I've wanted to run Portland for years now but it's always so close to Seattle on the calendar and…read morefalls on Bay to Breakers so it's a decision I've never moved forward with until this year. Extremely well organized, it's RnR! I've come to expect a certain level of organization when running this series of races. If you run RnR you know what to expect right? Great Brooks tech tees, a parking fee at the expo (which we avoided, I hopped out and my boyfriend circled as I ran in quickly to grab my bib etc.), great bling! Organized corrals, plenty of water stops so on and so forth. The evening before the race I had mentally shut down and told myself I was no longer interested in running the next morning. Why? For a number of reasons, running injury, LONG day Saturday full of walking and hiking, not being totally trained for a PR which sadly is the only thing I'm chasing these days and because really even with an 815A start all I really wanted was to sleep in Sunday morning. Fast forward to Sunday morning, my boyfriend is up before me and headed to get me coffee as I'm telling him I haven't even decided if I'll do the thing. Then came to my senses and reminded myself I've wanted to experience this course for a few years now, and regardless of heading home to a Tuesday appointment with the orthopedist I can still run the course and burn off some calories I consumed the day before with a leisurely half marathon and that's just what I did. Didn't have a sip of water, or coffee, any brekke not even a shower but we did walk to the Start Line which was super close to our hotel and off I went. The run was obviously no PR for me, may have been one of my worse times yet but it was great to run over two bridges in Portland and see some of the neighborhoods. I still prefer Seattle's course to this one but it was a wonderful morning slow run, with beautiful weather and guess what was rolled out at the finish???? Yep, yep! That famous PDX carpet!!! :) I'd highly recommend this race to locals and it's definitely worth a racecation.

Another RNR in the books. Portland 2015! I travelled from…read moreVancouver, BC to run this race. So I had no idea what to expect. Highlights: Great course shows off Portland's great neighborhoods, some hills not ganna lie but the big ones are in the first half. Mile 10 is a bonus downhill. Great support from volunteers and locals. Great medal its also a beer bottle opener. The shirt is awesome. Finish line was a party with your free beer and concert stage. I really enjoy RNR marathon series. Its always well " run ".

1/4 mile dirt track out in the country. This is a feel good place! Bring cash for everything or…read morepay the fee to use the ATM on site. People are friendly, they serve cold beer, and hot food. If you keep tabs on their website, you'll see days where they do special stuff like back to school night, kids day, fireworks for the 4th of July, etc. Great way to spend a Saturday evening with the family! Pro tips - the metal benches get uncomfortable after a while so bring foam pads or stadium chairs to sit on; it gets chilly in the evening so don't forget the hoodies (yes, even in the summer); bring a sleeping bag for littles as well as ear protection and safety/sun glasses because it can get loud for them and to protect their eyes from the dirt kicking up during the races (it'll blow in the wind right at ya, no doubt. Wear white at your own risk). No outside food or water allowed but you can bring an empty bottle to fill inside (save $ on buying water!). The parking lot is big and the entry is fair ($15 adults, $5 for littles, and there are more prices for seniors, pit passes, and juniors). We noticed that now, you can buy tickets online but we did not so I'm not sure what that looks like when you enter. Come on down, have a beer, cheer on your favorite driver, and wave them American Flags!!

I absolutely LOVE participating in the annual Race for the Cure, being one of a sea of Pink, each…read moreperson there because of their personal connection to Breast Cancer and the desire to find a cure. Not only is it a fund raiser, it's a way to bring families and communities together, to celebrate the women and men in their lives who are warriors, battling this disease; and the women who fought and lost their battle, whose lives we continue to honor and remember. People come Dressed to Impress! To stand out, be noticed - so that their loved one can shine. Pink in every shade on every possible type of clothing - tutus, wigs, panties, bras, furs, lingerie, feathers, boas, numerous t-shirts and signs, and even dogs with pink hula skirts and adornments. It's all just so much fun even though breast cancer is not. It's about honoring the women and men who have been afflicted, to show others that breast cancer is no longer a death sentence, there is hope, support and life to be lived. This event is so well orchestrated. And while it's called a race, there are over 40,00 people so there really isn't a lot of running! In fact, for some people, it takes a few hours just to reach the starting line! I get there super early because I don't want to wait hours just to start. This year due to COVID-19, the race was virtual. While I certainly missed the energy of all these people From different cultures and backgrounds coming together to join forces to end breast cancer, I still did the walk because Breast Cancer doesn't stop because COVID-19 interrupted our lives. We need to continue to drive awareness and raise funds so we can eradicate this disease Breast Cancer is no longer a death sentence. Women and men with breast cancer continue to flourish, to love, to live! Here's hoping we can all do the walk together next year in 2021. Until then, please continue to support this cause.

Trix are for kids, but boobies are for everyone…read more I'm well convinced that this is not only the largest Race for the Cure event in the west, but one of the largest events on the streets of Portland. Over 40,000 folks all bedecked in pink. It was a little much. This event is a fundraiser, but also a time for friends, family and co-workers to walk together in memory of or in celebration of special women in their lives who have had to fight the battle. It was a pleasure to walk with Team Yelp in our, "I (Yelp Burst) boobies" t-shirts. I will say "Race" is a stretch, since it was so crowded, we did more of a shuffle for most of the 5k Walk. For all the sadness associated with the disease, this is a remarkably fun and funny event. First off, you'll never see so many breast puns and humorous t-shirts in your life. Team names like "Little Kitties for Titties", "Surrender the Booby" (it was also 'Talk like a Pirate' day) and "Yes, these are fake. My real ones tried to kill me." Men and women of all ages in hot pink t-shirts, panties, wigs and sparkles. But probably the highlight were the ladies in lingerie in the windows of the Benson Hotel putting on a show for thousands of walkers heading down Broadway. Yes, ladies, we like your boobies too. The event is well organized and the entire waterfront area is filled with booths, many of which have donated items from the sponsors. If I've learned anything from my friends and family who have battled cancer, it is that a cancer diagnosis is not the end. And rather than suffer in silence, it is a time to live, to laugh and to fight. And fortunately with ongoing fundraisers like these, many of my friends have lived to fight another day. If you are feeling inspired, or just like boobies, there is still time to donate to Team Yelp: http://race.komenoregon.org/site/TR?team_id=52802&fr_id=1130&pg=team

Ok My grandson asked me if I would want to drive from Mountain Hoode to the Seaside coast. Of…read morecourse I said yes. I twas in for a vacation it had been a few months. Plus, if im going to die soon, might as well do as much as i can before I kick the bucket. but I WILL NOT DIE BEFORE RAY. For all the steak that my fat husband eats I don't know how he is still alive. Also HOOD TO COAST IS A RACE. It is not a caravan drive. It lasted over 30 hours. Gram Gram was so tired of driving. I'm so sick and tied of my stuipd grand children lieing to me. This is the 3rd time this year, they've teamed up with Raymond to trick me and get me out of the house. But I was so happy to see little fat christopher run his hood to coast. he ran 3 legs. but i think he walked because hes a little overweight and I don't see him has a mobile person. I had to sleep in a field in a tent and I was cold. I will probably drive next year if they ASK IN ADVANCE CHRSITPHER. please be nice to me and i'll make that meatloaf again goodnight

This was an interesting race. I had a great time, but the people are really what make relay races…read morefun. Most folks wouldn't find being in a van without sleep, baths, or much space for 30 hours as your team relay runs from Mt. Hood to Seaside, OR not much fun, but with over a 1000 teams, we have somehow convinced ourselves that it is! After running a few Ragnar relay races (same approx 200 mile distance; different cities) I've got to say that I really appreciate that Ragnar is more organized than HTC. HTC is huge. The race has been around for 33 years. With that long history, I figured that they would have this race planned out pretty well, even considering that the course sometimes has to change a little...but they could use a lot of work. The exits and entrances to our relay exchanges (passing the team bracelet to the next runner to run their 4 - 9 mile leg) were not conducive to be efficient and my team got stuck in traffic to the exchange so thick, that I actually ran PAST them; met the other team van to pass my bracelet to their van's runner...and ended up running a mile BACK to jump in my van and sit in traffic with them. But the worst was yet to come... But first, the volunteers were terrific. Instead of relying on course signs like Ragnar, they had volunteers physically waving you through--to let you know you were on the right path. It was HOT during the day and neighborhoods had people set up on their lawns to cheer us on--and spray us down with hoses as we ran through. It felt amazing during the hottest legs of the race. Here's the awful part. Last leg of the race. One poorly schooled volunteer forced my van team to take the trolley into Seaside from their parking spot almost a little over a mile away. The trolleys were so full, they missed two rides. So I ran into the finish line...and my team wasn't there. The other van's team was there but weren't expecting me for a bit. Later, we found out that you didn't have to take the trolley in, according to another volunteer :/ It's a beautiful race, but it's a one-and-done kind of event. Check it out if you live in the area! I wouldn't recommend traveling for it like I did.

Awesome run! We had such a great time out running even though it started raining towards the end of…read morethe race. Going over the bridge was an incredible view and something I won't soon forget. When we finished up it was great grabbing brews though I did get pretty cold without any Mylar windbreakers at the finish since it started raining some.

Bridge to Brews, your option of an 8K or 10K race starting from the Waterfront and heads over the…read moreFremont bridge to the Rose Quarter, then over the Steel Bridge. And as the name would imply, beer is involved. The end of the race consists of a beer fest and live music! Can't think of many better reasons to have multiple good beers at 9:30 in the morning. A nice bonus is we got a free beer with our packet pickup too! A must do for any runner and/or beer drinker.

Starting at the Gordon Faber Recreational Complex, basically where the Hillsboro Hops play ball at…read moreRon Tonkin Stadium, and heading towards Helvetia Market, the countryside, and Helvetia Tavern is this little event called the Helvetia Half Marathon. This event has been running for 25 years now, and is typically held at the end of May. If you're not ready to run a half marathon (like myself) then they also offer a 5K and 10K course. Cost is between $54 to $135, depending on when you register. Packet Pick-up: ~ At the Portland Running Company in Beaverton. Race Day: ~ 8am Start ~ On Century Blvd just outside of the stadium. I only ran the 10K and only saw data centers and farmland lol. But my friend that ran the half said that it became a bit hilly after the 10K mark. Finishline: ~ It ends back onto the playing field of the stadium, and along the outfield. A medal awarded at the end. Food/Beer/Live Music: ~ Burgers were provided by Helvetia Tavern and three types of beers from Rogue Brewery. Live music provided by Party of 4! Those guys were awesome! Overall, it was a good run in my opinion. Not overkill with hills but also not as scenic as I thought. Would I run it again? Yeah why not!

My review may be biased because I live on the Williamette waterfront and have front row seats to…read morethe race, but I love the Dragon Boats! They are so vibrant and whimsical, each a different color combo and dragon face. They look spectacular on the river, especially on a sunny, blue sky day. For me, it's a sign that spring is coming when in early March the dragonboat teams start practicing. Diligently, they are out there every single morning and evening, in the dark! And freezing cold! The teams take turns in the boats to get in their practice time. For me, the twice daily practices provide a few hours of viewing, like live art. Sitting on the balcony with my coffee, reading the news while watching the dragon boats, is the way I start and end my days for three solid months. In the evenings, they start as early as 4:000pm and because there are so many teams, the boats are out on the river until about 8pm. What a backdrop! I'm super lucky, I'm not confused! This weekend is the actual Dragon Boat races and the Williamette is bustling with several private boats and individual kayaks all here to watch, along with the infamous Portland Beer Paddle boats, and a small crowd of people sitting on the grass at Riverside Marina cheering for the teams. Last year I hosted an open house so my friends could watch the races, take in the view, and enjoy delicious food, drinks and friendship. It has become my annual "thing." During Rose Festival, if you are going to City Fair, the Saturday Market, a walk along Tom McCall Park or the Eastern Esplanade, go during the weekend the boats are racing and see these magnificent boats and cheer on the dedicated crews that race!

This is what happens when dreams come true…read more.. Dragon boat racing has fascinated me for over 10 years and this year I finally got to live out my dream and paddle on a team. I've participated in team sports my whole life (except for that little 10-year gap), and this experience has been one of the best. A quick primer on dragon boat racing: The race has four boats with 16 paddlers, a caller, a tiller and a flag catcher in Taiwanese style dragon boats. These things are 1700 lb. beasts shared by the teams with a big 'ole drum to beat on top. Teams are divided into high school, women and mixed groups with the time trials on Saturday and the finals on Sunday. The race itself is an all out sprint for 3 minutes with stroke counts between 70 - 80 strokes per minute for most teams. It has a similar vibe to Hood-to-Coast (some teams are goofy and others dead serious), but this is a lot more fun for the spectators. Admission is free and there are great views of the race course, which starts by OMSI and crosses the river with the finish between the Hawthorne Bridge and the Riverplace Marina in front of the grassy bowl. And don't think of hopping on your boat to watch the races from the water, since the Coast Guard closes the river during the races. The most fearless member of the team is the flag catcher who is strapped to the front of the boat and has abs of steel to reach way in front of the boat to catch and control the flag which ends the race. I saw one of these poor souls go head first into the river yesterday. My team is amazing, but I just love the spirit and sense of camaraderie I see in all of the teams. Many paddlers are parents, so it is fun to see the crowds of family and friends, support their loved ones. There are year round teams who continue on to other races around the world, but many teams get together every year for an intense 10-week training session before the Rose Festival race. And the race weekend is a big picnic and celebration of all the work (no blood or tears, just a whole lot of sweat) it took to get here. So if you are in Portland to enjoy the Rose Festival, make sure you stop by and give a wave and a cheer to all the dragon boaters out there.