Sunday, May 22, 2016 • Keizer, OR • Course Map
Part of a weekend-long festival filled with parades, exhibits, rides, events for kids, a golf tournament, beer tastings and tours of the nearby iris flower fields that give this race its name, Keizer’s Iris Runs are actually spread out over two days — the 5K and 3K races take place on Saturday while the full marathon, half marathon and 10K races are run on Sunday.
Runners start the half marathon — which shares the same route as the full marathon, called the Willamette Valley Marathon, for the first 6 1/2 miles — in central Keizer near the intersection of Manbrin Drive and River Road. From there, the opening miles head west along Manbrin, in the direction of the Willamette River.
After the first stretch along Manbrin, runners next turn right onto Windsor Island Drive and head north toward the flower growing fields, where the irises are expected to be in bloom this time of year.
The rolling rural roads through this section feature mostly very small changes in elevation as runners head north along Windsor Island Drive all the way up to Simon Drive, where they turn around and then retrace their steps all the way back along the route they’ve just run, back to Keizer for the race finish.
The only really significant hilly stretches of the half marathon occur between miles 3 and 5, and then again on the return route between miles 8 and 11.
Race Weather & Climate
Located just a few miles north of Salem in the state’s northwestern corner, Keizer typically sees cool to mild and generally much drier weather in May than in the preceding late winter and early spring months.
On race day (May 22), the average low is 44ºF and the average high is 68ºF.
Course Map
See the race route map for the Keizer Iris Run Half Marathon here.
Starting Time
- 7:00 AM – full marathon runners, half marathon and 10K walkers
- 8:00 AM – half marathon, 10K runners
Fees
- $55 for the half marathon, for pre-registered runners
- $65 on the day of the race
Registration
To reserve your spot in the late spring 2016 running of the Keizer Iris Runs Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K or 3K race, visit the event website here.
Official Race Website
Facebook Conversations
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