Trail Races for Roadies
Plenty of seasoned road runners and cyclists are finding their way to trail runs, mountain bike, or gravel events these days. For cyclists, dirt roads and trails get us out of vehicle traffic, develop bike handling skills, and build strength - as well as simply offering the joy of deeper immersion in nature. Runners find that training and racing on dirt is surprisingly easier on the body while providing new challenges apart from the usual PR chasing.
Not all off-road events are brutally tough, nor require technical trail experience and many still offer a low-key, friendly, non-intimidating vibe. So get dusty, get (a little) adventurous, and get to know a new community of passionate athletes who like to get dirty.
Trail Runs
April 13 - Sisters, OR — Peterson Ridge Rumble
April 26 - Weiser, ID — Weiser River 50K Ultra and Relay
May 24 - Portland, OR — Stumptown Trail Runs
May 31 - Bend, OR — Footzone’s Dirty Half Marathon
June 1 - Boulder, CO — Colorado 13er
June 7 - Leavenworth, WA — Echo Valley Trail Run
June 13 - Yellowstone, WY — Yellowstone Half Marathon & 5K
June 21 - Flagstaff, AZ — Flagstaff Extreme Big Pine Trail Runs
July 20 - Gaston, OR — Wine Country Trail Runs
September 13 - Berkeley, CA — Berkeley Trail Adventure
October 4 - Moab, UT — Arches Half Marathon
October 25 - Tusayan, AZ — Grand Canyon Trail Half Marathon & 5K
December 6 - Fountain Hills, AZ — McDowell Mountain Frenzy Trail Runs
Are you a trail runner looking to conquer some road events. Check out Max King's article on transitioning from trail to road.
Gravel Rides
June 28 - Bozeman, MT — Belgian Waffle Ride
August 28 - Sun Valley, ID — Rebecca’s Private Idaho
September 21 - Squamish, WA — Sea2Sky Gravel Fondo
October 18 - Chino Valley, AZ — Chino Grinder
How do you best train for these gravel events? Easy. Look at the courses and focus on your ability to complete the distance and cover the type of terrain you’ll be encountering along the way. Here's some additional tips on preparing for a gravel race.
