As a very fresh new comer to the Bend area I have been on the accelerated learning curve as to what is "Bend, Oregon." I am from a town in another part of Oregon that I now recognized as both significantly smaller and significantly less active than Bend. Although my home town is also surrounded by trees, mountains and rivers just like Bend I could go on a run any time, any day and bump into fewer cars in an hour at home than the number of i-pod packing runners, baby-stroller joggers, trail-worthy bikers and doggy tag-a-longs during 10 minutes in Bend. Everyone is active and everyone is an athlete!
Also, note worthy: Bend is infested with trails! Not just deer trails and irrigation ditches, but real trails designed and constructed for bikes and runners. There are the urban trails like the Deschutes River Trail and Larkspur Trail, and the mainstays like Phil's trail and Shevlin, but also countless unnamed or unmarked treasures weaving and linking and tying Bend together. I am always glad to find new trails when I run with those locals who are more accurate in their use of round-about art for navigation. If you have a secret trail to share please post it!
Last but certainly not least, Bend has replaced the countless wineries of my home town with an extremely exciting number of breweries and businesses that provide beautiful selection of brews! I have not been able to visit many of them but have been using my resources (co-workers, acquaintances and The Source Weekly) in combination with a quick peak in the window as I run through town to develop "to do" list of venues. So far I have 10 barrel, McMenamin's and Cascade Lakes... again suggestions are appreciated.
In return for any advice and insight, I will provide you with a tip to meet some new faces and potentially an undiscovered brew while supporting a good cause. Join us Wednesday August 25th at 6:00 for a Pub Rub to benefit two great causes the Lesedi Project and The Girls on the Run Deschutes County. We have partnered with Brother Jon's Public House & Balega Socks to sponsor a 3 or 5 mile run. We will meet at the Fleet Feet store and finish at Brother Jon's where you can fill your free pint glass with any beer for $2.00.
Sign up by sending me an email (marci@fleetfeetbend.com) or giving us a call at 541-389-1601. We are accepting a $10.00 donation to support our causes and the first 50 to register will receive a free logo pint glass. Hope to see you there and hope to get plenty of good tips.
- Marci K.
2 comments:
Oh, you'll get things figured out really quickly using The Source as your guide. Let HBM show you the way; he's a wealth of knowledge. Just act like a Californian and you'll do fine. You'll fit right in.
No secret trails but my very favorite runs are Green Lakes and the Paulina Lake Trail starting from the Ogden Skene campgrounds. For me, getting all of the uphill work done in the first half and a fun downill in the second half with a little water to run beside is a perfect day! (I think the runs at Cultus Lake and little Cultus are pretty fun too.) -kb
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