Swing the Gates

About the Event

Swing the Gates is back for a third year! This year will include the popular 10k Team Scavenger Hunt, classic 5k Fun Run, and a Kid's Race.  Come hang out with an amazing community of nature lovers, runners, walkers, and their K-9 companions while exploring the beauty of Deception Pass State Park

10K Team Scavenger Hunt

Challenge yourself and your friends to a unique race experience. Teams will set off along the trails to solve various challenges along the way which will help them uncover the racecourse as they go. Scavenger hunts are more fun with friends, so find three other people to join you at 9:00 AM on race day. Distances and elevation will vary based on your team’s ability to navigate the trails of Deception Pass State Park. Each member of the winning team will win gift certificates for Several area running stores .

This is a difficult course run primarily along unpaved trails within the park. If your team is able to navigate the trails efficiently, we expect this year's course to be 6.2 miles and a 1200' elevation.  Each clue station will have cutoff times. The final clue station will close at 1:00 PM to allow park staff to open closed areas to the public.  If you are still running at this time, we ask that you head t:o the finish line and check in. This is an unsupported 10K race. Plan to carry your own water and snacks. 

*The first participant will pay the initial fee and then all other teammates are free. Be sure to share your team’s name and password with your teammates so they join the correct team and aren’t paying another fee. If your teammate(s) does/do not register, they will not be allowed on the course for safety reasons.

5K Fun Run

The 5K fun run will kick off at 10:00 AM, but we recommend coming early to cheer on the 10K team scavenger hunt participants as they complete their first challenge as soon as they cross the start line at 9:00 AM.  We will also be having the Kid's Race starting at 9:30 AM, this race is new this year for all the young ones!

The course will be run primarily on paved surfaces, however does include 400 ft elevation gain with a steep incline at the beginning of the race. Strollers, small children, and dogs are welcome! The race aid station is cup-less again, so be sure to bring your own water bottle or cup.

Event Schedule:

7:30 - 9:15 AM: Packet pickup

9:00 AM:  10K Team Scavenger Hunt

9:30 AM:  Kid's Race start 

10:00 AM: 5K Fun Run starts

1:00 PM: Last 10K clue station closes and all 10K runners must return to the finish line

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