My first race of 2026 brought me to the Maston Trailhead in Redmond, Oregon. I had never explored these trails before, and I’m really glad this event gave me a reason to finally check them out. The area has a unique high-desert feel—wide open views, rugged volcanic rock, and winding singletrack. The low vert and classic late-winter temps made it a smooth, runnable race and a great way to ease back into racing.
race morning
The trail system was only about 20 minutes from my home in Bend, which made this race incredibly convenient to get to. Parking was easy, and since we arrived early we were able to grab a great spot right near the start and finish area. The 9 a.m. start time was also a bonus—I definitely appreciated not having to set an early alarm.
They also offered race-morning packet pickup, which worked out perfectly since I couldn’t make it to the pickup at the local running store the day before. The whole process was quick and stress-free. Nothing felt crowded, and the overall atmosphere was relaxed and casual.
With only about 120 runners in the field, the race started in a single wave. Knowing it was still early in the season and that I wasn’t planning to push the pace right away, I lined up near the back of the pack. Off we went!
Singletrack State of Mind
I went into the race treating it more like a long run than a full-on race. Most of my training lately has been on the road, so I mainly wanted to get my legs back on dirt and find a rhythm on the trails again.
The Maston trail system ended up being perfect for that. The trails flowed really well with plenty of smooth, runnable sections and just enough technical spots to keep things interesting. Early on the singletrack got a bit crowded and I saw a few runners take some falls, but once things spread out it was easy to settle into a steady effort. The high desert scenery was a nice bonus too—juniper trees, big open skies, and views of the canyon along the way.
There was one aid station on the course at mile 4.5, which I used as my halfway point. I carried a pack but left it empty since I hate the weight and the sloshing of water while running.
My stomach also wasn’t feeling great—probably thanks to a poor breakfast choice: a very sweet cinnamon bun. When I reached the aid station, I said hi to a dog, grabbed some water, and tucked a gel into my pack. I couldn’t quite bring myself to eat or drink much at that point.
burrito time
Around mile 8–9 the trail opened up with some great canyon views, and not long after that I popped out of the trail system and headed back to the finish. I came in at 1:45 and placed 8th in my age group. Instead of a medal, finishers received a mug, which was a nice change.
When I finished, the awards ceremony was already underway, so the finish felt a little anti-climactic. They had breakfast burritos available with both a meat and veggie option, plus gluten-free muffins. I heard there were cookies too, but I never managed to find them. They were also handing out beers from Cascade Lakes Brewery, which seemed to be more of a grab-and-go setup.
Overall, the finish area was pretty low-key. There wasn’t a big finish line atmosphere or much space to hang out and connect with other runners, so we ended up heading out not too long after finishing.
the takeaway
The race was a good reminder of why I love trail running. After weeks of structured road workouts and mileage, getting back onto dirt felt refreshing. Even though I approached it as a training effort, it ended up being one of those days that leaves you motivated for the rest of the season.
I’m not sure I’d run this particular race again. One of my favorite parts of trail races is hanging out with the community afterward, but there wasn’t much of that here. The weather was still a bit chilly, and without music or much of a post-race celebration, there wasn’t really a reason to stick around. It ended up feeling like a quick grab-your-stuff-and-go kind of finish, which was a little disappointing.
Overall, it was a good way to kick off my 2026 race calendar—exploring a new trail system, shaking off the road legs, and getting a solid effort in without putting too much pressure on the outcome. I’m definitely looking forward to my next race: the Bend Marathon in April!
Run. Sip. Serve. 