The Helvetia Half Marathon earns its ‘Leave the City Behind’ tagline with a spectacular journey through the rural pastoral landscape of Washington County, Oregon. The course begins and ends at Gordon Faber Recreation Complex (Hillsboro Stadium) and ventures past the hamlet of Helvetia and its beloved historic landmark, the Helvetia Tavern. Runners tackle sweeping views, challenging hills, century-old working farms, and a church before returning to Hillsboro Ballpark for one of the most celebrated stadium finishes in Pacific Northwest racing.<\/p>\n
Now in its 26th year, the Helvetia Half is produced by RunwithPaula Events, a Portland-area race organization known for quality events and exceptional participant experiences. The race starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with an early walk\/jog start available for participants expecting a pace of 15 minutes per mile or slower. The course is open for four hours. Packet pick-up takes place Thursday and Friday at Portland Running Company in Beaverton, and also race morning at Hillsboro Stadium beginning at 6:45 a.m.<\/p>\n
The Helvetia Half is a summer rite of passage for Oregon runners. The combination of challenging rolling hills, gorgeous countryside scenery, and the post-race extravaganza \u2014 featuring a stadium finish, live music, a famous beer garden, lunch, and finisher medals for all participants \u2014 makes it one of the most satisfying race experiences in the region. It’s also a popular benchmark for fall marathon training, drawing serious runners alongside first-timers.<\/p>\n
Register early; pricing increases significantly as race day approaches. Plan for a hilly course \u2014 the Helvetia countryside offers beautiful but honest climbs. Take the early walk start if your pace exceeds 15 minutes per mile. After the race, stay for the beer garden and lunch \u2014 it’s included and absolutely worth it.<\/p>\n