You don’t have to be Peter Cotton Tail to enjoy the Hop Hop Half and 5K along the beautiful Columbia river, but there will be some runners in bunny ears, if not full costumes… so come on out and see what this fun event is all about. Event is capped at 1,500 participants.
The Easter-Themed race has mimosas, brunch snacks (including cinnamon rolls, fruit, hard boiled eggs, and more), Easter Egg painting, costumes, a USATF certified half marathon course, and both courses promise to be flat and perfect for setting a new PR or for beginners looking for a great course for your first 5K or Half Marathon.
The 5k course takes participants north on 33rd ave to the bike path for an out and back course along the Columbia river. Half marathon course will head south on 33rd for one mile before heading back north towards Marine Drive. This means half marathoners will get some extra cheers as they pass the start line again at mile 2. The half is described as over 10 miles of flat, smooth bike path with gorgeous views of Mt. Hood and the mighty Columbia River. The course also follows an out and back format on the Marine Drive Bike path. The turnaround is right at the I-205 bridge and then the end of the course will take finishers back to NE 33rd Ave. where the race began.
There will be 5 aid stations on the course for the half marathon (with cliff shot gels and nuun hydration electrolytes) and a restroom at each aid station.
The time limit for the 5K is 55 minutes to ease congestion on the bike path.
For the half marathon, the time limit has a little loop hole. The race organizers have worked hard with city permits and planning to make this an event for everyone at any fitness level, but course closures do require that participants maintain a 16 minute per mile pace. However, since the majority of the course is on a bike path, the race website states that walkers (or runners) with a pace that does not meet that requirement should still be able to finish with traffic being opened back up, as long as participants slower than a 16mm pace follow traffic laws. If you are on the course when traffic has been opened back up, please stay on the shoulder or use sidewalks when available and use crosswalks (when they say you can cross). Aid stations will be up long enough for 19 minute per mile paces.
Registration is “not as early bird” until March 1st when registration becomes “no shirty bird”. Shirts are only guaranteed until March 1st, so hop on over to register today! The next price increase is March 27th. “Not as early bird” prices are $75 for the half marathon (which includes a tech shirt, Easter themed finisher’s medal, Free mimosas in a commemorative flute) and $39 for the 5K (with a tech shirt if registered before March 1st and free mimosas in a commemorative champagne flute).
Shirts are sized for men’s and women’s cut and are fitted, so pick your shirt size accordingly. Size swaps are not available until after the race.
Here is a video taken from Spring 2013, the race’s inaugural year. You get an idea of the beautiful course and I love the enthusiasm of the participants explaining how much fun they had.
Race Details:
Hop Hop Half website: HopHopHalf.com
Where: NE 33rd Ave. Portland. (click on the link for a google map that you can type your own starting location to get directions to the start line. The race doesn’t actually have ad address, but the google map is set up to coordinates).
When: Saturday, April 4th
Bib pick up begins at 6:30am
7:30 am 5K begins
8:15 am the Half Marathon begins
9:15 am-noon: Post race party
Registration: Click Here for details.
Bib Pickup Options:
Wednesday, April 1st, Down Town Foot Traffic (333 SW Taylor Ave.), 12-6pm
Thursday, April 2nd, NE Foot Traffic (4020 NE Fremont St.), 11-7pm
Friday, April 3rd, SE Foot Traffic (7718 SE 13th Ave.), 11-6pm
