Oregon is home to several “destination races” for a lot of runners who travel to here from outside of the Pacific Northwest. For those of us who call Oregon home, we look to races outside of our immediate area and sometimes we find a real gem that is really not that far away. The Lake Chelan Shore to Shore Marathon is just that gem!
Lake Chelan is an amazing and beautiful lake located in Central Washington. The lake is glacier fed, 55 miles long and the area has become a hotbed for wineries in recent years, making Chelan and Manson popular tourist stops. Beyond the beauty of the area, the weather is a lot like Central Oregon in that it gets about 300 days of sunshine per year, meaning there are a boat load of runners who love this place!
The Lake Chelan Shore to Shore Marathon is celebrating its 14th year and is again the last Boston qualifier of the year in the Pacific Northwest, something race organizers are keen to point out. The marathon is also a USATF sanctioned event. Behind this race are the fine folks at Run Wenatchee, who do a great job of promoting the running scene in Central WA. Check them out on Facebook for more information.
You will be treated to views like this one all along the course (Runner’s Magazine has described the course as one of the most scenic in the United States) and trust me, it never gets old. The race host, the Lake Chelan chamber of commerce, is set to have a beer garden at the finish as they did last year. The race also benefits the high school cross country and track teams of Lake Chelan and Manson.
When: Saturday, September 12th. Start time is 7am.
Cost/Register: Marathon = $106.59. Half = $85.39. 10K = $64.29. Register here.
