After waiting seven years between running the 2018 and 2025 Cascade Half Marathon, I went back-to-back and took on the 2026 event again. This two decade-plus Turner staple happens around the turn of the calendar and is truly one of Oregon’s classic January races – and one of the few half marathons in the month.
And boy am I glad I registered for 2026!
Some races quietly earn their reputation over time. The Cascade Half Marathon is one of those events. It doesn’t rely on spectacle or gimmicks—it just keeps showing up, year after year, offering runners a dependable, well-executed January test.
I joked with William from Eclectic Edge Racing afterward that maybe this was the year I should retire from the race. That was mostly said with a laugh, but it also spoke to the feeling of the day. Conditions like these make you wonder if you’ve just experienced the absolute ceiling of what January racing can offer.
This event has seen it all over the years—fog, freezing rain, snow, bone-chilling cold, and the occasional pleasant surprise. In my 2025 recap, I called that year’s weather “about as ideal as you could hope for,” and at the time, that felt accurate. It was cold and heavily overcast, with temperatures below 30 and visibility limited by fog. But it was DRY and very runnable.
Then 2026 happened.
Race morning arrived with clear skies, bright sunshine, and temperatures hovering in the mid-30s. There wasn’t a hint of fog and barely a cloud to speak of. The sun made it feel warmer than the thermometer suggested, and you could sense it in the crowd—people were loose, smiling, and genuinely excited to be there. For a race that just saw its highest half marathon participation in several years, it felt like the stars aligned.
While no one should ever expect this kind of weather in January, it was a reminder of how special this event can feel when things break just right.
One area where Cascade Half consistently shines—regardless of conditions—is its start and finish setup at Cascade High School and Middle School. Having access to an indoor gym and real bathrooms is a huge quality-of-life upgrade when it’s cold outside. Instead of shivering in a parking lot, runners can stay warm, stretch, and relax until it’s time to head to the line. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference.
The course itself is simple and honest: an out-and-back along quiet country roads. Traffic is minimal, drivers are generally respectful, and flaggers manage the busier intersections. It’s flat, calm, and distraction-free—ideal for settling into a rhythm and focusing on effort rather than logistics.
And maybe it was the weather, maybe it was consistent winter training, or maybe it was the flat profile and positive energy on the course—but I ran significantly faster here than in years past. I took nearly six minutes off my previous Cascade time and knocked about three minutes off my half marathon PR overall.
None of that really matters to anyone reading this (and it shouldn’t), but it does underline an important point: this is a course that’s genuinely built for speed if you’re looking to race rather than just survive January.
Post-race, runners are welcomed back inside for a cafeteria-style spread that includes chili, cookies, coffee, and hot chocolate. It’s exactly what you want after finishing a January half marathon: warm, comforting, and communal.
The Cascade Half Marathon remains one of the best ways to start a new running year in Oregon. Weather will always be the wild card, but the organization, course, and runner-focused details are consistently strong. The Willamette Valley Road Runners clearly care about getting this right, and it shows.
Whether you’re returning after a long absence or considering it for the first time, Cascade is a race that deserves a spot on your calendar. Classics become classics for a reason—and this one continues to earn it.
