Operation Jack Northwest Challenge

Longtime Operation Jack friend and supporter Steve Walters created the Operation Jack Northwest Challenge back in 2010, hosting it on the same day as the first Operation Jack Marathon. It’s a six-hour race around a one-mile loop at Summerlake Park in the Portland suburb Tigard. Most laps wins, but like any event associated with Operation Jack, fun and participation are a huge priority.

There is no minimum number of laps to complete (well, actually, there is — just one), and everybody gets a medal and race attire (it varies from year to year — sometimes it’s a tech shirt, other times it’s been a hoodie). Steve focuses on making sure everybody has a great time, paying great attention to detail with course setup and providing a great post-race spread. The race is competitive (the 2014 winner was a former Badwater Ultramarathon champion), but it’s fun, and runners have a great time socializing afterwards.

The 2016 race is on December 10 and this year, Steve is offering a half-marathon option. He maintains a full race website at operationjacknorthwestrun.com.