Mount Angel.
Saturday, September 13, 2014.
If you’re running a race there that day, you’d better double check your map.
Both the Mount Angel Oktoberfest 10k and the Oregon Marathon and Half Marathon are starting in downtown Mount Angel, and they even share a course for a few miles. While it doesn’t appear that the runners from one race will interfere with the runners in the other, it should prove to make for some interesting logistics. Note: the races are not associated; the Mount Angel Oktoberfest has been run since 2004 and is now run by the team at Race Northwest and the Oregon Marathon and Half Marathon is put on by the fine folks at Uberthons.
The first three miles of the Oregon Marathon and Half Marathon are the same roads on which the final three miles of the Oktoberfest 10k will be run. Now, I would wager that all of the participants will be through the first three miles by the time the Oktoberfest 10k participants start their race, but it takes time to set our course markings, put volunteers and aid stations in place, and be sure the course is safe.
The Oregon Marathon and Half Marathon start at 7:30a from Garfield and Church Street in Mount Angel. 2.5 hours later, the Mount Angel Oktoberfest 10k starts at Humpert Park on Alder Street. Oktoberfest encourages their participants to park on the street near the park, because parking is limited at the park. The Oregon Marathon and Half Marathon participants are asked to park in a field just west of highway 2014 where Cleveland and Sheridan Streets dead end and take a shuttle to the start area.
So, if you’re running one of these fine races (on a day that looks to be a nice one – maybe just a little warm) please take care when following course markings. And let us know about your experience by emailing us at runoregonblog@gmail.com!
