The Portland Trail Series Summer races are every Wednesday evening, for five weeks in a row. Runner experience a different course each race, with a distance between 4 and 7 miles each. They always include some hills. These low-key events are great for first-time trail races and also a heart-rate-spiking opportunity for experienced racers to push themselves. Register for the Series to guarantee a spot, or you can drop into the races for $20 each if there are no-show spots available. There’s an awards party at the Lucky Labrador Beer Hall immediately after the final race.