Tired of fueling yourself along the race day course with gooey little gels? At the Hop Hop Half in Camas, Washington, running nutrients come from Peeps and jellybeans. This year, the annual spring-themed race will happen on April 7.
In addition to the half marathon, runners and walkers can choose from a 10-miler, 10K, 5K, and one-miler. Once racers finish the course, mimosas, brunch snacks, and a petting zoo await. Costumes are encouraged. There will be a chance to show them off at the end while posing with the Easter bunny. The race also offers a virtual option, but that means no Easter bunny for you.
The Hop Hop has been going on for about 10 years now, says Sean Rivers, owner of the Pacific Northwest running store chain Foot Traffic, which organizes the Hop Hop Half. The exact number of years gets a little fuzzy, what with the race going virtual during the pandemic. Runners are happy to have this race back in person.
Why’s the Hop Hop so popular? “I think it’s just too darn cute to resist,” Rivers said. “Obviously the course is critical for any event to differentiate between other races. We’ve always found a very scenic course. The course that we use now is along the banks of Lacamas Lake and also goes through a very nice golf course and along a creek. But people don’t only do a race because of the route that it goes through. It’s about the swag, of course. Also, the post-race party is important, too. So I think we kind of hit it on all cylinders with this one.” The race caps at 1,400 participants, so it’s a boutique event.
The route starts at Camas Meadows golf course and showcases Northwest scenery. Camas is east of Vancouver, Washington, along the Columbia River, and 20 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon.
“I just think nothing represents spring like a petting zoo,” Rivers said. Last year’s petting zoo included donkeys, goats, a pony, and a small alpaca. “I live on a farm personally,” Rivers said. “I thought about bringing my alpacas but it’s just one more thing I have to deal with. So we brought in a separate farm that brought their stuff.”
Foot Traffic has five retail running stores in the Portland/Vancouver metro area. The brand offers running camps, group runs, race training, and youth events around Portland. It also organizes several annual races in addition to the Hop Hop. The company prides itself on having super cute shirts and finisher medals for each race.
Wondering about how Peeps can fuel your run? Each of these brightly colored marshmallow treats has 28 calories. With 6 grams of sugar per Peep, snackers will meet their recommended daily value of sugar in no time. These treats are gluten-free and fat-free, but sorry, vegetarians, they contain pork-derived gelatin. Classic yellow Peeps are the most popular color, followed by blue and pink.
Rivers endorses the yellow Peeps. “There’s something about the blue. It seems a little unnatural. But the yellow somehow just feels natural, even though nothing about it is natural at all.”
If you want to indulge in some Peep eating and donkey petting during and after a race, sign up soon before the Hop Hop Half sells out.