2021 Gresham Lilac Run 2024

Short review

4/28/21 Update

The 2021 Gresham Lilac Run presented by Unitus Community Credit Union registration is FULL. 

Ready to run year three of the Gresham Lilac Run presented by Unitus Community Credit Union? We can hardly wait!

All 5K, 10K and half marathon participants will receive a runner bib, finisher medal and a swag bag with local goodies, and a signature Gresham Lilac Run crew neck sweatshirt! 

Why Run THIS Race? 

When you sign up for the Gresham Lilac Run presented by Unitus Community Credit Union, ALL race proceeds go directly to Family of Friends Mentoring. This group is a local non-profit that works with kids and families all over East Multnomah County by pairing kids with volunteer adult mentors. Research overwhelmingly demonstrates that kids who have more positive adults in their lives are more successful in work, play, life and love.   Unfortunately, kids and families from low-income backgrounds often have less access to the healthy adult attention they desire. Family of Friends focuses on creating a community of adult support around kids to help them thrive.  Through individual and family-style mentoring,  volunteers partner with parent/guardians to spend time once a week with a young person, doing fun activities of their choice. Through these weekly activities,  mentors encourage kids to become future-oriented, build grit and persistence, and learn to integrate their emotions with their interpersonal skills. Even more, kids build a trusted relationship with another adult outside school and home, who is on their team.

Packet Pickup Information 

Due to COVID-19, we will be hosting a drive-by and contactless packet pickup this year. Packets will be available for pickup on Thursday, May 6 and Friday, May 7 from 3-6 pm at the Migration Brewing Wilkes location in Gresham, OR. Packets can be picked up for family, friends and teams. If you plan to pick up for a group of 5 or more people, please email me the names of the participants, and I will have those boxed up and ready for you upon arrival at Migration. Make an afternoon of it and check out Migration Brewing to support their business as they have both takeout and outdoor dining! Mention the Gresham Lilac Run for a discount.

If you cannot make one of those dates for packet pickup, please email me to plan a different time and day for pickup. If you have already emailed me, no need to do so again. Race packets will include event swag from our amazing sponsors, as well as your event crew neck, race bib, safety pins and finisher medal.

When: Thursday, May 6 and Friday, May 7 from 3-6 pm

Where: Migration Brewing Wilkes – 18188 NE Wilkes RD - Gresham, OR

Course Information

Each course will begin and end at Main City Park with more information to come on how to celebrate post-event! Course maps and details will be coming soon. The 5K event will be held on Saturday, May 8 and the 10K and half marathon on Sunday, May 9. We are taking these measures to best accommodate socially distanced safety precautions. 

As of March 11, 2021, we will be hosting the Gresham Lilac Run as an in-person event and plan to follow the State and County outdoor recreation guidelines come our event on May 8 and 9. Each event will have a strict participation cap, so once a heat or event is full, there will be no exceptions. The Lilac Run race director will be in constant communication with participants leading up to the event with any and all outdoor recreation rules and guidelines. 

All funds are donated directly to race beneficiary, Family of Friends Mentoring. Participants can opt out of refunds and choose to keep all funding with the race beneficiary. 

 

FREE Little Lilac Run

3/11/21 UPDATE 

The Little Lilac Run is back this year, but do to staffing and timing of the other events throughout the morning we will be unable to host an in person Little Lilac Run event. We do plan to have runner bags complete with race bibs and medals for our Little Lilac Kids, and encourage families to take their run together around Main City Park or within other green spaces or parks in Gresham. Please email LilacRun@GreshamOregon.gov with each child's name and age you would like to register for this event. 

Event Sponsorship

We are thrilled to host Unitus Community Credit Union for the third year in a row as our presenting sponsor. A big thank you to Unitus Community Credit Union for making this event possible year after year!

Many thanks to our other three-year event patrons, our bronze sponsors Migration Brewing and  Konell Construction & Demolition Corporation. As well as returning partner sponsors Country Coffee Gresham, NextHome NW Realty - Tailor Johnson and Marathon Printing of Gresham! 

Interested in sponsoring the Gresham Lilac Run? Please email Sasha.Konell@GreshamOregon.gov to be a part of year three as we go bigger than ever before!