Rise of Silver Falls State Park's trail race
It began five years ago with a simple idea.
Salem resident Gary Terlecki decided to combine his love for Silver Falls State Park with his passion for organizing trail races and see what happened.
With the help of friends, support from local businesses and cooperation from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, he launched the inaugural Silver Falls Half Marathon in 2010.
"I grew up going to Silver Falls, and when you're down among those waterfalls it's just incredible," said Terlecki, who grew up in Turner and graduated from Cascade High School in 1993. "Once I got into trail running, I thought, 'wow, this would be an incredible place for a race.' I bet people would really like this."
He was right.
The chance to race above, around and behind 10 spectacular waterfalls — in an atmosphere more like a party than a competition with runners dressed in costumes and a post-race beer garden — has created one of the Pacific Northwest's most popular events.
Since the inaugural race brought 500 runners to Silver Falls in 2010, Terlecki has gradually increased the size and scale. He added a marathon in 2012 and bumped up the number of entries to 600, then 800 and finally 1,100 last year. Yet even with the increases, demand has been so high that every race sells out, often within 15 minutes.
"It has definitely become the race people look forward to all year," said John Gallagher, co-owner of Gallagher Fitness Resources in Salem. "It has gotten to the point that people plan their training schedule and race calendar around it. That, to me, is the definition of a successful event."
This weekend, the event takes its biggest leap forward so far, expanding to a two-day extravaganza with 7-mile, half-marathon, marathon and 50 kilometer races on Saturday and Sunday. The 1,800 runners representing 30 states and Canada make it the largest trail race in Oregon and among the 15 largest in the United States.
"To be honest, we've been really surprised by how it keeps growing," Terlecki said. "Even when we add new races and don't do any advertising, they still sell out almost right away. It has been pretty crazy."
That the race is held in Salem's backyard, organized by local runners and supported by local businesses, has given the Capitol City community a souce of pride. For at least one weekend each year, the running Mecca in Oregon isn't Portland, Eugene or Bend, but right here in the Mid-Valley.
"I really appreciate everything that Gary and Run Wild Adventures are doing to ignite Salem area runners," said Jessie Lenhardt of Salem. "I love that it's local, and so do a lot of people."
HOW IT STARTED
Terlecki and his wife, Shandi, started Run Wild Adventures in late 2009 with the idea of bringing trail running events closer to Salem.
The first race they organized was the Shellburg Falls Trail Run, in 2009, which brought out about 200 people.
When Terlecki approached Silver Falls manager Kevin Strandburg about hosting a similar race at Oregon's largest state park, he expected to be denied.
After all, the park had never allowed a race on the famed Trail of 10 Falls. Silver Falls attracts almost 1 million visits per year, and hosting a major event had the potential to diminish the experience for regular park users.
But Strandburg was open to the idea once they decided to hold the race in the off-season.
"In the summer, it wouldn't be possible because you'd have way too many people on the trails," Strandburg said. "But November is a slow time of year, and when you have the race in the morning, there isn't much conflict with other users. It seemed like a great way to get more people in the park."
The size and scope of the race presents no shortage of logistical issues. Food, water, vendors, permits and registration all have to be organized in advance. Aid stations must be set up every few miles. If anyone gets injured — a likely scenario with hundreds of people running on steep, rocky and slippery trails — emergency responders have to be on site and ready to act.
"I can't even begin to estimate how many hours it takes to organize — it's more like months," Terlecki said. "But we love doing it and OPRD has made it pretty easy."
To accommodate the influx of runners from out of town, the park keeps its campground open one extra weekend, which brings in a spike of late-season revenue.
Terlecki also does the small things, like bringing out volunteers to mark the course and do trail maintenance. Run Wild Adventures pays a $3,000 parking fee and donates an additional $3,000 to the park for interpretative programs.
"Gary has been willing to go above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect," Strandburg said. "He isn't going to jeopardize ruining a place like this."
TR AIL RUNNING BOOM
No sport has grown faster during the past decade than trail running and adventure racing, according to the 2013 Outdoor Participation Report.
At a time when the number of people fishing or hunting is either flat or declining, Millennials in particular have flocked to a sport that is part running, hiking and obstacle course.
The Silver Falls races, for example, require navigating thick mud, creek crossings and steep, slippery trails. The 200 brave souls taking on the 50 kilometer race will not only run more than 31 miles, but they'll gain 4,100 feet of total elevation, a feat equivalent to climbing Mount McLoughlin or Diamond Peak.
The challenge and exotic locations of trail races create an experience that, for many, is far more interesting than running on roads in an urban environment. In Oregon, trail races bring participants into McCubbins Gulch on Mount Hood, along the North Umpqua River and up Dog Mountain in the Columbia River Gorge.
Nationwide, the number of these races has skyrocketed. According to the American Trail Running Association, the number of trail races has jumped from 815 in 2004 to 2,793 in 2013. The number of participants has gone from 90,105 in 2000 to 403,416 in 2013. (The numbers are likely higher, ATRA said, but not every race reports its stats).
"Trail running started growing as early as the mid-1990s, but it has been the last five years when it has really taken off," said Nancy Hobbs, executive director of the American Trail Running Association. "There are a myriad of reasons, including the number of opportunities and improved equipment, like shoes geared specifically to trail running.
"But people are also discovering that it's a lot more fun to go running and interact with trees, rocks, mountains and animals, instead of being in town and interacting with roads, cars and drivers that yell at you."
THIS YEAR
Part of the magic of the Silver Falls Marathon and Half Marathon is that it brings together first-time runners and professional ultra marathoners.
Ernesto Cazares, 32, of Salem never considered running for fun until he got involved with the event. Now he volunteers to set up the course and runs the half marathon.
"It's not just for elite runners," he said. "Everyone has a good time. The race is beautiful and exciting, plus there's a party and awards afterward."
Rod Bien of Bend, who won the 2012 marathon, has competed in over 40 ultra marathon races and won some of the Pacific Northwest's biggest races. He came to appreciate the beauty.
"It definitely made me want to come back here with my family," he said after winning. "The scenery is incredible, but I was almost working too hard to really enjoy it."
The impact of the race, in other words, has been felt both locally and around the state.
"This race has turned a lot of local people onto trail running," Gallagher said. "Hopefully, it stays around for a long time."
Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer, photographer and videographer in Oregon for six years. He is the author of the book "Hiking Southern Oregon" and can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Facebook at Zach's Oregon Outdoors or @ZachsORoutdoors on Twitter.
R ace times this weekend
The Silver Falls Marathon and Half Marathon will be taking place Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
Schedule:
SATURDAY
50 kilomeer race (7:30 a.m. start)
26.2 mile marathon (8 a.m.)
7 mile run (9 a.m.)
SUNDAY
13.1 mile half marathon (9: a.m. start)
Sold out slots
The Silver Falls Marathon and Half Marathon has sold out each year. Here is a look at how the race has grown over the years.
2010 — 500
2011 — 600
2012 — 800 (500 half marathon, 300 marathon)
2013 — 1,100 (800 half marathon, 300 marathon)
2014 — 1,800 (1,000 half marathon, 400 7-miler, 200 marathon, 200 50 kilometer).
2014 breakdown
So, where are the people taking part in the Silver Falls Marathon and Half Marathon coming from in Oregon? Here's a breakdown of locations.
Participants by city (roughly):
Portland and Vancouver metro areas: More than 1,000
Salem, Keizer and nearby towns: 260
Eugene and Springfield: 150
Corvallis: 100
Bend, Sisters and Central Oregon: 100