corbett Hill Road

From Portland: I-84 to exit 22 and take a right onto NE Corbett Hill Rd. Follow this road to the road up the hill and you will come to an intersection with E. Historic Columbia River Highway. Take another right on this road and Corbett High School will be on your left. Park here, gear up and then head West on E. Historic Columbia River Highway for about 2.25 miles before bearing right onto E. Larch Mountain Road. Stay on E. Larch Mountain until you reach the summit, 14.15 miles later.

Note: The beginning of NE Corbett Hill Road is incredibly steep, and I've heard of a lot of cyclists using it as a training ride. My only aversion is that there are a lot of blind corners, and a lot of cars, so be careful with this one.

View Larger Map

Coffin Races - Manitou Springs, CO

This entry is not really in line with the rest of the blog, but I thought it was a fun event that definitely qualified as a "race" on some level. Manitou Springs is a weird town, and it's only fitting that it hosts one of the weirdest races that I have ever done: The Emma Crawford Coffin Races.

Emma was a resident of the town who moved to Manitou for her tuberculosis. Unfortunately she passed away, and buried in a grave on top of Red Mountain. During a heavy rainstorm her coffin was washed back into town. And now we celebrate that journey, and her life, with the coffin races.

This is the basic setup of the event: a bunch of people get in crazy costumes, bring their custom coffins to town, strap some numbers on, place their "Emma" in the coffin and then race 2 at a time down Manitou Avenue for 250 yards. Oh, and there is a hearse parade and prizes for the best "Emma." Our coffin did not do as well as we wanted (30 something out of 40+), but we had a great time, and managed not to take anybody out in the crowd, which was a moral victory.

Thanks to Kristian for the picture.

Golden Leaf Half Marathon - Aspen, CO

A race should be a celebration of sorts for the place in which it is held. A showcase of the location for the riders or runners who often travel long distances just for that event. Most races are based around the city or place where it is held - The Seattle Marathon, the Tour de France, the Bolder Boulder and so on. Ideally, the race route rises to the occasion, providing a challenging race while at the same time giving its participants a reason to come back year after year.

This is of course my ideal race, and thanks to the persuasive abilities of Max, I headed up to Aspen for the Golden Leaf Half Marathon to race in, what is now, by far, the best race setting I have experienced (although the Seattle Marathon and the Shamrock Run are both fantastic as well). The race starts at the base of Snowmass Mountain with a 1.5 mile climb up access roads to the beginning of Goverment Trail. This is a serious climb, gaining almost 800 feet before the trail cutoff. It fractured the entire pack of runners almost immediately. Thankfully, after the first section, the race turns down onto the singletrack and heads slightly downhill for most of the race. The trail is narrow, strewn with rocks and branches and passing people was difficult. However, the race runs through meadow after meadow full of Aspens that have already turned for the Fall. With my eyes constantly on the ground in front of me to prevent myself from tripping, I couldn't help looking up toward the trees and trying to take the whole scene it.

After the race winds through both Snowmass and Buttermilk it dumps you into the Maroon Creek area, where it picks up the bike path, and a dirt path through a meadow, before eventually winding into the streets of Aspen, where it finishes at Koch Park, at the base of Aspen Mountain. The finish area added icing to the cake. Great food, lots of water, and a raffle that gives a way a ton (as in, so much that Max said that almost everyone gets something. Except for me). And all of this for only a $35.00 registration fee. It was incredible, and made me want to move up to Aspen even more. The whole vibe was very inclusive and community oriented. Definitely my new favorite race.

Mt. Evans Hillclimb - Idaho Springs, CO

Building a road to the top of a 14,000 plus foot mountain is, to me, a quintessential American endeavor. Where else would someone expend hundreds of thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of labor to build a road up a mountain, so that we can drive, instead of hike, to the top of a mountain?

The Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hillclimb takes advantage of the road that winds to the top of Mt. Evans. Beginning in Idaho Springs, CO, the road, classified as a scenic byway, winds 27.5 miles to the top, gaining 6580 ft. in elevation from the beginning of the race to the finish line. The race is divided into categories, and features a group start that sticks together for about 6 miles until the elevation gain starts to separate everyone. I've found that the key to the race is to stick with the pack for as long as possible, and then hook into a pace line for the remainder. The beginning of the race, all the way up to Echo Lake is fairly gradual. Once you get above treeline the wind kicks in, making a pace line essential. The steepest part of the course is about the last three miles, where a series of switchbacks kick in.

Mt. Evans is one of my favorite races, although I am conflicted about it. On one hand we are racing up a road that has cut a huge scar through some of the best scenery in Colorado. The race fees don't go toward any sort of forest management or conservation programs. On the other, the road is there, so why not take advantage of it?

Race for the Roses

With my subscription to Outside Magazine comes a weird predilection for trying to attempt every training program that is included. Among those recently was a half-marathon training schedule used by Olympian runner Ryan Hall's coach. The schedule has a great mix of short distance speed work mixed in with longer tempo runs. I was able to stick with most of it until the end, when Spring Break and a desire to snowboard got the better of me. I definitely got faster and more confident in my running, which was a great result.

The Race for the Roses was my ultimate training goal. I was shooting for 7:00 minute miles, and ended up somewhere in the 7:24 range. Not bad for me, and a good lesson for the next time I attempt the schedule. The Race itself is a great course with a great cause attached. Race fees go toward the Albertina Kerr Center, which provides aid to children placed in foster care, and group homes for the developmentally disabled. 93% of every dollar in fees goes toward the center.

The race runs through downtown Portland, and starts and ends at the Rose Garden. Overall the course is pretty flat, and fast. The worst part for me were the long out and backs, but you definitely get to see a lot of Portland during the race.

Shamrock Run - Portland, OR

Portland is a great city if you love to run, and lots of people in Portland love to run. Hence, the city hosts lots of great running events throughout the year. If you are in the area around mid-March, the Shamrock Run is a race that you should definitely check out. It is one of my favorite running races, combining running, festivities and lots and lots and lots of beer.

The races comes in three flavors: a 5K, 8K or 15K. All three run through a good part of downtown and the waterfront area, so matter which one you choose you get a great urban racing experience. The crowds are typically more fun in the downtown area as well, helping to keep you motivated (or drunk). The only one I've managed to do so far is the 15K, which begins on Naito Parkway before winding through the Burnside area and then into downtown. From downtown the run heads through Portland State's urban campus and then begins a long climb up Terwilliger Blvd (one of my favorite areas to run in Portland). Terwilliger is a really amazing part of Portland; lots of forest area, great biking and running areas, the Med School Stairs and wonderful views of the Cascades and downtown.

After the Terwilliger portion, the run takes a U-turn and heads back toward the city via Barbur Blvd. This part of the run is the most monotonous - long, flat and straight sections that never seem to end. However, after working your way through this, you will wind back into downtown and to the finish, which is always packed with spectators.

The event is a great celebration of Portland's unique mix of hardcore athletes, and gonzo-urban populace. There were as many people running in costumes as there were in athletic gear. There are usually a lot of bands and street parties, and don't forget the most important part of a St. Patrick's Day themed race - the beer tents.

Distance: 5K, 8K or 15K options

Race Map: http://www.shamrockrunportland.com/map.htm