Portland’s running scene is as vibrant and eclectic as the city itself — from the beloved Shamrock Run that transforms downtown streets into a St. Patrick’s Day celebration to the Boston-qualifier-flat Foot Traffic Flat on the pastoral farms of Sauvie Island. Portland runners enjoy some of the best mild-weather racing in the Pacific Northwest, with the Willamette River, Forest Park’s 80 miles of trails, and the volcanic peak of Mount Hood all within reach. Whether you’re chasing a PR on a flat waterfront course or exploring the lush trails of the Gorge, Portland has a race for every kind of runner.
Road Races in Portland
Hop Hop Half Marathon
The cutest Easter-weekend race in the Pacific Northwest, Hop Hop Half delivers mimosas, Easter bunny photos, spring scenery, and a gorgeous course at Lacamas Lake just east of Portland. Hosted by Portland’s beloved Foot Traffic running shops.
Date: Apr 04, 2026 | Distances: Half Marathon, 15K, 10K, 5K, 1 Mile | Location: Camas, OR | Official Site
Bend Marathon
The Bend Marathon showcases Central Oregon’s crown jewel city with a scenic course starting from the iconic Old Mill District, winding through the Deschutes River Trail and Bend’s most scenic neighborhoods, under the shadow of Mount Bachelor and the Cascade peaks.
Date: Apr 12, 2026 | Distances: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Race | Location: Bend, OR | Official Site
Newport Marathon
The Newport Marathon delivers a classic coastal marathon experience in one of Oregon’s most charming seaside towns, with routes along Yaquina Bay, the Pacific waterfront, and the storied Bayfront district, drawing runners from across the Pacific Northwest each late May.
Date: May 31, 2026 | Distances: Marathon, Half Marathon | Location: Newport, OR | Official Site
Helvetia Half Marathon
Consistently voted the #1 half marathon/5K/10K in the Northwest, the Helvetia Half sends runners through the pastoral Washington County countryside past a historic tavern, century farms, and sweeping hillside views before a stadium finish inside Hillsboro Ballpark.
Date: Jun 13, 2026 | Distances: Half Marathon, 10K, 5K | Location: Hillsboro, OR | Official Site
Foot Traffic Flat
The best Fourth of July running tradition in the Northwest, Foot Traffic Flat takes over Sauvie Island each Independence Day with a genuinely pancake-flat course perfect for PRs and a joyful patriotic atmosphere.
Date: Jul 04, 2026 | Distances: Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, 5K | Location: Portland, OR | Official Site
Columbia Gorge Marathon
The Columbia Gorge Marathon delivers a stunning autumn course through one of America’s most dramatic landscapes, running along the Historic Columbia River Highway through Hood River’s legendary orchards and vineyards with constant views of the river, basalt cliffs, and Cascade peaks.
Date: Oct 17, 2026 | Distances: Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay | Location: Hood River, OR | Official Site
Shamrock Run Portland
Portland’s largest and oldest running event transforms downtown streets into a St. Patrick’s Day celebration each March, drawing nearly 19,000 participants across five distances. The scenic waterfront course weaves past historic bridges and the iconic Portland skyline.
Date: Mar 14, 2027 | Distances: Half Marathon, 8K, 5K, 5K Walk, Leprechaun Lap | Location: Portland, OR | Official Site
Eugene Marathon
Running in the footsteps of legends like Steve Prefontaine and Bill Bowerman, the Eugene Marathon takes runners past hallowed Hayward Field, through the University of Oregon campus, and along the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path, finishing with an epic lap on the world’s most famous track.
Date: Apr 25, 2027 | Distances: Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, Kids Duck Dash | Location: Eugene, OR | Official Site
Holiday Half Portland
Portland’s favorite winter half marathon wraps up the race season in festive style every December, with carolers, cookies, and costumes at the LEED Platinum Daimler campus on Swan Island. Runners of all paces enjoy holiday music stations and a warm post-race celebration.
Date: Dec 13, 2026 | Distances: Half Marathon, 15K, 10K, 5K, Virtual | Location: Portland, OR | Official Site
Race for the Roses
The Rip City Race for the Roses celebrates Portland’s iconic Rose Festival each spring with a half marathon, 10K, 5K, and Kids Dash starting from the Rose Quarter Commons, with every finisher receiving a rose, a medal, and a mimosa.
Date: Dec 31, 2027 | Distances: Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 1K Kids Dash | Location: Portland, OR | Official Site
Pints to Pasta Portland
Pints to Pasta is a beloved Portland point-to-point race that begins with a fast run across the Broadway Bridge, follows the Willamette waterfront, and finishes at a classic pasta and Widmer beer celebration — the ultimate reward for a Saturday morning effort.
Date: Dec 31, 2027 | Distances: Half Marathon, 10K | Location: Portland, OR | Official Site
Trail Races in Portland
Timberline Trail Marathon
The Timberline Trail Marathon challenges runners on a spectacular high-altitude course on the slopes of Mount Hood, starting near the historic Timberline Lodge at 6,000 feet and winding through alpine meadows, old-growth forest, and snowfields with panoramic Cascade views.
Date: Jun 06, 2026 | Distances: Marathon, Half Marathon | Location: Government Camp, OR | Official Site
McKenzie River Trail Run
Oregon’s oldest ultramarathon held annually since 1988, the McKenzie River Trail Run sends runners on a breathtaking 31-mile journey through old-growth forest, past two spectacular waterfalls, alongside pristine Clear Lake, and by the surreal Tamolitch Pool where the river vanishes into a lava tube.
Date: Jun 13, 2026 | Distances: 31 Miles (ultramarathon) | Location: McKenzie Bridge, OR | Official Site
Haulin Aspen Trail Marathon
One of Oregon’s favorite trail marathons now in its 22nd year, Haulin Aspen runs through golden aspen groves and ponderosa pine forests around Sunriver and the Deschutes National Forest, with sweeping views of the Central Oregon Cascade peaks.
Date: Aug 08, 2026 | Distances: Marathon, Half Marathon | Location: Sunriver, OR | Official Site
Perpetua Coast Trail Run
The Perpetua Coast trail race weekend in Yachats delivers some of Oregon’s most dramatic coastal trail running, with courses summiting Cape Perpetua high above the Pacific and following rugged shoreline bluffs through ancient Sitka spruce forest, staged from the stunning Adobe Resort.
Date: Oct 04, 2026 | Distances: 50K, 20 Mile, Half Marathon, 10K | Location: Yachats, OR | Official Site
Crater Lake Rim Runs
One of the most visually spectacular running events in the world, the Crater Lake Rim Runs send up to 500 participants along the rim of the deepest lake in North America at altitudes between 5,980 and 7,850 feet, with jaw-dropping views of the cobalt-blue Crater Lake at every step.
Date: Aug 08, 2026 | Distances: 6.7 Mile, 13 Mile, Marathon, 6.7 Mile Walk | Location: Crater Lake, OR | Official Site
Relay Races in Portland
Three Capes Relay
One of Oregon’s most scenic coastal relays, Three Capes Relay covers a marathon-distance route along the Three Capes Scenic Loop from Cape Meares to Pacific City with nearly 2,400 feet of climb and stunning views of the Pacific, Tillamook Bay, and Netarts Bay.
Date: Feb 28, 2026 | Distances: Marathon relay (5-person, 2-person, or solo) | Location: Tillamook, OR | Official Site
Cascade Lakes Relay
Oregon’s most adventurous overnight running relay covers 216 miles from Diamond Lake Resort in the Cascades through the Oregon Outback and back into Bend, with 12-person teams running day and night through some of the most remote and beautiful landscapes in the Pacific Northwest.
Date: Jun 26, 2026 | Distances: 216-mile relay (36 legs; CLR 36, CLR 24, Walk Relay) | Location: Bend, OR | Official Site
Fun Runs in Portland
The Great Pumpkin Run Portland
Formerly known as Run Like Hell, The Great Pumpkin Run by Negative Split is Portland’s ultimate Halloween costume race, bringing thousands of costumed runners to Oaks Park on the Willamette River each October for a fun, spooky run with live music and a festive finish-line party.
Date: Oct 24, 2026 | Distances: Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Fun Run | Location: Portland, OR | Official Site
Worst Day of the Year Run
Oregon’s most beloved winter costume run embraces the miserable February weather at McMenamins Edgefield, inviting up to 1,500 costumed runners to lap the packed-gravel course along the Columbia River and celebrate with homemade soup, beer, and absurd outfits.
Date: Dec 31, 2027 | Distances: 5K (lap-based) | Location: Troutdale, OR | Official Site
Portland’s race calendar keeps growing, and the events listed above represent the most complete guide we maintain at What Race To Run. Click any race for course highlights, registration links, and our editorial review. New races and updated dates are added regularly — bookmark this page or subscribe to our newsletter to stay current on Portland’s running scene.