Participating in a race series can be a lot of fun and present a unique challenge. In most cases, you run the same course each time, so you can compare your times or use them to test out a new race strategy. Also in most cases, you’ll see familiar faces each time, providing the chance to meet new runner-friends or start a friendly competition. And they’re often packaged for a more reasonable price than if you sign up for individual races.
Below are race series that we know of for 2020 or that happened in 2019 that we hope to see again (this is noted with **). Other series will pop up throughout the year so keep your eyes open. The series below are posted in order of when their first event takes place.
Greater PDX: ORRC 10k Series
Sign up by January 15, because that’s when registration closes for the ORRC 10k Series! This includes registration to all of the club’s 10k races. Note that you must be a member to sign up, but you can join as part of your registration. Click the Series name from above to see dates; the first race is this Saturday, January 4 at the Y2K in Forest Grove, but you can still join. The Series is $160 and includes 7 races.
Greater PDX: ORRC Half Marathon Series
This series also closes registration on January 15, because the first race is at the January 4 Y2K run. There are 5 races for $210 for members. ($250 for non-members, but since registration to join the club is $45, it’s only $5 more for all the club perks like free registration to the annual banquet, the quarterly Oregon Distance Runner Magazine, and $10 off all other ORRC races.)
Beaverton/Hillsboro: ParkRun 5k Series
This is a free series that runs every Saturday (there may be weeks they have to skip, which will be posted on their website, but only in rare instances).
Beaverton: PRC Winter 5k Series
Races #2 and #3 are still to come in this 2019-2020 series from the Beaverton PRC store. Series pricing was only available for all 3; you can sign up for each of the last 2 for $39 which includes breakfast.
Newport: Ardor Adventures Winter Trail Run Series
This race series has different routes and distances (3-6 miles) which is a great way to try out new trails. If you sign up for all 5, it’s $75; individual races are $20. Races are January 14 and 28, February 11 and 25, and March 10.
Eugene: Taco Tuesday Twilight Trot and Salsa Saturday/Sunday
The dates for the 2020 series are Sun Feb 2, Sat May 9, Tues June 2, Sat July 25, and Tues Aug 18. Registration is per race and is $25 which includes a taco bar and beverages. Bonus: this race has a trivia round.
Eugene/Springfield: Oregon Track Club Series
OTC members can participate for no cost; non-members can sign up for individual races for $5. The distances and locations vary, and dates for 2020 are March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, August 13, September 10, and October 8.
Portland: Foot Traffic Youth Spring Track Meets**
Young runners in 8th grade and younger can run for a low price ($3/runner last year) at these meets. In 2019, the first of 4 meets was April 12 and the last was May 10th.
Portland: Portland Parks 5k Series
The 2020 schedule is out! Races are on April 26, May 17, June 14, July 12, August 16, and September 13 at Portland parks from Fernhill to Gabriel and everywhere in-between. Races are $10 each.
Portland: Go Beyond Spring Trail Series
Proceeds from this series go to the Forest Park Conservancy, with 5 races at $80. Races are all at Forest Park and are scheduled for Wednesdays May 6 and 20, June 3 and 17, and July 1.
Bend: Go Beyond Bend Trail Series
The Bend series races are on Thursdays June 4 and 18 and July 2 and 16. Locations vary from race to race and are posted online the Monday before each race. The series has a price bump on January 15 from $70 to $75.
Portland: Foot Traffic All-Comer Track Meets**
Kids and adults can run at this race series that has, in the past, been on Tuesdays at Grant High School in June and July. 2019 prices were $4/athlete or $6/family.
Beaverton: THPRD Summer Twilight Track Meets**
In 2019, these races were on Thursdays at Westview High School. The meets were free and for kids age 2 and older, including heats/competitions for grown-ups.
Beaverton: Bowerman Track XC Series**
“A fun, low-key series of races,” is a perfect description of this race series. The distance each week is 3k and there are always a lot of youth runners at these races. The series is free and has typically been run on Wednesday nights in August, hosted at the Nike campus.
Beaverton: Run Northbest 5k Series**
If this series returns for 2020 it will be the 3rd year, and I hope it does. Last year there were 3 races, all on Wednesdays at 6:30p on the Fanno Creek Trail; and there was beer at each race. The price last year was $50 for all 3 races.
Portland: Stumptown XC Series**
Locations for this race are literally all over the map, including one in North Bonneville, Wash. in 2019, but mainly in North and East PDX. This is a cross-country series and offers separate races for women and men. 2019 price was $50 for the series or $15 for an individual race.
Beaverton: PRC Winter 5k Series**
Hopefully this will return for 2020-2021! This current series, races are on the 2nd Saturday of each month.
