Every runner sets a goal with every race they enter. It may be a time, a ranking, or just to catch the person ahead. If you’re running your first marathon, or half, or ultra, crossing the line may be a victory in itself. But what about if there’s no set distance, and no finish line? […]
This Wolf Is Feeling Low: How Much Is Enough When You’ve Missed Your Goal? Read More »
“Any kid is suited to cross-country skiing. You can go as hard and as fast as you want,” says Brad Thiessen, director of engagement for Spokane Nordic Ski Association (SNSA). “But it depends on the parent and child—what’s the child’s patience level, tolerance level being in the cold and trying a new sport. How patient
How to Become a Cross-country Ski Family Read More »
Friends of the Bluff Presents Second-Annual Bluff Talks Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 7-9 pm The Montvale Event Center (1017 W 1st Ave, Spokane) Join Friends of the Bluff in the second-annual Bluff Talks series on Wednesday, November 28. Five storytellers will have 10 minutes or less to share their connection to the High Drive Bluff Park, highlighting
Bluff Talks, Nov 28 Read More »
Not everyone wants to chug a fluorescent blue Arctic Blitz-flavored Gatorade after a workout. While the flashy colors, labeling, and advertisements are enticing, they might not be the best choice for refueling a body hungry for nutrients. Nearly all recovery and electrolyte replacement drinks these days are loaded with empty calories, sugars, and artificial colors
Lyte Balance: Spokane Electrolyte Company Keeps It Real Read More »
A new trail run is coming to the Spokane running scene June 30. The Mountain Magic 10k/25k will feature two separate loops on Mt. Spokane’s Nordic ski trails. The 10k loop is fairly flat for most portions, by mountain trail run standards; while the 15k loop, which is added to it to make the 25k
Mt. Spokane Mountain Magic 10k/25k Run (June 30) Read More »
In an era where we’re segmented into narrow age groups, the Mt. Spokane Cross-Country Ski Park is countercultural. On a typical Saturday, the trails buzz with the energy of kids and adults laughing together and playing games at the junction clearings: adults investing in kids, and kids enriching adults. This season, close to 200 kids,
Mobilizing the i-Generation Read More »
It was Saturday March 1, the day before the Spokane Nordic 20/30/50K Challenge Loppet, and I was at Mt. Spokane setting up in the Selkirk Lodge. The preceding couple of days had included a dozen emails back and forth discussing whether to cancel the event, and today was proof of why some of the people
The Best Worst Day of the Season Read More »
As an avid Nordic skier, I’m always on the lookout for fun events to scratch my competitive itch. So when I saw an advertisement for the “Spokane Nordic Challenge Loppet,” I was naturally intrigued. Now, what exactly is a “loppet”? I polled my coworkers, and their guesses ranged from logical to absurd: A large rabbit, a Scandinavian folk dance,
Don’t Knock it Until You Loppet: Take the Mount Spokane Nordic Challenge Read More »
Like most outdoor fitness activities, there is a dizzying array of gear available for both the classic and skate styles of Nordic (cross-country) skiing. Waxable or no-wax skis. At least three unique binding and boot systems. Poles that range in price from $20 to $1,000. This volume of options isn’t remarkable in our day of
A Brief History of Skinny Skis: The Evolution of Cross-Country Ski Gear Read More »
Amy McCaffree Amy (Silbernagel) McCaffree enjoys paddling, camping, biking, hiking, alpine skiing, and gardening. She is the Out There Kids columnist and has been writing for OTO since 2006. Amy has a MFA in Creative Writing from Eastern Washington University and lives in Spokane with her husband and their two children. View Articles Connect Carol
