Race: Hood to Coast: Red, White & Blues 5km
Runner: Chris Poole
Race Date: 06/29/2024
Location: West Linn, OR
Result: 19:57 (4th overall)

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- I loved running it with a great college friend.
- Oregon is a great running state, and the running community there is vast and nice!
- It wasn’t too far from my home, and was still a beautiful yet challenging course.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The Red White & Blues 5km course crossed traffic in a few spots, and I ended up having to stop for a little bit for cars that didn’t want to stop. Also, a volunteer misdirected me about 200 meters the opposite way which made for some confusion and lost time.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
The hill in the middle is a tough hill! There were two hilly segments to be aware of: the first coming out of the park, and then the second coming from a main road, up through a neighborhood, back to the main course.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes! Lots of trees and country scenery.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Yes, it’s hilly!
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Organization can be improved! The volunteers were not the best, and sent runners the wrong way.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Again, this could be better. There was only a few people that were within my abilities, but the women’s field was stronger.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Easy logistics, only a 35 minute drive from my home!

Weather and typical race conditions
70 degrees and sunny! Pretty perfect running conditions.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Very spectator friendly!
How’s the Swag?
Good swag: a nice Nike Dri Fit Shirt, free beer and hot dogs at the finish (for those 21+), and a medal.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5/10. The Red White & Blues 5km is a great race for non-competitive runners, but less so for faster runners. Hood To Coast events definitely cater more towards casual runners, so I would not recommend for competitive racers.
Looking for your next race? Check out “How to Choose your next Goal Race“.