12th Annual Helvetia Half Marathon & Widmer Brothers 10K - Saturday, June 9 , 2012 8am  

This event begins and ends at the Gordon Faber Hillsboro Stadium. Be ready for your friends and family to cheer for you as you cross the finishline in the middle of the stadium floor. There is nothing like it! This course is not a flat course and we are proud of that. Since when does life NOT have ups and downs? To help you celebrate this challenge the Helvetia Tavern will be at the stadium to deliver their delicious Famous Helvetia Burgers (or garden burgers) to all finishers. Widmer Brothers will also be at the race serving their world famous beers at the beer garden. Enjoy all of this and live music at the 11th Annual Helvetia Half Marathon & Widmer Brothers 10K.

General Race Information:

• Both the half marathon and 10K start at 8:00am Saturday, June 9. (run and walk)  ARRIVE THE STADIUM BY 6:30am.

• Our course is open for 4 hours only. Please abide by regular traffic signals if you are on the course for more than 4 hours.

• We love our canine friends however the Hillsboro Stadium does not allow does on site. Please remember to leave your puppies at home as they will hot, bored and tired in you car!

• Road Closures: Hwy 26 exit ramp at Shute Road will be closed at 7:30am on race day morning. ODOT and the Hillsboro Police will allow participants to enter the race from Hwy 26 on several exits including 185th, Cornelius Pass South, Shute Rd. and Jackson School Rd. however Shute Rd/Brookwood Pkwy will be closed to traffic at 7:30am as this is the race course. Remember to come early and get parked and pick up your packet, stretch and enjoy the atmosphere as we have 5000 participants that will be entering the area. Please plan to arrive at the stadium by 6:45am - for most people that is leaving your house by 6:15am! Click here for directions to the race.

Oregon Live Blog: What to expect at Helvetia....by Kelly Johnson

Packet Pick Up: Registration at packet pick up is Cash or Check only.  No credit cards.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 10-8pm - Portland Running Company 22000 Willamette Falls Drive, West Linn 503-496-0674

Thursday, June 7, 2012 10-8pm - Portland Running Company, 800 SE Grand Ave., Portland, OR. 97214, 503-232-8077

Friday, June 8, 2012 10-6 PM -Portland Running Company, 11355 SW Scholls Ferry Rd., Beaverton, OR 97008, 503-524-7570

Race Morning, Saturday, June 9, on the Stadium Floor beginning at 6AM - Day of Race Fees apply cash or check only-shirt not guaranteed with day of race registration.

map/directions to all 3 Portland Running Company locations are available at www.portlandrunningcompany.com

Bag Check

You will receive a plastic goodie bag at packet pick up, please write your race number on this bag and bring to the stadium for clothes drop.  We will have black markers available for you at packet pick up, please have your number written on your bag BEFORE you get to the race to save you time in line.  We will take care of your possesions while you are on the course. GOING GREEN!!  Thank you for reusing your goodie bag as it is much better on the environment to only use one!  Please pick up your bag promptly after the race so bag check volunteers may enjoy the post race too!

The Start:

The race starts in front of the Hillsboro Stadium on 229th - please look for the balloon arch.  Remember to line up at the starting line based on your pace. New this year:  PACERS!!  Look for Helvetia Half Marathon Pacers at the starting line of the race.  The pacers will wear balloons and will be holding up signs with the pace they are running the race.  Please line up in the correct area, faster runners in the front and walkers in the back. We will have various PACERS for you to run or walk with:Faster runners in the front and slower runners and walkers toward the back. If you come upon a group and would like to pass other runners/walkers, please call out upon approach "on your left". Please stay to the right hand side of the course unless the course otherwise directs you. The course is not closed to traffic in opposing lanes and emergency vehicles w ill need passage. If you cross the yellow line you can be disqualified from the race. Walkers, please stay two abreast at all times for your safety and the safety of others. Joggers are not allowed on the course.  Music is allowed on the course as long as you can hear those around you.  We suggest one earbud.

On the Course:

Water stops and Porta Potties will be available at miles 1.1, 2.3, 3.7, 4.8, 5.8, 7.3, 8.5, 10.1 and 11.6. Water and Heed will be on the course. You can find it at the corner of Helvetia Rd. and Jackson School Rd.  This is the famous Ironheads aidstation. If you have an emergency on the course, please stop at one of the 9 water/aid stations on the course.

Click here for half marathon course map with elevation.

Parking:

Please remember parking is free however it is limited so please carpool and please come early to avoid traffic lines and stress on race day morning. Cars will be parked in both the stadium lot and Intel, be prepared to park where you are directed. We suggest arriving to the stadium by 6:30am. 

Race Shirts & Medals:

2012 is our 12th year and we have a cool Technical Running Shirts to commemorate it! Our shirts are designed specifically for men and women.  Helvetia T shirts will be given out at packet pick up this year. We cannot exchange t-shirt sizes as we ordered the size you requested on your registration form. Please show the volunteers at the Tshirt table your race number  to redeem your shirt, your shirt size will be listed on your race number. If you would like to swap sizes with another particpant, please hang out at the t-shirt table after the race and we will assist. Thank you, we think you will love your technical race shirt!

All Half Marathon Finishers will receive a finisher medal. If you do not get your medal at the race (we never want to run out, but we DO want to be prepared) we will mail you one after we place an additional order. Every half marathoner will get a medal.

Your race number has a tag that will get you your Famous Helvetia Burger or garden burger. Family and friends may purchase burgers at the race. Your race number also gets you a discount on shoes and apparel at all three Portland Running Company locations.

Widmer Bros. and the Helvetia Tavern are having a beer garden! bring your ID, cash only.

Race Photos

Race Photography by Evan Pilchik.

Did you know?

The Helvetia Half Marathon supports kids from our local High Schools. For many years the Helvetia Half Marathon has worked directly with Liberty High School and Wilsonville High School supporting athletes that are willing to train for this half marathon while in school. Administrators, counselors, teachers and parents all assist in this program to get kids to the start and finish lines of the Helvetia Half Marathon. The Helvetia Half Marathon is proud to donate over 100 entries to these kids and Portland Running Company donates shoes to these kids as well. Collectively we can make a difference giving these kids a lifelong outlet of health and fitness. Way to go Libery Fit and Willie Fit! Look for them on the course and at the finish line, they are amazing kids!

A portion of the proceeds of this race go to the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society's Team in Training, thank you Team in Training for providing awesome course volunteers!

We are pleased to continue our partnership with our amazing sponsors. Thank you to Widmer Brothers, The Helvetia Tavern, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Jamba Juice, Hammer Nutrition, Portland Running Company, Portland Fit and Intel. A huge thank you to the Helvetia community for their support over the years and to the City of Hillsboro and the Gordon Faber Hillsboro Stadium for all of their assistance. Thank you to all of the many volunteers that make this event the best half marathon in the Northwest - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010.

Start & Finish Location: Hillsboro Stadium, 4400 NW 229th Ave, Hillsboro, OR 97124 Course Map

Event Phone: 503.524.7570

e-mail Race Director

• Half Marathon: $55, 10K: $40. - one day sale!!  Wednesday, June 15, 2011. ONLINE ONLY!
• Half Marathon: $65 thru June 8; $75 day of race (online reg closes June 4 @ midnight. You may register at packet pick up for $65.cash or check only. Shirt not guaranteed-given at race.
• 10K: $49 thru June 8; $59. day of race (online reg closes June 4 @ midnight. You may register at packet pick up for $49.) Cash or check only-shirt not guaranteed and given after the race.

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