The McKenzie River Trail Run is the final event in the Oregon...

The McKenzie River Trail Run is the final event in the Oregon Trail Ultra Series. Tracing a route along the beautiful McKenzie River Trail, this 50K offers runners a technically challenging course and the inspiration of some of Oregon's most breathtaking scenery.

Whether you're a thoroughbred doing your best impression of humans or a first-timer looking for the next step, you'll feel right at home on the McKenzie. Looking for world-class competition? You'll have people to run with. Wondering if you can finish? You won't be alone. Think runners are crazy? Bring a camera and a lawn chair; the company is great.

John Ticer came to McKenzie with a quiet but fierce determination to get the course record that he'd missed by nine seconds last year, and oh yes, win again. The competition, former winners Brain Wieck and Craig Thornley, very fast newcomer Larry Jackson, Oregon Series dominator Jeff Riley, and who knew who else, were all going to push to make John work to reach his goal. Brian was the only one to hang on for the first half, then he paid for the fast early pace and slipped to fourth. Larry ran smartly and closed everyone out but he couldn't catch the 'old man' ... Ticer's sixth at WS was no fluke ... this guy is beyond tough. The record did fall, by 36 seconds. There are soft records. This is not one of them.

Meghan Arbogast seemed like a safe pick to win on the women's side because she has been so strong all year. But her five minute winning margin over Kendra Borgmann was the closest race we've had here among the ladies. Both winners took home beautifully hand-crafted pine Adirondack chairs for the patio ... John now has a matching pair. Sara Ticer set a course record for the women's 50-59 age group, so we can assume that couple had a pretty good weekend.

116 finishers is a new high for us, actually more than we are supposed to have, but it's been hard to keep people away from this 'feel good' event and hold onto our 100 limit. If you want to experience all the MRTR has to offer, the entry form goes online April 1, and is gone by the next day.

Added: March 21, 2006
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