The ORRC Garlic Festival is returning this August 9th – a Saturday – with the usual 10k and new this year a 5k to replace the 2-miler. On the roster for both the ORRC 10k Series and 5k Series, this will likely be a good-sized event of around 300 participants or more. Like all ORRC events, there is a discount offered to ORRC members who sign up online ahead of time.
The 10k course has its fair share of hills as it loops north and west of North Plains around Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course. It’s a very pretty course for the first five miles; and that last mile – well, if you didn’t go out too fast you’ll like it. There are just enough turns in that last mile to keep it interesting!
The 5k course pretty much follows the perimeter of North Plains. It’s a very flat town, so you’ll be able to use this race if you’re trying for a PR.
“Fun Stinks” is the slogan for the ORRC Garlic Festival 10k/5k, because of all the elephant garlic grown in the North Plains, Ore. area. (I, personally, think garlic is wonderful and not “stinky” … “aromatic” is a better word!)
The 10k starts at the corner of NW 311th and Wascoe in North Plains at the Jesse Mays Community Center. There are a few turns in the first few blocks to put you onto Glencoe/Shadybrook. From there it’s a straight shot past mile 1 and then a gentle curve putting you on Pumpkin Ridge Road around mile 1.5. Up until this point, it’s been pretty flat, with even some nice little downhill sections. But at 1.5, that all changes.
