Hitting the ground running
Th e Manzanita Beach Run/Walk
celebrates 25 years on Saturday, July 18
Ask a 100 different runners why they
enjoy running, and you’ll get 100 different
answers: Running makes you feel healthy,
you get to be outdoors, it makes you feel
smarter, it increases happiness, it helps
improve sleep. But there is one answer
you’ll hear from all runners: the people.
Runners come from all different walks of
life to get together and share their common
passion. There is no better place to see that
particular camaraderie on display than at
the annual Manzanita Beach Run & Walk
set this year for Saturday, July 18.
The beach run celebrates 25 years in
2015 and does it in style. Besides the main
event, there will be a barbecue, beer and
wine tastings, live music,
and, of course, prizes.
Set against the backdrop
of Neahkahnie Mountain
and a beautiful 7-mile
stretch of beach, it’s easy
to see why the event en-
tices runners from not
only the Pacific North-
west, but from around
the U.S.
Jeremy Mulcahy-Hill,
assistant director at
North County Recreation
District, is already run-
ning. As organizer of the beach run since
2013, he has witnessed the event’s atten-
dance swell considerably. What began in
1990 as an informal gathering of runners
has grown into a family-friendly destina-
tion event.
“It started with Larry and Janice Zaga-
ta, owners of the Ocean Inn in Manzanita,”
Mulcahy-Hill said. “Larry put it together as
a fun run for everybody, and Janice had just
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attached to NCRD and stayed that way after
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tendees. As word spread, attendance steadi-
ly grew to an average of around 140 runners
per year. 2013 saw 335 runners hit the Man-
zanita beach while 2014 peaked at 385.
2015 promises to build on that growth.
Mulcahy-Hill noted that preregistrations
are already pointing to matching last
year’s attendance totals. “The last three
A
weeks (before the run) is when we really
start getting more people,” he said, adding
that runners can register up to and during
the day of the event.
As July 18 draws nearer, Mulcahy-Hill
and NCRD volunteers fine-tune the event
to ensure everything is on track. “We’re up
about five in the morning the day of the
race,” he said. “We set up the tents, check
the timer, put the preregistration packets
out, get the race chute all set up.”
The run kicks of at 8:30 a.m. and con-
sists of three stages: a 5K run/walk, a 10K
run, and a 25K relay. Due to a new arriv-
al on the beach near Nehalem Bay State
Park, the course is slightly different than in
years past. “In the past,
we’ve had them all head
south, straight towards
the jetty, but with the
snowy plover restricted
area, we’re sending run-
ners towards the moun-
tain,” Mulchay-Hill said.
From there, the course
will loop back around
and head south towards
the jetty, avoiding the
nesting area. Turnaround
points for the 5K and
the 10K will be marked
along the way.
The run is an all-ages event, and fami-
lies are encouraged to join in. “We’ve had
runners from 3 years old all the way up
to 92,” Mulcahy-Hill said. “It’s all skill
levels. There have been runners who have
had their first run here and have gone on
to do marathons.” He added that dogs are
welcome too, though leashes are required.
2015 brings some new additions for
after the run, including a barbecue lunch
prepared by NCRD volunteers and beer
poured by Nehalem Bay Winery. There
will also be root beer for kids and bonfires,
What began in
1990 as an informal
gathering of runners
has grown into
a family-friendly
destination event.
4 | July 16, 2015 | coastweekend.com
Submitted photo
Runners take off at last year’s Manzanita Beach Run/Walk. The 2015 race celebrates 25 years on Saturday, July 18.
s’mores, and live music for runners and
cheerers to enjoy. Additionally, the first
350 runners gets an event T-shirt, prizes
will be raffled off and families will be giv-
en the opportunity to participate in a local
treasure hunt.
“The treasure hunt gives families some-
thing to do and gets them out to see the
area,” Mulcahy-Hill said. “It entices them
to get into the community. At the end
of the day, we’ll have a drawing for the
gift certificates from the businesses that
helped out.” Each participant of the trea-
sure hunt gets a tri-fold map with a list
of local sponsors and instructions leading
them on their quest.
Though the run itself is usually over
within two hours, Mulcahy-Hill expects
people will linger and enjoy the convivial
nature of these additions.
Thinking about running but not sure
Coastal Life
Story by DAN HAAG
Entry fee is $35 through Friday,
July 17, $40 for day of the race.
Proceeds go toward support
of NCRD programs. For race
details and updates,
visit www.facebook.com/
BeachWalkRun. You can also
email fitness@ncrdnehalem.org
or call 503-368-4595.
where to stay? The Ocean Inn is providing
incentive for one lucky couple the night
before the race: a one-night stay at Ocean
Inn, a massage courtesy of Longevity in
Manzanita, dinner for two at Terra Cotta
Cafe, and two entries in the run.
An avid event runner himself, Mulca-
hy-Hill is quick to respond when asked
what sets the Manzanita beach run apart
from similar events. “For me it’s the scen-
ery,” he said. “The biggest thing with a
lot of races, if it’s a destination that’s gor-
geous, people will always run it. What sets
this race apart is the location. The town’s
right here, it’s smaller and quieter, it’s
family and dog-friendly. I think that really
draws people to it.”