Pakaroo wrote:
I could list a dozen really cool cities all across the US where I've had better runs and workouts than Portland.
Please list them - in terms of facilities, off-road opportunities.
Having a great workout has nothing to do with the city. Opportunities to run I'd agree has everything to do with the city - and you are hard pressed to name a city with a nearly 30 mile trail which crosses two major arterials in that time but is otherwise enclosed entirely in the forest - not running along the fence to some subdivision.
Granted Portland becoming a mecca is no different than Eugene in the early Athletics West days or Boulder after that, but as a life long Portland resident I can tell you it is pretty cool to be finishing your Sunday run on Leif Erickson and see Ritz heading out for a run. Not too many places you pass a 2:10 marathoner heading out for his run.