Courtesy OktoberfestThe start of the Oktoberfest 10k/5k from 2010, before there was a half marathon, too.
One Oregon race that has continued to grow year after year the the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest 10k/5k. Held in conjunction with the festival that shares it’s name, the Oktoberfest Road Race is popular and one that deserves a spot on your race calendar.
First, the vitals:
Oktoberfest Road Race 5k/10k/Half Marathon (Mt. Angel)
When: Saturday, September 17, 2016
What time: “Approximately” 9a
Where: Humpert Park on Alder Street
Register: Online here for the 5k or 10k for $26 before September 14 or day of race for $30. The half marathon is $75 online by 9/4 and $80 day of race.
The 5k and 10k registrations include a “Finisher” pint glass and a beer, with tech shirts and hats available for purchase. The half marathon registration includes the same goodies, plus a tech shirt if you sign up by September 8, a wristband to the rest of the festival, and a “Finisher” hat pin. The hat is an Oktoberfest thing, not exclusive to the race but a nod to the festival’s German heritage.
All courses have rolling hills; but the total climbs are minimal. Course previews are below:
The Mt. Angel Oktoberfest 10k will start at Humpert Park and run south on Humpert Lane. There are a few short, steep grades in the first half mile before a very generous downhill brings you to the first mile marker. A short distance into mile 2, you’ll start a gradual climb, which will continue as you turn left onto Hook, pass mile 2, turn left again on Downs, follow its curves past mile 3, and then turn left onto May for a northerly stint. The highest elevation point is on May, shortly before you reach E. College and the 4 mile mark. The entire 5th mile is on E. College, which is mainly downhill – pretty quickly, too. In the last mile of the 10k you run through Mt. Angel, and yes, the last mile does have some uphill – it won’t just be your legs playing tired tricks on you. You’ll have to run up E. College to St. Marys, turn right and run north to Taylor, then turn left and run north again on Birch. When Birch meets E. Marquam, you’ll turn right for one block and then turn on your speed for the final few blocks to the finish on Alder back at Humpert Park.
The 5k course starts out and finishes the same as the 10k, however you’ll only get part of the way down Humpert Lane before reaching the 5k turnaround and retracing your steps. Once you reach E. College, you’ll turn left and finish on the same route that the 10k will take.
The half marathon course makes use of the 10k course, but first it takes a tour to the northeast of town, primarily on rural roads with some long straightaways that will be nice to help you establish a pace. You’ll start out heading north and then east on E. Marquam Road. The first road you come to will be Boehmer, where you’ll turn left and run over Zollner Creek to Dominic Creek. Shortly after passing the three-mile marker, you’ll get to a more interesting section of the course and approach Humpert Park via Kennedy High School. From there you’ll be on the 10k course.
Arrangements were made for participants to park behind the Festhalle/Biergarten off Academy Street and ride a shuttle to Humpert Park. You’ll also want to take note that after the race, you will pick up your beer and pint glass at the Prostgarten (College St. and Garfield St.).
