One of the most inviting things about cooler fall temperatures is that it can feel easier to get outside and go for a run. Runners abound in the greater Portland area, and the good news is that so do running events! Here are some local race options for amateur runners from next weekend to Halloween.
The MLK Dream Run takes place in Northeast Portland on September 21 and 22 as a fundraiser for the Soul District Business Association. Saturday morning is the free kids’ race, and Sunday morning is the 5k, 10k, and 15k races. All of the races start at the Portland Community College Cascade Campus at 705 N Killingsworth St. Registration costs range from $45 for the 5k to $65 for the 15k. Online registration ends Friday, September 20, at noon. Course maps can be viewed here.
If mid-week races are more your speed, the 4K4Community Fun Run (and walk!) will take place on Wednesday, September 25. This fundraising event will benefit local nonprofits, including Birch Community Services and Forest Park Conservancy (the registration fee of $35 is tax-deductible). The course will begin at World Trade Center Portland, head north, cross the Steel Bridge, then head south along the Eastbank Esplanade before returning to the start via the Hawthorne Bridge.
Head out to Forest Grove the following Saturday, September 28, for the Lions Club Run / Walk for Sight and Hearing. There will be a 5k and a 10k, with both welcome to all levels of runners and walkers. Registration prices are $35 and $40, respectively. There is a $5 discount for youth 17 and under.
On Sunday, October 6, there is the Youngberg Hill Wine Run 5k in McMinnville. This family-friendly and Halloween-themed event is a great way to kick off the spookiest month! The registration fee of $40 includes a race t-shirt that reads “I’m just here for the boos” (though the run is open to ages 1-99). The course map will be announced soon and will undoubtedly include the best view of Yamhill County, as seen from this destination winery located just over an hour away from downtown Portland.
Head up to Washougal for a “ghoulish good time” on Saturday, October 12, to participate in the Running Scared Scaredy Cat 5k or Heart Pounding 13k (the former is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier, though the latter is not USATF certified). Both races start at Captain William Clark Park, which is just across the Columbia opposite Troutdale. Runners should allow forty minutes to get there from downtown on a Saturday morning.
If you missed the Oregon Wine Run Series event in McMinnville, fear not; another 5k Wine Run / Walk is on Saturday, October 19! This one, not only Halloween-themed but also “haunted,” takes place at Van Duzer Vineyards in Dallas, OR. The cost of registration to run through the vineyards is $35 ($25 for ages 1-20). Allow about ninety minutes to drive there from downtown.
The weekend just before Halloween presents a trifecta of hair-raising race options. On Saturday, October 26, there is the Great Pumpkin Run in Southeast Portland—with a 5k, a 10k, a half marathon, and a kids’ race. These all begin and end in Sellwood Riverfront Park. Costumes are encouraged, and the registration prices ($25-$105) include food at the finish.
The next day, Sunday, October 27, there is the Scary Run in Washougal. As the race website says, “If the running doesn’t increase your heart rate, being chased by monsters, zombies, and psycho freaks will!” There are 5k, 10k, and 15k options, with fees being $57, $72, and $92, respectively. The races will start at Reflection Plaza in downtown Washougal–approximately 35 minutes from downtown–and the races will be followed by food and festivities.
Also on the 27 is the inaugural Bridges Trick-or-Trot Charity 5k. Participants are encouraged to run, walk, or roll this ADA-accessible route. The registration fee of $35 will support Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic, “a student-led healthcare clinic whose mission is to engage vulnerable and underserved populations by providing free, low-barrier, participant-centered care and services” here in Portland. This race takes place on the westside waterfront.
So, sign up for a race or two, make a training plan, and get out into the crisp autumn air!
Contributor has a great way of writing. Super helpful for those who want to get those legs moving; thanks, Audrey!