Over the past year or so, I have noticed that the city of Roseburg appears to be picking up steam when it comes to local races supporting local charities. I know Roseburg for being a strong Craft and Micro-brewery producing city, but the fact that more running events are hitting the main city of the Umpqua Valley is reason to take note as well.
The Roseburg K9 Pursuit 5K has been around fo5 years now and supports the Roseburg PD’s K9 Program. Unfortunately, Roseburg (as well as many cities in the state that have struggled economically with the decline of the timber industry), has seen it’s fair share of drug activity. And now, with the legalization of recreational marijuana use, these dogs may be looking at “unemployment”. Fortunately (and yet still unfortnunately), there are other harder drugs that still need to be sniffed out.
As someone who has been to Roseburg quite a few times over the past 15 months for work, I can attest that the 5k race course is a good one. It will be a large loop that starts and ends just off Stewart Parkway. Runners will run on paved trails through River Front Park, hit a small section of sidewalk on Garden Valley Boulevard, before connecting up again with the trails again. I have ran this area numerous times, and it is simple, straightforward, and one of my favorite places to run in the “urban” Roseburg city limits. There is some elevation gain, but nothing really major.
Proceeds will go to supporting the program to assist with keeping the streets safe of illegal drugs and dangerous individuals.
Roseburg K9 Pursuit 5K
When: 9am
Where: Stewart Park
Register: Online here; $30 (include shirt)
