editor's
letter
THEY'RE BACK!
W
hat exactly is our headline talking about? Outdoor events, of course. As restrictions ease, our online calendar (terrain-mag.com/events-calendar/) is once again filling up with marathons, bike rides, training clinics, trail builds, multi-sport adventures, and more. And we couldn't be more ready. If you follow our magazine, you might remember that races were voted the most missed outdoor activity in the "COVID edition" of our annual Readers' Choice Awards. Runners up included group rides/runs, concerts/festivals, and professional sports. Now, after a one-year blip, event organizers are back to doing what they do best: getting people together to enjoy the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of outdoor recreation. (Do we even need to add the words "with new precautions in place"?) In this issue, we present more than 100 opportunities for you to reconnect with nature and each other. It starts on the page opposite this one, where we announce our schedule of "Terrain + Co." events for 2021. These small-group gatherings pair our readers and select partners for a variety of experiential activities, followed by a social hour with drinks provided by Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. On page 36, we feature a story on five of the most epic competitions taking place across the Midwest in 2021 and what makes each one unique, even life-changing. That's followed by our events section beginning on page 56, which lists dozens more running, biking, paddling, and other activities. If you're ready to get outside again, look no further. Last but not least, we'd be remiss not to mention that our Gateway Outdoor Expo will return on October 1-3. With 50,000 square feet of floor space at America's Center in downtown St. Louis, the expo will showcase the latest outdoor gear and services, as well as interactive demos and experiences - all in a festive, family-friendly environment. Learn more at gatewayoutdoorexpo.com. While safety remains a priority, we truly look forward to being able to see everyone again in person at races and events throughout the year. Let's get excited! Brad Kovach Editor/Publisher
Submissions: Article ideas, manuscripts, event reports, and photos can be submitted via email to brad@ terrain-mag.com. Photos should be high-resolution and accompanied with identification whenever possible. While we will do our best to use submitted material, we withhold the right to deny the usage of any submission for any reason. No guarantee of payment or return of materials will be assumed.
Editor/Publisher Brad Kovach brad@terrain-mag.com Contributing Writers Eric Berger, Janice Branham, Nick Brennan, David Fiedler, Corrie Hendrix Gambill, Kathleen Nelson, Nick Tilley, Terri Waters, Kimberly Yawitz, Stephanie Zeilenga Contributing Photographers Dennis Coello, Mark Nettles, Alex Noguera, Russell Ward Design Kim Waterhouse Webmaster Tom Haag Sales/Events Steve Schmidt steve@terrain-mag.com Editorial Offices 4245A Manchester Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110 636-633-1816
Terrain Magazine is published by Terrain Media six times a year: January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, and November/December. Back issues are available in limited quantities. Please write the Terrain office or see www.terrain-mag.com/store/ for prices and ordering information. One-year subscription rate is $20. To subscribe, see www.terrain-mag.com/store/. Contact Terrain for permission to reprint articles. Published by:
May/June 2021 4
terrain May/June 2021
Groundhogs Soul Crusher Gravel Circuit Challenge. ( BIKE SURGEON)
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