Your plan in four answers
Set for August 8, 2027, about 41 weeks out.
- Distances
- Half marathon, 10K, 5K
- Terrain
- Hilly
- Taper starts
- July 27, 2027
Course
The Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon course
Shuttles take runners to the start on the Washington side of the Columbia River, and the race opens by crossing the historic Bridge of the Gods, with the river visible right under your feet through the open grate deck. After a quick pass through Cascade Locks, the half marathon runs out on the closed, paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail to the turnaround at Moffett Creek and comes back the same way; the 10K is a shorter out-and-back on the same route.
Read the full course notes
Much of the trail sits under a shady old-growth forest canopy and crosses four creek bridges, a gift on a summer morning. The half climbs about 1,057 feet in total with grades topping out near 5% (the 10K has 438 feet), all on pavement. You finish by the pedestrian bridge to Thunder Island at Marine Park, with a generous 5-hour cutoff for walkers.
- Terrain
- Hilly
- Distances
- Half marathon, 10K, 5K
- Weather on race day
- Early August in the Columbia River Gorge usually starts mild, around 55–65 °F at the 8:00 a.m. start, with afternoon highs in the low 80s and little chance of rain. The forest shade keeps the trail cooler than the bridge and town, but the return leg warms up, so drink at the aid stations every 1.5 to 2 miles and ease your pace if the sun is strong. Gorge wind can be noticeable on the open bridge.
What to train for
With roughly 1,050 feet of climbing on grades up to 5%, strong hill legs pay off: run a weekly rolling long run of 9 to 12 miles and a session of 6 to 8 x 2 minutes uphill at half marathon effort with jog-down recoveries.
Because the course is out-and-back, every climb on the way out becomes a descent on the way home, so practice relaxed downhill running at goal pace to save your quads for the last miles.
Run the bridge crossing calmly, since the views and the excitement make it easy to start too fast. Rehearse your fueling in long runs with what the aid stations serve (GU, Gatorade, bananas).
Sample week
A sample Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon training week
A week from the middle of the build, about six weeks out. Your plan sets the real distances and paces from your own fitness and adjusts them every week as you train.
- Monday
- Rest, or 20 minutes of mobility
- Tuesday Key session
- Hill repeats: 8 × 90 s up a steady grade, jog back down
- Wednesday
- Easy run, 5–6 mi
- Thursday Key session
- Goal-pace run, 7 mi with 4 mi at race pace
- Friday
- Recovery run, 4 mi, or cross-train
- Saturday Key session
- Long run, 10–12 mi on hilly ground, steady effort on the climbs
- Sunday
- Easy run, 4 mi, then 6 relaxed strides
Your build to race day
Taper
Tapering for the Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon
Start the taper ten to fourteen days before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. The course is hilly, so keep one short hill session in the first taper week to keep the climbs familiar. With the race on August 8, 2027, your taper starts around July 27, 2027.
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Build me a training plan for the Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon and 10K Run on August 8, 2027. I run [distance] a week, [days] days a week, easy pace [pace].
Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon training questions
How long should I train for the Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon?
Most runners give a half marathon twelve to sixteen weeks of focused training on top of an existing base. The plan above counts back from your actual race date, so if you have less time than that it builds the best plan the remaining weeks allow rather than pretending you have longer.
Is the Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon course hilly?
Hilly. Shuttles take runners to the start on the Washington side of the Columbia River, and the race opens by crossing the historic Bridge of the Gods, with the river visible right under your feet through the open grate deck.
What is the weather usually like at the Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon?
Early August in the Columbia River Gorge usually starts mild, around 55–65 °F at the 8:00 a.m. start, with afternoon highs in the low 80s and little chance of rain. The forest shade keeps the trail cooler than the bridge and town, but the return leg warms up, so drink at the aid stations every 1.5 to 2 miles and ease your pace if the sun is strong. Gorge wind can be noticeable on the open bridge.
When should I start tapering for the Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon?
Start the taper ten to fourteen days before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. The course is hilly, so keep one short hill session in the first taper week to keep the climbs familiar. With the race on August 8, 2027, your taper starts around July 27, 2027.
Do I need an account to get a Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon training plan?
No. The plan above builds in your browser with no account, no email, and no card. Make a free account only if you want to keep it, log your runs against it, and have the coach keep adapting it as your training goes.