RUN Wenatchee

The Sept. 21 River Run Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K will start adjacent to Pybus Public Market and the Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market on the Wenatchee waterfront. The races will finish at the Stanley Civic Center Plaza in the midst of the Taste of the Harvest Festival.

By Steve Maher
RunWenatchee.com

WENATCHEE — The River Run Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K will unveil a new course and starting point when it’s held Sept. 21 as part of the Taste of the Harvest Festival.

Runners and walkers in the three races will start on a closed-off portion of Riverside Drive adjacent to the new Pybus Public Market, get on the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail and cross the Columbia River pedestrian bridge to East Wenatchee. From there, they will head north on the trail to their respective turnaround spots and then return on the trail to Wenatchee, and past Pybus Market to the finish at the Stanley Civic Center Plaza, where the Taste of the Harvest Festival is being held.

The annual event, presented by Volyn Law, previously began at Centennial Park in downtown Wenatchee, headed north on Wenatchee’s portion of the loop trail and then finished at the Stanley Civic Center.

“We really want River Run to connect strongly with our valley’s bountiful harvest,” said Joel Rhyner, race director and a partner in RunWenatchee, which is organizing the event. “And what better way than to begin at Pybus Public Market, where the Farmers Market will be in full swing, take in the sights along the Columbia River, where the water to irrigate so many farms comes from, and then conclude at the Harvest Fest in downtown.”

Rhyner said starting at Pybus not only adds pizazz to the downtown event but paves the way for the new course.

“These are the kind of events that define Wenatchee,” said Steve Robinson, executive director of Pybus Public Market. “It’s on a beautiful course, being held in ideal fall running weather, and with great amenities from Pybus to downtown.”

River Run participants who are 21 years and older will receive discount coupons to the Harvest Festival’s wine garden being put on by Wenatchee Wine Country at the Stanley Civic Center Plaza. The festival, organized by the Wenatchee Downtown Association, also features a beer garden, local food vendors, live music, arts-and-craft booths, and kids activities.

Besides Volyn Law, other River Run sponsors include Wenatchee Wine Country, KOHO Radio, Cashmere Valley Bank, Crunch-Pak, Caffe Mela, and Project Groundwork.

For more on River Run or to register: http://runwenatcheeriverrun.eventbrite.com/#