2025 Gresham Lilac Run

Why Run THIS Race? 

When you sign up for the Gresham Lilac Run presented by Unitus Community Credit Union, your race fees go to support our Race Beneficiary -  Loco Por La Aventura, a nonprofit based in Gresham who is focused on promoting educational equity and outdoor engagement for the Latino Community. 

Packet Pickup 

Wednesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 24 from 4:00 - 6:30 pm. 

Migration Brewing Wilkes: 18188 NE Wilkes Rd, Portland, OR 97230

*Need to arrange other accommodations? Email LilacRun@GreshamOregon.gov

Race Day Information

Saturday, April 26th - Start times outlined below.

8:00 am – Half Marathon

8:15 am – 10K

8:30 am – 5K

2024 Course maps are linked above - please note they are subject to change for the 2025 Race. 

Course 101

Prepare for the Elements - The Half Marathon and 10k course take place on both paved trails / roads and dirt trails. Be prepared for mud and wet and keep an eye on the weather as the race approaches! 

Trail Etiquette 101- Stay to the right and pass on the left. As you are running on the trails, be sure to keep to the right of the trails. We share this trail with the public, so please be cautious and courteous to all pedestrians and cyclists on the trails.

Street Crossing – ALL courses cross public roads. We will have volunteers at the major intersections keeping the crosswalk lights on for athletes, BUT ALWAYS BE CAUTIOUS AND ALERT. Half marathon and 10k runners, not all street crossings have crosswalk lights and volunteers—PLEASE BE AWARE and cross ALL roads with caution.

Emergencies – In the event of an emergency on the course, if you have your cell, please call 911. We will have an EMT/Paramedic at Main City Park available for any course emergencies. The water/snack stations are also equipped with first aid kits.

Dogs on the trail – Friendly pups who play well with others and are on a leash are allowed on the courses. Please be sure to start at the back of your race heat to avoid any trip hazards. Please also bring your own pup-poop bags to keep the trails clear for others.

Bibs – Bibs must be visible at the finish line to receive a finisher medal. All athletes will have tags on the bottom of their bibs that they can use towards post-race Migration Brewing beer for those 21+ or a warmup coffee, and a pancake breakfast.

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FREE Little Lilac Run

Please email LilacRun@GreshamOregon.gov to register kids 12 and under for the FREE Little Lilac Run. This race will be a 2 loop 400 meter dash on the Springwater Corridor. Parents are welcome to run with kids, and they will be visible from the start/finish line. 

Email your child's name and age to register today! 

Little Lilac Runners will be able to pick up their runner bibs on race day, or with parents at the packet pickup in the Migration Brewing parking lot. 

Event Sponsorship

We are thrilled to host Unitus Community Credit Union for the Seventh 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!

Interested in sponsoring the Gresham Lilac Run? Please email jake.ostrow@greshamoregon.gov to be a part of year seven!

Course Information

Bibs – 5K athletes will have blue bibs and will follow blue signs and course markers. 10K athletes will have green bibs and will follow green signs and course markers. Half Marathon athletes will have purple bibs and will follow purple signs and course markers. Bibs must be visible at the finish line to receive a finisher medal. All athletes will have tags on the bottom of their bibs that they can use towards post-race Migration Brewing beer for those 21+ or a warmup coffee from Country Coffee Hitched Up, and a pancake breakfast from the Chris Cakes NW team.

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Half marathon: Starting at 8:00 am, our 13.1-mile runners will be taking on the most scenic route. Starting at Main City Park, runners will head towards Boring on the Springwater trail for just over 4 miles. Runners will turn around before they come to the Telford Rd. crossing and head back towards Gresham. After crossing Regner Rd, runners will turn left from the trail and run up to the first right, Elliot Avenue. From Elliot, runners will take the first left on 15th Street and run right into the Saddle Butte Trail. Runners will head down and right on Saddle Butte, staying on the straight path all the way through into another neighborhood on SW 19th Drive. Runners will come up to Towle Rd, cross safely and then run down Towle Rd. to find the Springwater Trail again turning left and head towards Portland. About .5 miles in runners will take a left to head up the Butler Creek Trail. Keep climbing up across SW 14th Drive, and all the way to Binford Lake Parkway. DO NOT cross the street—turn around to head back down to the Springwater Trail and head back towards Main City Park to find that finish line!

Runners will all receive a finisher medal. First place male / female / non-binary finishers will receive a live Lilac to plant at home!

Half marathon runners will have restrooms and water/snack stations just after mile 2, after mile 6, just after mile 10 and into mile 12. Each water/snack station will have a first aid kit for any minor issues.

Half marathon runners will have LILAC PURPLE bibs--- so look for those PURPLE directional signs, arrows and marking ribbon to help you along the way. Volunteers will be along the trail to cheer and support with major turns.

Half marathon runners’ course will take place on the paved Springwater Trail, as well as the dirt trails, Saddle Butte and Butler Creek. Rain during this time of year is to be expected, so plan accordingly with shoes that may get a little muddy.

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10K: Starting at 8:15 am, athletes taking on the 10k course will head towards Boring on the Springwater trail. As athletes’ approach Regner Rd., DO NOT CROSS the street, turn right to head up Regner. Take the first right on Elliot Avenue and run up to the first left on 15th Street and run right into the Saddle Butte Trail. Athletes will head down and keep right on Saddle Butte, staying on the straight path all the way through into another neighborhood on SW 19th Drive. Athletes will come up to Towle Rd, cross safely and then run down Towle Rd. to find the Springwater Trail again turning left and head towards Portland. About .5 miles in athletes will take a left to head up the Butler Creek Trail. Keep climbing up across SW 14th Drive, and all the way to Binford Lake Parkway. DO NOT cross the street—turn around to head back down to the Springwater Trail and head back towards Main City Park to find that finish line!

Athletes will all receive a finisher medal. First place male / female / non-binary finishers will receive a live Lilac to plant at home!

10K athletes will have restrooms and water/snack stations just before mile 3 and after mile 5. Each water/snack station will have a first aid kit for any minor issues.

10K athletes will have GREEN bibs—so look for GREEN directional signs, arrows and marking ribbon to help you stay on course along the way. Volunteers will be along the trail to cheer and support with major turns.

10K athletes’ course will take place on the paved Springwater Trail, as well as the dirt trails, Saddle Butte and Butler Creek. Rain during this time of year is to be expected, so plan accordingly with shoes that may get a little muddy.

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5K: Starting at 8:30 am, athletes will hit the Springwater trail heading towards Portland. Athletes will pass by the Gresham Pioneer Cemetery, safely cross Towle Rd at mile 1, and turn around at 1.55 miles, and then head back to Main City Park to cross that finish line! Athletes will receive a finisher medal. First place male / female / non-binary finishers will receive a live Lilac to plant at home!

5K athletes will have restrooms and a water/snack station at Mile 1 and just after mile 2 at the Towle intersection. Each water/snack station will have a first aid kit for any minor issues.

5K athletes will have BLUE bibs—so look out for BLUE directional signs and arrows along the way. Volunteers will be along the trail to cheer and support with the turn around.

5K athletes’ course is completely on the paved Springwater Trail.