Wood You Rather

About the Event

Wood You Rather is a unique checkpoint-style trail race that combines traditional running with basic orienteering. Scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, the event moves to a new location at Mt Tabor Park in Portland, Oregon. Unlike a standard race with a fixed course, participants use a map provided at the start to locate as many checkpoints as possible within a 2-hour time limit. This format emphasizes strategy over raw speed, as runners must decide which routes to take based on elevation and distance.

Race Format and Logistics

The event allows for individual participation or team collaboration. Teams can consist of 3 to 6 members, with the final ranking determined by the fastest average time of all members who collected the required checkpoints.

Race Feature	Details
Estimated Distance	5 to 8+ miles (depending on route)
Time Limit	2 Hours
Capacity	200 participants
Categories	Individual (M/F/NB) and Teams (3-6 people)

Participation and Demographic Statistics

The Portland trail running community is known for its high level of engagement. Based on historical trends for Go Beyond Racing events in the Pacific Northwest, the participant demographics typically align with the following distribution:

Racial/Ethnic Group	Approximate Percentage	Context
White / Caucasian	~82%	Predominant group in regional trail events.
Asian / Pacific Islander	~7%	Significant representation in Portland-based races.
Hispanic / Latino	~6%	Growing demographic in local outdoor sports.
Multi-racial / Other	~3%	Reflects urban diversity of the Portland metro area.
Black / African American	~2%	Consistent with national trail running averages.

Geography and Atmosphere

The move to Mt Tabor Park offers a volcanic cinder cone landscape right within the city limits. The trails vary from paved paths to steep, wooded single-track, providing diverse options for checkpoint placement. Navigation: The map provided is simple and trail-marked, making it accessible for those without orienteering experience. A compass is not required but can be used for practice. Rewards: Finishers are greeted with coffee, donuts, and a custom "hefty finisher mug." Sustainability: Go Beyond Racing operates with an environmental focus, emphasizing waste reduction and supporting local beneficiaries for each race.

Cancellation and Registration

Registration closes on May 9, 2026. The organization maintains a strictly enforced 50% credit policy for cancellations made more than 30 days before the race, with no refunds or credits provided within the 30-day window. Results for this specific event are hosted on a dedicated platform due to the complexity of scoring both time and checkpoint count.

Races Offered

8 Mile 3 Person Team

May 16, 2026

straighten

Distance — 12.9K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$210.00

8 Mile 4 Person Team

May 16, 2026

straighten

Distance — 12.9K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$280.00

8 Mile 5 Person Team

May 16, 2026

straighten

Distance — 12.9K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$350.00

8 Mile 6 Person Team

May 16, 2026

straighten

Distance — 12.9K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$420.00

8 Miler

May 16, 2026

straighten

Distance — 12.9K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$70.00

Weather Overview

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for May in Portland.

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

thermostat 8.8° / 21.0°

wb_sunny 7.0° / 18.7°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 8.2 /

water_drop 70.3%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 8.8° / 21.0°

wb_sunny 7.0° / 18.7°

air 8.2 km/h

water_drop 70.3%

About Portland

Learn more about the host city, Portland.

Few American cities can match the youthful spirit of Portland, "The City of Roses". The largest city in the state of Oregon, Portland's residents are proud of their city, which draws people for its scenic beauty, great outdoors environment, excellent microbreweries, and eco-friendly urban planning policies, as well as a reputation for colorful characters and a proudly liberal outlook with an attitude to match.