Mt Angel Oktoberfest Road Race T-shirt 2014
As a born and raised German who immigrated into the US in her early twenties, I always feel content and slightly giddy when I can experience the happiness that is German style street fairs and festivals. That’s why I won’t miss the Mt Angel Oktoberfest, which takes place September 11-14 in Mt Angel, Oregon. For the past ten years, the Oktoberfest Road Race has been part of the celebration, and I’m excited to run it this fall for the third consecutive year.
The race takes place on Saturday morning, before most of the Oktoberfest gets going. It starts and finishes at Humpert Park, just a few blocks east of Hwy 214, Mt Angel’s main thoroughfare. Parking is available on the neighborhood streets surrounding the park, and it can get tight, so if you can I recommend that you carpool to the race. There will be coffee available before the race and a few vendor tables to peruse. The park also features a very nice playground for the younger demographics.
The kids race starts at 8:40am. It is a quick mile around the block. Parents are invited to run with their kids if they want to. The speedy kids always impress me with their quick finish, but the real gold lies in finishes like the one by the four-year old girl who had been galloping the entire distance.
The beanie comes in handy on snowy days!
The 5k and 10k start together at 9am heading south on Alder Street just in front of the city park. Neighborhood streets lead runners to the east, out-of-town and past some fields, with the Abbey on the left hand side. The course is the same for both races for a bit more than a mile. At that point the 5k runners turn around back into town and circle back and around Humpert Park to finish southbound on Alder Street.
10k runners continue to keep the Abbey on their left for the next five miles, running on rolling hills through hops and barley fields. The last mile of the 10k course is back in town, joining the same circle around the block that the 5k took.
Finishers can expect breads and pastries, coffee and water at the finish area. This year, run participants will also be able to get a free beer in the Oktoberfest Festhalle by showing their bib.
When you’re approaching the Oktoberfest Road Race, please be aware that the Oregon Marathon is going on the same day. While the start times and start locations of the two races are not close to each other, the added number of people could make parking and transit a bit more challenging.
Oktoberfest Road Race Details:
When: Saturday, September 13, 2014, 9am
Where: Humpert Park, Mt Angel, OR
What: 5k, 10k, Kids’ Mile
Registration cost: $25 (Sold separately: tshirt $12, beanie hat $12)
Registartion: Online here
Registration includes: chip timed race, course support, post race refreshments and music, awards in standard 5year age groups.
