Autumn Leaves 50/50 – 50 mile & 50K Ultra Runs

Recreational and competitive ultra-marathoners from all over the West enjoy this unique running experience. Red and yellow maples dominate the fall colors along the Willamette River course and neighboring Champoeg Park campsites (including Yurts) are popular with runners pre- and post-race. Runners are fed well during this endurance event.

Our 2019 event date is October 26, 2019. Registration will open in the summer of 2019.

Details below are from our 2018 event but have been left here to help you learn about our event.

Registration

There is no day of race registration for this event, and online registration closes on Monday, October 22nd at 11:59 pm. Special incentive to sign up by June 29 – Sign up by June 29 and you’ll not only get the early registration rate, you’ll be entered in a drawing for your own personally decorated port-a-potty at the start/finish line for the entire day! Register now: http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=56012

Live Update Timing

Jeff Huber from Huber Timing will be doing our timing this year once again. He will have your split times up on the big screen so every lap you can see how well you did at the start finish line. We will have a timing mat at the turn at the out and back session (yes it is real) along with some volunteers. Make sure you go around the cone and cross the mat. Let your friends and family know they can live track you at hubertiming.com on race day at: http://www.hubertiming.com/results/2018AutumnLeaves

Volunteering

If you’re interested in volunteering for this event, please email us at volunteer@oregonroadrunnersclub.org. For more information on ORRC volunteer opportunities, click here.

Course Description

The course is a 10K loop consisting of 80% paved bike path and 20% dirt single track. It is built for speed as the course is very flat with some small rollers for fun. 50K runners will complete 5 loops and the 50 milers will do 8.

Download Course Map  – click here

**Course Update**

Just a heads up about part of our course this year. The wooden bridge at about mile 2 1/2 is undergoing some restoration work and it is currently about the width of a single track trail. Runners can pass in opposite directions but it will be “tight”. They have built turn offs to allow areas to allow runners, bikers etc more room in a couple of spots. Once the race thins out this should be a non-event but please give way to runners that are heading back towards the start finish line, those folks will have preference as the outbound runners are on the side of the turnoffs while staying to the right.

Race Day Schedule

NO DAY OF RACE REGISTRATION!
5:30 a.m. Packet pickup opens
6 a.m. Early 50 mile starts
7 a.m. 50 mile and 50K start

All runners must begin their last lap no later than 4 p.m. or they will receive a DNF. No exceptions. So please plan your start time accordingly.

Aid Stations

Aid station food is the usual stuff (soda, pb&j, pretzel, chips, candies, etc…). We will have Gatorade for your sugary/electrolyte drink and Clif for energy gels. Two aid stations which allows you 3 spots on the course. The start, mile 1.5, 4.75 and 6.25. We are trying to go cupless, so please bring a few bottles with your name on it that you can leave at each aid station if you don’t want to carry them.

RRCA 2018 Oregon Championship 50K

We’re proud to announce that our Autumn Leaves 50K event is RRCA’s 2018 Oregon Championship 50K race event.

The goal of the RRCA Championship Event Series is to shine a spotlight on well-run events and to the award top performing, overall winning runner in each of the open, masters (40+), grand masters (50+), and senior grand masters (60+) categories for both men and women.

The RRCA Championship Event Series is the largest grassroots organized running series in the US, annually attracting over 320,000 runners. The series features eight races: 1 mile; 5k; 10K; 10 mile; half marathon; marathon; ultra – >26.2 miles; and cross country.

RRCA awards championship events through a competitive bidding process at the National, Regional, and State level to its over 1,500 member clubs and events.

ORRC has been fortunate to annually host at least five of the Oregon State and one of the Western Region RRCA Championship Series Events in recent years.

Awards

Awards will be given out as runners finish.

50K – Awards for 1st through 3rd for men and women and Masters.
50 mile – Awards for 1st through 3rd for men and women and Masters.
All 50 mile finishers will receive the coveted ORRC Autumn Leaves custom belt buckle.

Since the race is close to Halloween if you feel the spirits move you, we will award two runners for being the best or most creatively dressed.
Each 50K and 50 mile participant will receive our popular ORRC Autumn Leaves technical running shirt at no extra cost.

Packet Pickup

Packet pickup will be at Road Runner Sports in Tualatin in the Nyberg Woods shopping center on the east side of I-5 at 7063 NW Nyberg St, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday October 26th. Also, it will be available day of race at the start line from 5:00am to 6:45am. You will receive a coupon to shop at the store for $10 off of $30+ Purchase for NON VIP-Members and 25% Off for those apart of the VIP Family.

Directions and Parking Instructions

Take I-5 Exit 278 (Aurora), 7 miles south of Wilsonville. Follow signs west approximately 5 miles to the park. Allow at least 45 minutes travel time from Portland or Salem. Please car pool to the start. We will only have about 130 parking spots if it has been raining in the days leading up to the race. If this happens we may have to park some runners over 1 mile from the start! Help out your fellow runners and car pool out to the park. As you enter the park a volunteer will give you a ticket stub to put on your dash. We pay $5 per car for you to enter the park, so please CARPOOL is you can. It gives everyone a great spot and saves the club some money too.

Parking at the race is at one of two places. If you are early you will get a spot on the course by the Pioneer Woman’s Cabin, please be cautious as it is very dark there and runners may be on the course. Once this are fills you will be directed to continue to the Riverside lot which is just a short hike to the start line. (Plus regular bathrooms are in this area!)

Race Day Weather

Fall in Western Oregon can be most anything. Usually we have cool mornings (mid 30’s) and cloudy afternoons. Dress for all weather types from sunny 70 degrees to rain and the mid 40’s. A couple of tarps will be down to allow you drop bags at the start/finish. It should be covered but please keep your stuff in an enclosed bag. Also if you get to the park early you might capture a prize spot right on the course to leave your car, which you would pass twice each lap. You will need a headlamp as all races start in the dark.

Headlamps. Everyone will need them sunrise is not until 7:30 a.m. so it will be dark for all runners.

Course markings will be the same as last year. Small reflective ribbons. Ribbon will be stretched in some areas to guide you. Just remember the first 5 miles of the race your toes should not touch dirt.

Results and Photos

Past results and photos are available – click here.

Headphone Policy

The use of personal music devices is strongly discouraged at this race. To enjoy all that our race has to offer and for the safety of all participants, ORRC encourages a headphone-free environment during the running of the event.

More Information

In 2010 our 50K and 50 mile men and women winners each were in the top 20 fastest times in the US according to Ultrarunning magazine. This is the perfect next step for the Marathoner who wants a new challenge or the experienced distance runner looking for a new personal best time.

Bring your headlamps! The sun does not rise until 7:45 am and it is very dark on the course even for the regular starters.

Best dressed runners will win one of two cool goodie baskets with food drink and toys.

If you know friends/family who would like to volunteer, there are still a few spots open. This will get you half off for next year’s race (transferrable) or a ORRC 10K race of your choice. We couldn’t do this race without our lovely volunteers.

The start line is near the historic Champoeg Pavilion. We will have covered a shelter to store your equipment. Camping and cabins are available at the Park.

This race may sell out. We are limited in size due to park limitations. So sign up early and don’t miss out on one of the last Ultras of the season.

For more information please contact Race Director Noel Tavan at autumnleaves@oregonroadrunnersclub.org