PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA RIVER POWER MARATHON
[quote style=”2″]Columbia River Power Marathon Attracts Participants from All Over U.S.[/quote]
Registration is now open for September’s Columbia River Power Marathon.
Last year, 400 people took part in the event, including participants from New York, Hawaii, Alaska and places in between. This year’s marathon, to be held Saturday, Sept. 20, will feature five events for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities: 8K walk/run, half marathon walk/run, marathon, ultra, and marathon relay.
The day will feature a potato bar, live music, massage station and prizes. Participants are encouraged to form teams and bring their own cheerleaders and make a day of it in Eastern Oregon. Register on the Columbia River Marathon website.
The start and finish will be by the Quality Inn and Big River Golf Course in Umatilla.
The route:
From the start, participants descend to the waterfront and traverse the Columbia River to Washington via McNary Dam. After crossing the McNary Dam, the route meanders upon the basalt bluffs overlooking the river. At 2.5 miles, 8K runners and walkers turn around and retrace their tracks back to the finish line by Big River Golf Course on Willamette Avenue.
Marathoners, half Marathoners, and relay participants continue to Plymouth, Wash., before returning to Oregon across the I82/US 395 foot bridge. Upon arrival in Oregon, the route continues on nature trails along the Columbia River. From the nature trails the course continues past the dock at the Port of Umatilla and drops into McNary Beach Park. At this juncture, half marathoners climb back to the finish while the marathoners continue for five miles and ultra participants will continue along the Columbia River and the earthen Lewis and Clark Trail to Hat Rock State Park. After looping past Hat Rock, participants return to McNary Beach Park on the historical Lewis and Clark Trail before ascending to the finish.
For more information, call the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce at 54-567-6151.
