Legacy Health Starlight Run Logo
The Legacy Health Starlight 5K Run, with about 7,500-8,000 runners is one of the largest Fun Run 5K in Portland and may be the largest Fun Run 5K in the entire Northwest! Hamilton Events sure knows how to put on a race, as this is definitely a fun one and going on its 36h year! You will see costumes galore (and might even feel left out if you are not wearing one). This amazing race runs through downtown Portland and along a portion of the Starlight Parade route in front of about 150,000 cheering spectators! This race benefits a program near and dear to me heart – the Legacy Health Rehabilitation and Therapy program. My daughter..
1000s of runners start the Starlight 5K Run
..was in this program in December of 2010, after her surgery, and the therapists were amazing! Legacy Rehabilitation Services provides a wide range of therapies to pediatric and adult patients. Their highly trained staff specializes in sports medicine/injury prevention, orthopedics, neurological, cancer, speech, and burn rehabilitation. My daughter was an inpatient, but they offer a variety of services to include outpatient clinics in addition to the hospital setting. They treated my daughter with excellence and care, and it is a program that although you don’t want to be in it, your glad you are.
Maryalicia in costume at the 2011 Starlight 5K Run
But that’s not all! This race also supports the Girls on the Run! An amazing learning program for girls 8 to 13 years of age. They teach life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running games. The program culminates with the girls running a celebratory 5k at the Starlight Run! The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. They still need more running Buddies for these young girls to run with them on May 31 at the Starlight Run! Go to www.girlsontherunpdx.org to learn more and volunteer!
This event is open to all ages, as long as you can keep a 14-minute mile pace- because that parade is coming right after the runners. In fact, after the runners pass mile one- the Starlight parade begins! How exciting is that to run before 1000s of spectators – let me tell you it is, and the energy is amazing. I ran in 2011 in a Bavarian costume. It was my first costumed race ever and I was hooked. The crowd energy was so amazing in fact that I ran a 6 min mile pace down that hill in mile one forgetting that I had to go back up a hill to finish and it was hot…very hot (I believe it was 86 degrees that night). Let’s just say that Jaeger I was carrying found a home in a fellow friend along the course.
Details:
Race: Legacy Health Starlight 5K Run (No walking allowed on this course)
When: Saturday, May 31, 2014, Costume Costest starts at 6:30pm and the Race starts at 7:45pm
Where: Lincoln High School Field (SW 16th between Salmon & Jefferson)
Bring your ‘A’ Game. These Costumed runners do not mess around when it comes to winning
Course: This course starts on a short steep hill then takes you downhill for a little over a mile until you hit 4th. You run on a flat street until starting to head uphill on salmon traversing streets until you hit the finish line. Be prepared for warm weather and high humidity. Water will be available at the start and finish areas, but NOT along the 3.1-mile course.
Registration: Registration includes your bib (NO CHIP – this is a fun run), tons of spectators, and a coupon on your bib for a free meal at the Old Spaghetti Factory and live music, food and beverages and a parade after it all. You can also purchase a retro tie-dyed souvenir T-shirt -for an additional $15 while supplies last.
2014 Starlight Shirt for an additional $15
Costumes: This year’s theme is “Making Memories.” This is the Oregon’s largest costume contest. Categories for youth, adults and groups. Prizes awarded by celebrity judges and audience applause! This will be my first race with the Pacific Northwest Costumed Runners! We will be running as Characters from a popular Disney movie that we feel embodies this theme well. Look for us!
Registration link (On-line registration closes at noon Pacific Time on Thursday, May 29.) : http://starlightrun.com/register-today/
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Questions? Email Desireevents@aol.com
This is not an event to miss if you are a costumed runner, or a runner that thrives on the energy of a crowd! And the afterparty with tons of booths witgh free samples and goodies before and after the event is not to be missed. Food Carts, Vendors, live Band- this is an event that is not to be missed!
