The women athletes profiled on Northwest in Motion have a common trajectory: They typically enter their respective sports in their mid to late-20s as the result of serendipity. Their first forays into athletic competition are usually the result of joining a race or event on a whim with the encouragement of a friend. To their surprise they win the event and discover previously … [Read more...] about Sophia Liu: Olympic Hopeful ‘With a Little Help from Her Friends’
2021 Trail Running Outlook
Although 2020 has been the worst year in most of our lifetimes, as far as fitness goes it's been a mixed bag. On the one hand, Strava's 2020 Year In Sport Data Report shows that despite the pandemic its users have been part of an exercise boom: --3x as many 26.2 mile runs were uploaded to Strava in 2020 compared to 2019. In the peak month (April 2020), 76% of marathons … [Read more...] about 2021 Trail Running Outlook
Paddling Sucia Island
Although I've lived in the Pacific Northwest since 1994, it took me until this September to finally get out to Sucia Island Marine State Park. Sucia is a premier destination for kayaking and boating, has some popular SCUBA diving spots, and is also becoming a trail running destination. This particular trip got planned and rescheduled several times during the course of the … [Read more...] about Paddling Sucia Island
How to Layer for the Pacific Northwest
For outdoor adventurers, every climate poses unique clothing selection challenges that can make it difficult to stay comfortable during a full day outside. Here in the the Pacific Northwest the challenge is a steady pattern of moisture, combined with relatively warm temperatures. Even when it's snowing it's possible your skin can get wet. If you don't manage the moisture you … [Read more...] about How to Layer for the Pacific Northwest
Gearing up for a Bikepacking Epic
Although Jamie Van Beek and Corbin Hudacek had to alter their Hood River to Canada bikepacking plans because of the 2020 smokestorm, they meticulously planned on being self-sufficient for seven days. Here are their gear lists with an important caveat: For a ride this long, it's likely that the food at the start of the ride will outweigh all the other gear combined. Jamie's … [Read more...] about Gearing up for a Bikepacking Epic
Hudacek & Van Beek: Hood River to Canadian Border
On September 6, just a few days before the 2020 smokestorm hit Washington, Corbin Hudacek and Jamie Van Beek teamed up for a 7-day south-to-north off-road cycling adventure based on the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route. The duo covered 640 miles and over 72,000′ of climbing in 7 days all off-road and gravel except for a few paved … [Read more...] about Hudacek & Van Beek: Hood River to Canadian Border
Kaytlyn Gerbin Running to New Heights
Although she's been a life-long athlete, 31-year-old Wisconsin native Kaytlyn Gerbin is relatively new to running and even newer to mountain sports. Regardless, she's quickly ascended to the top level of trail running, and is at the leading edge of putting up routes that combine running and mountaineering. After completing a mathematics degree at the University of Wisconsin … [Read more...] about Kaytlyn Gerbin Running to New Heights
Gravel Cycling Infects the PNW
We can credit/blame the coronavirus pandemic for all manner of secondary and downstream disruptions to humanity. While recreational activities are a relatively minor theme against the backdrop of everything else that is going on, for those of us who have the privilege to recreate, I'd argue that maintaining our physical and mental health helps us keep the vibe just a bit … [Read more...] about Gravel Cycling Infects the PNW
Trackies Attempt One-Hour Records
As life under pandemic conditions gestates and reconfigures, some race organizers are gradually moving away from virtual events to live events that can be done in socially-distanced ways. For example, Washington's bike racing organization (WSBA), held a time trial ("TT") series over the course of six weekends. Time trials can be done quite easily in a socially distanced way by … [Read more...] about Trackies Attempt One-Hour Records