Running commentary

After two weeks of resting a strained hamstring, brought on by middle age and not by running at a fast pace, I headed out behind Tollgate for a three-mile trial run to test whether my recovery was complete.

There I merged with my colleague Lora Nordquist on the Brooks-Scanlon Road. Her husband John had run ahead and had already turned back into Tollgate, which I assumed Lora would also do.

We had begun conversing and I discovered that she is training for the Eugene Women's Half-Marathon in September, and that she was in the middle of a two-hour run. Having warmed up and found the hamstring to be behaving, I asked if I could continue on with her when she turned back into the woods for a loop out toward Cold Springs Campground. She kindly obliged and we continued talking about her race, our jobs in education and finally landed on books we have been reading. Lora, who is now an administrator for the Bend-La Pine School District formerly taught English at Sisters High School, so she is always a good source for book ideas.

Lora recommended a book by Tracy Kidder titled "Strength in What Remains," and when I commented on the power of the title, she began reciting the William Wadsworth poem in which the name of the book is derived. Not only was I duly impressed by her excellent memory, I once again marveled at the kinship shared out on the trail. I felt truly blessed to have gone from trudging through three miles to running six or seven and enjoying it thoroughly, thanks to my educator friend Lora.

She, of course, was kind enough to thank me for helping her get through a long run. I wish her and her friends well September 5 in the Eugene Women's Half-Marathon, which by the way still has openings. More information and registration can be found at www.

eugenewomenshalf.com.

Some of the younger runners in the Sisters community experienced the rugged beauty of the Steens Mountains in July at the Steens Mountain Running Camp, which is in its 35th year. Taylor Steele, Mason Calmettes, Jared Schneider, Seth Flanders and Erik Lund teamed up with tent-mates to win the coveted "Steens Olympics" to conclude the camp.

Hayley Palmer, Tia Berg, and Katie Stewart represented the girls' team from Sisters. The camp is designed to hone mental toughness and personal development as much as making the body stronger. In addition to the Olympics, runners take part in the "Big Day," which covers 28 miles in a single day, as well as the "Cross Canyon Race" which requires teammates to navigate a very rough, unmarked "course" as a group. The camp, according to one runner, is both grueling and inspiring.

A list of local and regional races posted on the FootZone's Web site (www.footzonebend.com) appears to have something for every sort of runner. A new event, this Saturday at Sunriver, "Running is for the Birds" features 5k and 10k distances and benefits Sunriver's Nature Center.

The following Thursday evening, August 19, Deschutes Brewery sponsors The Twilight 5k Run/Walk which benefits the Ronald McDonald House. FootZone will renew the Scavenger Hunt series beginning Wednesday, August 25 in Bend and the annual Bush Park Cross Country Series takes place every Thursday evening in Salem beginning at 6 p.m. with distances ranging from 500 to 5,000 meters.

If you are a hill lover, try out the annual Sunrise to Summit race scheduled at Mt. Bachelor on September 4. Runners start at Sunrise Lodge (elevation 6,470 feet) and finish at the summit about 2,700 feet higher.

A group of runners in town is looking to expand the local race schedule, but haven't landed on the best season to offer a new race. If you have ideas, please feel free to contact me at

[email protected]