HIT

Some of the best trail runners in the world call Bend home, and races such as the Dirty Half and the Flagline 50k draw hundreds of visitors to the city. But for those who have never run on trail, all the hype begs the question, what is the draw for jogging through the woods?

“I’ve run the Shevlin Park Loop probably over a 1,000 times by now, and I’ve never once been bored,” said Teague Hatfield, owner and buyer for Footzone in downtown Bend. “The softer surfaces feel better and the varied terrain makes you work harder; and getting away from the noise, pollution and fumes is better for your head.”

“There is a serenity about it … being in a quiet place in the woods,” said Lisa Nye, Bend High School’s cross country coach and multi-winner of the Dirty Half among other races. “It’s more intellectually stimulating and you have a destination which makes it more interesting.”

Aside from the simple joy and release that comes with being in a beautiful setting, trail running also offers many health benefits over running on the road. The trail forces the runner to be more nimble and adaptive to the terrain, and the muscles move in different ways than they would if one were to simply travel in a straight line on the pavement. The softer surfaces are better for the knees and the joints and the inconsistency of the dirt is a benefit for long-term running health.

“Dealing with an inconsistent foot strike forces our body to adapt and use more of ourselves, making us strong and able to run better and longer,” Hatfield said.

These benefits are especially good for those interested in racing, as it increases stamina and overall fitness.

Dave Thomason, also known as Super Dave, is the race director for most of Bend’s popular trail running races and is an icon in his own right, known both for his height (6 feet 2 inches!) and his comedic presence at the races he hosts.

Although trail running is a big part of how he makes his living, he is amused that it has become so much of a “thing.”

“Before the marketing got a hold of it, we just called it running,” Dave said with a laugh.

Dave explains that one of the reasons his races are so popular is they give people a chance to get out into cool places they wouldn’t normally see. The Flagline 50k for instance starts at Mt. Bachelor, but winds along the Metolius-Windigo Trail and out to Happy Valley, a place which is nothing less than paradisiacal in the summer. Imagine violet wildflowers, plush grassy beds and gin-clear mountain waters gurgling through narrow channels.

Mastondon is a new race Thomason started in March 2014 that is sure to become an “instant classic early season run,” according to his website www.superfitproductions.com, because the terrain is relatively flat compared to the difficult courses he is known to chart. The race undulates near Cline Butte offering views of the Deschutes River and the Cascades and is a perfect example of the kind of runs that are available in Central Oregon even in the coldest months.

Now that summer is here though, the high country is opening up, and classic runs such as the Green Lakes to Soda Creek Loop are a must-do for the trail runner who can go the distance. Both Nye and Hatfield name this as one of their all-time favorite trail runs in Central Oregon.

If running 12 miles seems intimidating, hiking this trail (or any local trails for that matter) offer all the benefits of running minus the intensity.

“Hiking is just as good for you,” Hatfield said. “If you asked me that 10 years ago, I might have had a different answer, but I’m a huge proponent of just moving.”

Lisa Nye, who regularly takes her students to train at high elevations to deepen their aerobic capacity, says she often prefers to simply hike at those high elevations when she’s on her own.

“Trail running gives me a sense of spiritual appreciation for where I am,” Nye said. “We live in this beautiful, amazing place, and running gives me the connection to it. It’s a good reminder to appreciate where we are.”