The Holiday Half starts and finishes at the beautiful LEED Platinum-certified Daimler Truck North America campus on Swan Island, overlooking the Willamette River in Portland. The half marathon, 15K, 10K, and 5K routes wind through the city’s northwest neighborhoods and waterfront, featuring carolers and holiday music stations positioned throughout the course. A popular cookie station greets runners on all distances, delivering one of the most delicious on-course fuel stops in Oregon racing.<\/p>\n
Hosted by Foot Traffic, Portland’s beloved local running retailer, the Holiday Half takes place each December and routinely sells out before the start of the month. The half marathon starts at 8 a.m. with a course closure at 11:30 a.m. An early start at 7:40 a.m. is available for slower runners. Group pricing is available for teams of eight or more, making it a popular team-building and holiday tradition for Portland businesses and running clubs.<\/p>\n
There is no better way to close a Pacific Northwest race season than with this festive celebration of winter running. Costumes are enthusiastically encouraged \u2014 think ugly sweaters, Santa suits, and holiday characters \u2014 transforming Swan Island into a moving holiday parade. The race medal and shirt designs are annually lauded as some of the best in Portland running. The Silver Cloud Inn serves as the official race hotel, just minutes from the start.<\/p>\n
Register early \u2014 the Holiday Half regularly fills by early December. Bib pick-up takes place at multiple Foot Traffic retail locations in the week before the race. Dress warmly but expect to heat up quickly once running starts. The post-race party at the Daimler campus is a highlight, so linger and enjoy the holiday atmosphere before heading home.<\/p>\n