Running Commentary: Keepin' cool

The heat and dust of high summer can kill the motivation to get in the daily run on the trails around Sisters, so adding a cooling element to the run is sometimes all the extra motivation you need to venture out.

Of course that cooling element is water: streams, rivers, and lakes. Whychus Creek and the local irrigation ditches along parts of the Peterson Ridge Trail provide a break from the heat. The air temperature is a little lower near the flowing water and, of course, you can always immerse in the cold stuff if you'd like.

One lightly used trail provides a circuit of just over three miles, starting from the Village Green Park, that includes a nice stretch of creekside running. Head south on Elm Street, and just before reaching the intersection of Brooks-Scanlon Road you will see a Sisters Trail marker to the right. It's a little rocky as you leave the roadway.

Cross the Brooks-Scanlon Road and head across a river-rock garden for 100 yards, where you pick up the dirt trail that follows the creek upstream. Because this section is closed to bikes, the trail is quite narrow and not overly worn.

Eventually, the trail wends its way away from the creek and pops back out onto Elm Street/Three Creeks Road, where you can turn left and take the road back into town.

Another cool run that could culminate in a picnic is the Suttle Lake Trail that circles the entire lake. You can pick up the trail at any of the day-use areas or campgrounds. A dip in the lake afterwards is a nice reward after going 3.1 miles.

If you want to make it a longer run, include the Suttle Lake Tie Trail that begins at George McAllister Road, which is right across Highway 20 from the road up to Camp Sherman. If you have someone to drop you off, you can run the 5 miles up to Suttle Lake and then decide to head straight to the water or run around the lake.

Of course, there is always the option of running back down the trail to where you began.

The ultimate in finding coolness on the run might be over the pass to the McKenzie River. The first is to take the road toward Eugene and hit the very top of the McKenzie River Trail above Clear Lake, which is about 35 miles from Sisters. This well-used trail snakes through tremendous old-growth fir forest before passing through Clear Lake Resort.

Like Suttle Lake, the trail completely encircles the lake, providing a loop option. If you choose to stay on the west side of the lake, the trail continues past the resort and intersects the highway. The next section also offers a loop option and passes both Sahalie and Koosah Falls.

I ran past these falls on a 95-degree day last month and found myself in wonder at Mother Nature's air conditioner, as the area near the falls was incredibly moist and cool. A complete map of the trail and the surrounding area is available at the Willamette National Forest Web site. Enjoy the trails!

Local training runs continue: Runners of all ages and speeds are welcome to join Sisters' Cross Country team members on local runs during the week. These runs are non-competitive, and distances are determined by whoever shows up. Monday, 7 p.m. from Village Green Park; Tuesday and Friday mornings at 7:30 a.m. from the high school track; Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. from Buck Run Trailhead; Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m. from Village Green.