The Goonies Trail Classic
ASTORIA TO HAYSTACK ROCK
SHOT BY STEVEN MORTINSON
In a time where on-demand and streaming nearly unlimited media didn’t exist, the Goonies VHS tape was one of the few movies my family owned and that meant I watched it a lot. I know the characters, the scenes, and can recite it line by line.
The thought of traveling the coast with some adventure pals on foot while taking in the sights from the film is exactly why I train. Yes, I love being in shape and racing but really at any given time I want to, without hesitation, be able to say “yes” when presented with a chance to experience something like this.
-Travis
Having friends and teammates to run a 33 mile Goonies themed adventure run with is pretty amazing. For an entire day we were Goonies, and it was awesome. Goonies stick together, Goonies stay positive even in the most stressful circumstances, and Goonies embrace adventure and the magic of possibility. This rings true for my fellow Runners of the Wild, who continue to inspire each other with endless amounts of grit and enthusiasm for life and all it has to offer; practicing to achieve their own independent goals as well as the goals of this community. Sticking together, staying positive, saying yes to adventure, and throwing in a little truffle shuffle every now and then for good measure.
- Larissa
It is rare to get uninterrupted time with another human these days. There are so many distractions taking our attention away from really getting to know someone.
The long run changes that.
Multiple hours, working together, chasing a common goal void of the bombardment of constant stimulus allows me to connect on a much deeper level with someone. It is what I have come to enjoy most about these adventures.
Bombing down the muddy trail yelling “Slick Shoes!” and “Goonies Never Say Die” is something that will bring a smile to my face for years to come.
-Travis
Doing a point-to-point is the way to go. It makes it a TRUE adventure. There were so many unknowns going into it: not sure of the actual distance, not sure where we could get aid, not sure if it all connected up, but we were determined and we were happy.
Other than the constraints of daylight, there was no clock to chase, no course record to aim for. It was just frolicking along, laughing, huddling together, stuffing our faces with potato chips and doing what we do best; moving along, fast, slow, and in-between, from point A to point B on whatever path would takes us there.
-Steven
It is a natural occurrence to develop a bond with someone you spend an extensive amount of time with. But the bond that forms during a run, navigating the unknown - both people and the wild - is special. It isn't just a common past time or a hobby, it's the shared experience of joy and struggle. I'm closest to the people with whom I adventure. Openness and vulnerability are easy when the mind and body are focused on the trail ahead.
-Jameson
Going into this, I assumed that each of us five runners doing this Goonies run were fairly seasoned ultra-runners. When Larissa admitted this was her first attempt at an ultra, even her first attempt of going over 20 miles, it really gave us all an exciting mission: get Larissa through to the end!
Running side by side with her at mile 20-something, she told me how inspiring the other four of us were to her, but I had to admit to her that she was way more of an inspiration to us.
Because making the choice to push your boundaries far beyond anything you've ever attempted before takes BIG GUTS. No matter what the distance is.
She ended up running 13 miles farther than she had ever run before. So big props to Larissa!
-Steven
Five Runners of the Wild -Larissa, Travis, Jameson, Jordan and Steven (behind the lens) ran 33 miles from the Goonies jailhouse in Astoria, Oregon to Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, OR.
They dug up old childhood dreams of adventure, bonded hard over the shared experience and consumed a large quantity of Baby Ruth's.
Runners of the Wild never die.
