Lake Run nears half century of community fun along Oswego Lake

Editor's note: This story appears in the May edition of LO Monthly.

There’s still a couple days left to get in a training walk or jog ahead of the 48th annual Lake Run.

This year’s Lake Run will take place Saturday morning, May 4 with the 10K starting at 8 a.m., the 5K beginning at 8:15 a.m. and the kids’ dash starting at 10 a.m.

Since 2019, Milwaukie-based nonprofit Northwest Housing Alternatives has organized the event, which serves as the organization’s main fundraisers each year.

Northwest Housing Alternatives provides affordable housing options and housing support for families, veterans, seniors and people with disabilities all across Oregon. The nonprofit also provides emergency homelessness intervention and operates a shelter for families experiencing homelessness.

Northwest Housing Alternatives Grants Manager Katie Ash said the nonprofit hopes to have 1,000 participants in this year’s race.

Ash said the deep community ties rooted in the Lake Run make the event special.

“We’re coming up on 50 years in the community, which is really incredible,” Ash said. “It’s always something that the community really looks forward to and we love seeing families come out, especially ones that have been doing it for generations and seeing grandkids doing the race now.”

Ash also mentioned how family-friendly the event is, noting there will be face painters and a photo booth at this year’s race.

“It’s a really fun event for the whole family to come out and celebrate spring and help raise money for a good cause,” Ash said.

The 10K course will take runners all the way around Oswego Lake, starting and ending in downtown Lake Oswego. Participants in the 5K will run or walk around Lakewood Bay and up North Shore Road and Iron Mountain Boulevard.

The kids’ dash course is about two blocks on Evergreen Road near Millennium Plaza Park.