It's the race that has it all: Skiing, cycling, running, paddling and sprinting. For 35 years, Bend, Oregon’s Pole Pedal Paddle has been deemed one of the most premier sporting events in the nation. This year, more than 3,000 people from across the country came to experience the thrill of the finish line. And I was one of them. Allow me to break it down. The race was born more than 30 years ago by a couple of Bendites (i.e. local Bend residents) in their garage. It’s now evolved into a mad dash uphill to put on your skis, where you then embark on an 8km cross country ski leg, followed by ...