Please see "Breaking News" below for continuous race updates
Willkommen to the Leavenworth Oktoberfest Marathon.
2009 is our 5th Anniversary! To celebrate, we are giving commemorative hooded sweatshirts instead of t-shirts FOR ALL RUNNERS WHO REGISTER BEFORE SEPTEMBER 22. Be sure to register by September 22nd to get this great looking item!
Leavenworth is Washington’s “Bavarian Village” located 2 hours east of the Puget Sound bordering the Wenatchee National Forest and Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area.
Oktoberfest is Leavenworth’s biggest festival of the year with 2 weeks of music, parades, food (and of course, beverages) and activities for children and adults. A great race will only be part of your unique experience on race weekend!
The primary mission of the Leavenworth Oktoberfest Marathon is to promote cancer research. Everyone knows someone who has suffered through cancer, and your race directors, Ian and Ted, have both been directly impacted and are committed to doing their part to fight the disease. You can help. The Leavenworth Oktoberfest Marathon donates all net proceeds to the Vascular Biology Lab at Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts aka “Angiogenesis Research Program.” By donating directly to the lab, we hope to produce for our sponsors, volunteers, supporters and participants direct evidence of where the dollars from the race go to help find a cure. The lab's emphasis is studying angiogenesis. Sandy Ryeom, runner and researcher, gives us periodic updates so you can see how you money is being spent. Sandy’s current research is trying to solve the puzzle of why people with Down’s Syndrome are particularly resistant to cancer.
Click here for Sandy's September 2007 update.
Click here for her May 2008 update.
Click here for her April 2009 update.
Stay tuned for updates on the lab’s research.
The Marathon is run
in cooperation with the U. S. Fish &
Wildlife Service, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Please visit their great museum and learn about their fish restoration and other programs.
ACCOMODATIONS FILLING FAST
Accomodations in Leavenworth and Wenatchee are filling fast for marathon weekend. Don't be discouraged if you find hotel full, there are plenty of accomodations still available, especially B&Bs, home rentals and other ancillary lodging. The quickest, most efficient way to find availability is to call the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce (for Leavenworth area accomodations) at 509-548-5807 or Wenatchee Visitors Bureau (for Wenatchee area accomodations) 800-572-7753.
COSTUME CONTEST
In 2006, we had people run in great costumes and hats, and gave some 'spur of the moment' prizes to recognize those folks. We will be offering prizes for bavarian costumes and Oktoberfest spirit, as judged by the race participants. To help runners get in the mood, The Hat Shop has offered a 30% discount off purchases the morning of the race!!