SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Eugene, Cascades & Coast Landscapes: A Natural For Sporting Events
O
ften referred as the Emerald City for its bountiful green scenery, Eugene's most recognizable title in the sports world is Track Town USA. In the backdrop of the city's fertile hillsides on the University of Oregon cam- pus, its beloved historic Hayward Field has been the site of multiple U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track & Field and inter- nationally esteemed meets like the Prefontaine Classic.
Championship athletes are often spotted on the city's miles of designated running trails offering wood-chipped surfaces to scenic riverbank views. Its infrastructure of paths also make up a significant section of the route of the USATF certified Eugene Marathon, which attracts more than 8,000 runners annually. Meanwhile, the 2012 Dirty Dash brought runners further off the beaten path.
More than 5,000 participants took on the 10K challenge at Mount Pisgah just out- side Eugene, where runners made their way through obstacle courses and giant mud pits.
Despite being the second largest metro area in Oregon, its clearly defined bound- aries continue to provide the perfect con- trast of rural, natural beauty with conven- ient city amenities. That was among the deciding factors for organizers of Triathlon Eugene: The Oregon Challenge, now entering its sec- ond year in and around Fern Ridge Lake just 15 minutes from Eugene.
While getting new exposure from triath- letes, Fern Ridge is also well known to sailing enthusiasts, consistently hosting annual sailing regattas like the 2012 Santana 20 Nationals, which draws com- petitors from allover. Rowing is another water sport that's flourishing at Dexter Lake, located 20 minutes from Eugene. Eugene, Cascades & Coast region con- tinues to set to the pace when it comes to the successful hosting of sporting events of all kinds. ■
contact: JANIS ROSS
Executive Director
Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports janis@eugenecascadescoast.org (541) 743-8753 or (800) 547-5445 www.eugenecascadescoastsports.org
Natural Venues
www.sportseventsmagazine.com
Natural Venues Guide 2012
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