The oldest running half marathon in Oregon is the Eastern Oregon Half Marathon. This event is held in conjunction with the Spray Rodeo in the tiny town of Spray over Memorial Day weekend.
I don’t mean this as a dig, but Spray is in the middle of nowhere. When I was looking for the biggest city to draw a reference to, the nearest I could find was Prineville (83 miles), John Day (69 miles) or Condon (51 miles). It’s pretty isolated. But it’s bound to be Eastern Oregon at its finest.
The half will be point to point (bus transportation will be available to transport all runners to the start), and is described simply as a point-to-point race that:
…begins 1/4 mile north of Service Creek on HWY 19 and follows the scenic John Day River Valley, to finish in the town of Spray, OR. The surface is paved, with a twelve-foot rise in elevation between start and finish. Participants will run with traffic on the right side of the road.
As far as I can tell via Google Maps and the above description, this is the general route of the course. It is important to be aware that this race is run entirely on the highway, which will not be closed to traffic. So, please run with awareness and caution!
After the race, locker rooms/showers are available at the school, just bring your own towel. There will be a pancake, ham, and egg breakfast at the school, as well. There will also be age group awards handed out at the post-race ceremony.
This is one of the most affordable half marathons around with a price tag of just $35! There is also a 5K and 10K option as well. Plan to make a weekend of it and enjoy the Spray Rodeo, parade, and other happenings at the rodeo grounds. This is the 77th year of the Spray Rodeo – a staple in Eastern Oregon that you don’t want to miss!
