The upcoming Oregon WinterFest, slated for Feb. 12-14, offers a Royal Run on Sunday in Bend. The event used to be poker-themed, but organizers say they may shake things up this year. For $30, racers get entry to the run, admission to all three days of the event and a post-run beverage. Photo courtesy of Lay It Out
By Dustin Gouker
For the Oregon Beer Growler
Rarely do you find a running event in Central Oregon that doesn’t have some tie-in to all the craft beers you can find in Bend and beyond.
The upcoming Oregon WinterFest, slated for Feb. 12-14, is no different, with the Royal Run planned for Sunday during the three-day spectacle.
WinterFest is a family-friendly event filled with music, performances, vendors and more. But the celebration of winter in Bend is also used as a great excuse to drink beer outside.
Racers in this year’s run get quite a bargain for $30 — admission to all three days of the event (normally $10 a ticket), entry into the race, a souvenir glass for the first 200 registrants and a post-race beverage. You would be hard-pressed to find too many running races with an entry fee that affordable.
“Yeah, it’s a great deal,” said Michael Coe, race director for the Royal Run. “You have post-race refreshments and lots of fun to go around. Everyone usually has a great time.”
The WinterFest race has been going on for several years, but it’s changed and evolved almost every time it’s been held, according to Coe. It was once a Warrior Dash event -- more obstacle race than anything else. The 2016 version will be a little tamer than the initial iteration of the WinterFest race, according to Coe, although the details are still being worked out.
“It’s going to be somewhere between a straight-up running race and an obstacle race,” Coe said. “It definitely won’t be a really intense Marine-style obstacle course.”
The course will be a loop in Bend’s Old Mill near the Deschutes River — between 5 kilometers and 8 kilometers, depending on its final configuration.
At the end of the race, runners — usually a couple hundred people participate, Coe says — will get to cool down on the final day of WinterFest with a post-race beer. It’s hard to think of a better way to enjoy Central Oregon.
To register: oregonwinterfest.com/winterfestrun
Other Ways to Exercise and Drink Beer in Central Oregon
If you want a way to burn some calories before having your beer, there are lots of ways to get your fix around Bend:
Great Nordeen Nordic Race, Jan. 30, 2016: Racers usually enjoy a few brews after the 18K and 30K distances at the post-race party. More info: mbsef.org/nordic/races
Bend Beer Chase, June 4, 2016: This 70-mile relay race is not for the casual runner or for people who don’t enjoy beer. Up to six people run through the high desert with free beer samples at relay exchange points. Almost every brewery in Central Oregon is represented. More info: bendbeerchase.cascaderelays.com
Pub runs, various dates: Bend running store FootZone commonly holds short runs that end up at various drinking locations around town. The next one is Jan. 25. More info: footzonebend.com/events
Twilight 5K Run/Walk, Aug. 11, 2016: The Deschutes Brewery-sponsored event serves Twilight Ale to race participants at the end. More info: superfitproductions.com/races/twilight-5k-run-walk
Thrilla Cyclocross, September 2016: Bend’s cyclocross series gets racers thirsty. You don’t get free beer as a part of racing your bike, but enjoying a beer while heckling competitors is part of the experience. More info: mbsef.org/events/mbsef-thrilla-cyclocross-series
For the Oregon Beer Growler
Rarely do you find a running event in Central Oregon that doesn’t have some tie-in to all the craft beers you can find in Bend and beyond.
The upcoming Oregon WinterFest, slated for Feb. 12-14, is no different, with the Royal Run planned for Sunday during the three-day spectacle.
WinterFest is a family-friendly event filled with music, performances, vendors and more. But the celebration of winter in Bend is also used as a great excuse to drink beer outside.
Racers in this year’s run get quite a bargain for $30 — admission to all three days of the event (normally $10 a ticket), entry into the race, a souvenir glass for the first 200 registrants and a post-race beverage. You would be hard-pressed to find too many running races with an entry fee that affordable.
“Yeah, it’s a great deal,” said Michael Coe, race director for the Royal Run. “You have post-race refreshments and lots of fun to go around. Everyone usually has a great time.”
The WinterFest race has been going on for several years, but it’s changed and evolved almost every time it’s been held, according to Coe. It was once a Warrior Dash event -- more obstacle race than anything else. The 2016 version will be a little tamer than the initial iteration of the WinterFest race, according to Coe, although the details are still being worked out.
“It’s going to be somewhere between a straight-up running race and an obstacle race,” Coe said. “It definitely won’t be a really intense Marine-style obstacle course.”
The course will be a loop in Bend’s Old Mill near the Deschutes River — between 5 kilometers and 8 kilometers, depending on its final configuration.
At the end of the race, runners — usually a couple hundred people participate, Coe says — will get to cool down on the final day of WinterFest with a post-race beer. It’s hard to think of a better way to enjoy Central Oregon.
To register: oregonwinterfest.com/winterfestrun
Other Ways to Exercise and Drink Beer in Central Oregon
If you want a way to burn some calories before having your beer, there are lots of ways to get your fix around Bend:
Great Nordeen Nordic Race, Jan. 30, 2016: Racers usually enjoy a few brews after the 18K and 30K distances at the post-race party. More info: mbsef.org/nordic/races
Bend Beer Chase, June 4, 2016: This 70-mile relay race is not for the casual runner or for people who don’t enjoy beer. Up to six people run through the high desert with free beer samples at relay exchange points. Almost every brewery in Central Oregon is represented. More info: bendbeerchase.cascaderelays.com
Pub runs, various dates: Bend running store FootZone commonly holds short runs that end up at various drinking locations around town. The next one is Jan. 25. More info: footzonebend.com/events
Twilight 5K Run/Walk, Aug. 11, 2016: The Deschutes Brewery-sponsored event serves Twilight Ale to race participants at the end. More info: superfitproductions.com/races/twilight-5k-run-walk
Thrilla Cyclocross, September 2016: Bend’s cyclocross series gets racers thirsty. You don’t get free beer as a part of racing your bike, but enjoying a beer while heckling competitors is part of the experience. More info: mbsef.org/events/mbsef-thrilla-cyclocross-series
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