Thank You for Registering for Our Inaugural Astoria Run on the River Half Marathon & 5K

Thank you for registering for our inaugural Astoria Run on the River Half Marathon & 5K. We have been working hard to make this a memorable event for you. Here is some information you will need for the event:

RACE DAY INFO

Sunday, June 1st, 2014
9:00 AM Start Time
This is a chip timed event!

PRE-RACE

Packet pick up will begin at 7:00 AM and continue until 8:45 AM day of the race. There will also be packet pick up available on Saturday, May 31s from 10:00 to 4:00 at the Astoria Recreation Center, located at 1411 Grand Ave. in Astoria. If you registered online, you will need to sign your waiver prior to receiving your race bib.

The start and finish for the race will be at the 6th Street Viewing Platform (6th and W. Marine Drive.) There is ample parking available. There is no gear check available, as you will be able to leave your gear in your vehicles. There will be water, Gatorade, and porta-potties at the start/finish area. Additional restrooms and porta-potties will be available on the course.

½ Marathoners: If you expected race time is over 4 hours, an early start time is available. However, you must make accommodations 48 hours prior to the event by calling (503) 298-2460, please leave a message. This is a chip timed event, so your results will be calculated with the 9:00 AM runners.

5K COURSE INFO

We believe that our course will be one of the most beautiful and scenic courses you have ever run or walked. The majority of the course will be right along the majestic Columbia River. You may see Eagles, Otters, Sea Lions, and many other water birds along this course.

Please be advised that this will NOT be a closed course, and there may be other runners/walkers/bikers along the Riverwalk. We will, however, have volunteers on the course to help monitor as well as help with the few crossings, particularly on the west end.

5K runners will complete an out and back, running along the Riverwalk towards the east. You will pass a historic cannery, Buoy Beer (one of our sponsors!) continuing east past the Columbia Maritime Museum and historic train depot, past the Mill Pond neighborhood and out towards the East End Mooring basin where you will undoubtedly hear the barking of sea lions. For you Goonies fans, once you pass Safeway, look up and to your right, and you will see the Goonies house. You will also see the school used in Kindergarten Cop. Shortly afterwards, you will turn around and head back to the finish, with the view of the Megler Bridge in sight. There will be one aid/water station along the 5k course, which you will go by twice, at approximately mile 1 and mile 2.

There is also a public restroom (and aid station) just past the turnaround point if you can’t wait till the end of the race to use the restroom.

Please be advised…you will be running across trestles and trolley tracks, which can be slick when wet (and it “sometimes” rains in Astoria!) and there are also some uneven surfaces. Please watch your footing in these areas!

½ Marathon COURSE INFO

Runners will begin by heading west along the Riverwalk, under the Megler Bridge, past the Maritime Memorial and trolley station, completing the trail on the west end, where the Young’s River connects with the Columbia River. There runners will turn around, and run back towards the start area, and follow the course of the 5k runners along the River Walk. The course will then take a turn into the Mill Pond neighborhood, running in a loop before getting back on the Riverwalk. Runners will then continue east on the Riverwalk, past the East End Mooring Basin and 39th Street Pier and run a bit further until you come onto a “Y” in the path. Runners will veer right, which will lead you into the west entrance to the Alderbrook neighborhood. Follow this path into LaPlante Park, where you will turn around and head back down the path to continue onto the Riverwalk. Be advised that there is a very small part of this path (.2 miles) which is on firmly packed gravel. Also, there are tree roots pushing up under the asphalt along the path, so watch your footing. Once you get back on the Riverwalk, you will continue east, crossing additional railroad trestles, where you will see the Alderbrook neighborhood to your right and Tongue Point in front of you. You will exit the Riverwalk at the Alderbrook east entrance. There you will turn right into the Alderbrook neighborhood. There are some very short hills in this neighborhood, and there will be plenty of volunteers to help guide you through. These streets will NOT be closed to traffic, so please heed the cones that will be placed there for you to run inside, for your safety. For fans of the show Dexter, you will possibly recognize the house used in the series finale in this neighborhood. You will turn around at the end of Birch Street, and head back towards the Riverwalk, but you will first take a quick trip out and back towards the Astoria Lagoons. After that quick jaunt, you will hop back onto the Riverwalk, and run west towards the finish, with one last run through Mill Pond on your way back. There will be 7 aid stations along the course offering water at all, Gatorade and gummy bears at some. There will also be a public restroom you will pass twice as well as a porta potty on the course you will pass twice. Please see attached map for additional information.

POST RACE

Buoy Beer will be hosting our post-race food and drink, as well as our award ceremonies & social hour. It’s conveniently located right next to the start/finish area. They will open at 10:30 AM for post-race drinks and lunch will begin at 11:00 AM, and awards at 11:45 AM. We will also be randomly selecting and posting 20 random race bib numbers on the “Futures Board” to receive cash towards free drinks and food at Buoy between 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM, so make sure to stop by and celebrate with your fellow runners/walkers.

Lunch: Your choices for lunch will be a burger or chicken sandwich, potato salad, veggie pasta, and fresh fruit. Lunch will be FREE for half marathon finishers. The cost for 5K finishers and spectators is $10, if purchased by Friday, May 30th at 5:00 PM to pre-purchase use this link or purchase a meals can be purchased the day of the race for $15. Drinks will be an additional cost.

Your race bib will also gain you access to the Astoria Aquatic Center on Sunday, June 1st between 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM. Just in case you need a post-race hot tub soak, swim, or shower. The Astoria Aquatic Center is located at 1997 Marine Drive, Astoria, OR 97103.

AWARDS:

½ Marathon Finishers:

First place male/female winners will receive $200
Second place male/female winners will receive $100
Third place male/female winners will receive $50
Age division winners, first through fourth place, will receive ribbons
All finishers receive a FREE lunch
All finishers receive a FREE shirt
All finishers receive a FREE medal
All finishers receive FREE entrance into the Astoria Aquatic Center (1997 Marine Drive) with race bib

5K Finishers:

First place male/female winners will receive $60 gift certificate to Gimre’s Shoes & FREE Lunch at Buoy Beer
Second place male/female winners will receive $30 gift certificate to the Sunday Market & FREE Lunch at Buoy Beer
Third place male/female winners will receive a commemorative Astoria Run on the River Sweatshirt
Age division winners, first through fourth place, will receive ribbons
All finishers receive a FREE shirt
All finishers receive FREE entrance into the Astoria Aquatic Center (1997 Marine Drive) with race bib

Thank you for participating in the inaugural Astoria Run on the River Half Marathon & 5K, we hope you have a great time, and please feel free to contact me with any questions,

Angela Cosby

Parks & Recreation Director

Dept: (503) 325-7275

Office: (503) 298-2460