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The Snake River Half Marathon is a
well-organized race put on by the Palouse Road Runners on the first Saturday
in March every year. It is the first big race of the season for the Quad
Cities area, so people are anxious to get out and run. It is a beautiful
river canyon out-and-back course on the Wawawai River Road along the Snake
River.
The start and finish are at Wawawai Landing, which is where the WSU
boathouse is. The only road access to Wawawai Landing is from Pullman or
Clarkston. The river elevation is only around 720 feet and the weather in
the canyon is usually quite warm for March. However, the 2002 race was run
in temperatures slightly above that of liquid nitrogen. This will never
happen again. The officers of the Palouse Road Runners have appeased the
weather gods (they refuse to say how) so all future races will be run under
perfect conditions. Bluebirds will sing, orchids will bloom, susurrus
zephyrs will waft across the river, the skies will be blue and the sun will
shine. The post-race munchies will be Cordon Bleu and the t-shirts worthy of
the Louvre. Several hundred runners who actually believe this run the race
every year.
The USATF certified course is flat and paved. The turnaround is near Water Canyon, which you
have no hope of recognizing. However, a Palouse Road Runners course marshal
will be standing at an orange traffic cone to turn you around before you
reach Missoula. Certain runners who are members of Team DeMoura will be seen
arm-dancing the turn marshal around in a semi-circle. Ignore them.
March 2007: Near record numbers of runners ran the Snake
River Half Marathon this year. Runners were blessed with chilly temperatures
but absolutely dead calm wind--possibly a first in our 28-year history.
March 2009: A record 423 runners
and walkers crossed the finish line at the 30th Annual Snake River Canyon
Half Marathon. This year’s race drew participants from as far away as
Boise, Seattle and even Vermont. Most of the 471 registrants came from
Moscow (111) followed closely by Spokane (107). |
