If there’s one thing all runners love, it’s a Bavarian parade to honor the marriage of King Ludwig I and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen…or at least we love the modern day interpretation of Oktoberfest. The official festivities begin in Munich on September 21, but the good folks in Mount Angel are getting the party started closer to home a week early with the Mount Angel Oktoberfest Road Race on Saturday, September 14. The race is a culmination of the Oktoberfest weekend, which is in its 54th year of celebrating German music, fun, and of course beer.
Runners can channel their inner Bavarian with a 5k, 10k, or half marathon race. The course is gorgeous, showcasing views of farmland, vineyards, and nurseries, and it’s well equipped with water, Gatorade and port-a-potty stations. In addition to hosting races for humans, Mount Angel also hosts races for wiener dogs, so four-legged friends won’t be left out of the fun. Finishers of the 5k and 10k receive a hat pin and a commemorative pint glass, which can be used for a complementary beer in the Prostgarden. Additional keepsakes such as a technical shirt, German hat, and bierstein are available for purchase.
As the festival organizers say, “Oktoberfest is a time for joy, celebration and gemütlichkeit – the German word meaning a situation that induces a cheerful mood, of belonging and social acceptance,” so come to Mount Angel and celebrate by running a joyful race followed by a well earned pint of beer (lederhosen optional).
What: Mount Angel Oktoberfest Road Race
Distance: 5k, 10k, half marathon
Where: Humpert Park (400 Alder St, Mount Angel, OR 97362)
When: Saturday, September 14, 2019
Packet Pick Up:
- Thursday, September 12 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at John F. Kennedy High School Commons (890 East Marquam St, Mount Angel, OR 97362)
- Friday, September 13 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at JFK High School Commons
- Saturday, September 14 from 6:45 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. for half marathon and 7:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. for 5k and 10k at Humpert Park
Start Time:
- 8:00 a.m. – half marathon
- 9:00 a.m. – 5k and 10k
Cost:
- 5k – $35
- 10k – $35
- Half marathon – $79.50
Registration: Online or day of race at Humpert Park starting at 6:45 a.m.
