The Case for the Early Season Race

As I have shared in a previous article, running through the winter can be challenging and staying motivated takes some planning. I have found that signing up for an early season race can help me get me out the door when conditions are anything but perfect.

This past Sunday, I ran the Mastondon 10ish Mile Trail Race near Bend, OR. This was the second year I signed up for the race, but the first year I actually made it to the start line. In 2023, I signed up for the race right after the New Year, when goals and intentions for the year were keeping me optimistic. As often happens, reality sets in. The snow came daily and my will to be out in it waned. By the time early March rolled around, the ground was still blanketed in white and I couldn’t bring myself to don the necessary cold weather gear and drive the half hour from my house to race. This year, I again paid the registration fee and watched the snow fly… but I pushed myself to get to the start.

On Saturday, the day before the race, FootZone, the local running store and event organizer, posted some photos of the trails on Instagram. The pictures showed dry dirt and sunshine – perfect racing conditions! Although the Maston trail system is only 30 miles north of my home south of Bend, Central Oregon has a wild array of ecosystems, from desert to forest, and snow conditions can vary significantly in a short distance.

I set an early alarm on Sunday morning so I had plenty of time to eat breakfast and check the road conditions webcams to see what my drive had in store. Temperatures were in the 20s so I pulled on a variety of layers and packed my running vest with hydration and chapstick. I gave myself plenty of time to navigate the icy highway and got there in time to park close to the start/finish. The weather was gloriously sunny, though still chilly with a breeze.

As runners lined up behind the start line, I started a playlist in one earbud, turned down low so I could hear others who wanted to pass. The start was slow as we made our way onto the single track and found our pace. The first mile went quickly as I found my breathing and comfortable groove. By the time my watch beeped to mark the two-mile mark, I needed to shed a layer. I pulled off and quickly threw my gloves and jacket in my vest. As I stepped back on the trail, I noticed one of the race photographers right off the path. I smiled and gave a little wave as I got back on pace. 

The next few miles undulated up and down, around rocks and dry dirt. I followed a woman with pink shoes for several miles before she stepped off the trail to grab water at the aid station. I kept rolling and found two men who knew each other and were running comfortably while chatting. One of the men caught a toe on a rock and almost went down. He caught himself and we all laughed at the close call.

At around mile eight, the mud took over. Junipers shade this area along the Deschutes River and some icy puddles were melting out. The mud was several inches deep in some places and splashed onto my tights. “This is part of the fun,” I said to myself. At least it wasn’t snow or slick ice.

As we approached the finish line, we could hear the race announcer calling out names and cheering people through the finisher arch. I crossed the timing mat and was handed a black hat with the race logo embroidered on the front. I ripped the bottom off of my bib which was inserted into a machine that instantly printed out my official pace and finisher stats.

By this time, my stomach was starting to rumble a bit. I threw my vest into the car and grabbed a heavier jacket to throw over my sweaty running clothes. Racers were treated to a build-your-own burrito station and cans of beer from race sponsor, Cascade Lakes Brewery. I assembled a burrito while chatting with the woman ahead of me about the mud and the elevation of the race, which seemed to us more uphill than down. I enjoyed every bite and decided to take my can of beer home to enjoy in the hot tub.

As I drove the half hour home, I thought about how lucky I am to live in a place with such a variety of conditions and dry trails so close to my snowy neighborhood. I was proud of myself for getting out the door this year and finishing something I started when I registered months ago. Having the race as a goal kept me running through some cold, dark months and this feeling was the reward.