I’m a little biased, seeing as this run not only takes place in my hometown, but starts about half a mile from my front door and traverses parts of my favorite running routes, but this event is a not-miss for me! With three race distances, 1 mile, 5k, and 10k, you can take your pick of what kind of run you feel like. There is also a kids run run in the park after the longer distances. Scheduled for April 23rd, the weather is often hit or miss, but there are covered areas at the Discovery Meadows park and the view of the hills on the west end of town is gorgeous.
The longer routes are unchanged from previous years and the one mile is a simple loop that goes through the park and along a street just south of it. It is mostly flat but does look like it has a couple sharp turns. The 5K has a couple minor rises as you cross streets, but is a fast course along a park and residential streets. The 10K is a bigger loop, mostly through residential areas and a park, but it does have a distinct hill at mile 4. I climb it weekly and enjoy it, but others don’t seem to share my fondness for that ascent. The big races all start at 9 am with the kids run after at 10:30.
This event is a fundraiser for the non-profit McMinnville Montessori School. Registration for the 5k/10k is $35 for adults and $15 for those under 18. The mile run is $15 for all entrants and the kids run is $10. DOE registration runs from 7:45 to 8:30 and the kids run registration is open until 10.
Small town runs are often the best way to experience the running community and this race has a great atmosphere. My family has a great time every year, and the 9 am start makes it a little easier to get everyone ready. The courses are beautiful in their own way and fast, making it worth the trip. April 23rd is also a great time to get a benchmark to gauge how much you have improved over the winter before the race season truly starts.
