The Course

The course is 5000m (5k) long. This has been accurately measured by us with a professional measuring wheel. The course is at the Cedar River Trail, Renton. The course is run entirely on permanent paths. Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or signs will be in place.

Please remember that the parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to enjoy the event.

Please, wherever possible walk, jog, cycle or use public transport when attending the event. If you do have to drive, please consider car-sharing to reduce our impact on both the environment and other park users. Please also watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. Parking may be limited so try to arrive early.

Course Safety

Renton parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the event as safe as possible, so participants, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:

  • Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
  • Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied (within arm's reach) throughout the event by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent's choice.
  • Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
  • Please consider volunteering to help occasionally - this event survives only because of your generosity - please visit the volunteer page for more information.
  • Take care near roads and car parks – some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the event, please drive carefully even if you’re late!
  • Take care on uneven surfaces – whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other participants, pedestrians, children, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
  • Please ensure that you are fit enough to walk, jog, run 5k (3.1 miles) with us.
  • If you see someone with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
  • If you’re watching, keep clear of participants on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
  • It is not permitted to run with a pushchair and a dog at the same time.
  • Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Consider protecting yourself by wearing repellent when at parkrun events in grassy or wooded areas. See lymediseaseuk.com for further details.
  • You are welcome to take part with one dog by your side, within reach at all times, on a short, handheld, non-extendable lead. Please also see this Support Site entry for further details about parkrunning with dogs.
  • parkrunners pushing buggies are welcome, but please take care of others around you and do your best to start at an appropriate place in the field for your pace.

We hope these tips help to ensure that Renton parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.

Age Grading

All parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners compare results.

Age Grading takes your time and uses the world record time for your sex and age group to produce a score (a percentage). This score allows you to compare your personal performance against other people's performances even though they might be a different age and a different sex to you - the higher the score the better the performance. The scores can also be compared across different race distances - to allow you to, for example, compare a 5km time against a marathon.

For more information, please see our Support page.

Course Map

Course Description

The start/finish is a few hundred feet beyond the bollard in the trail when coming from the parking area. Participants will run or walk along the Cedar River on paved trail with one grated, metal bridge 2.5 km, or just over 1.5 miles to the turn-around point and return the same way they came.

Facilities

Restrooms are available in the Community Center near the start/finish, open at 9 am. There are additional restrooms in a separate building in the back parking lot of the Community Center open 24/7 during Spring, Summer and Fall. About a mile into the course, there are restrooms at Riverview Park, on the left hand side of the trail, open year-round. There also may be a port-a-potty at the dog park near the start/finish.

Getting There

Location of start

The event starts a few hundred feet beyond the bollard in the trail when coming from the parking area.

Getting there by public transport

On Saturdays, the closest bus route is to/from the Renton Transit Center, 257 Burnett Ave S, Renton, WA 9805. From there, it is a half mile walk to the parkrun start. Head south on Burnett Ave S, turn left onto S 3rd St, turn right onto Mill Ave S, turn left onto S 3rd St, then turn left onto Cedar River Trail.

Getting there on foot

From downtown, head east on S 3rd St, turn right onto Mill Ave S, turn left onto S 3rd St, then turn left onto Cedar River Trail.

Getting there by road

If using a GPS device, please search for Google Maps: “Renton parkrun” or “Cedar River Trail Trailhead”. Waze: “Cedar River Trail Trailhead”. iPhone Maps: “Cedar River Regional Trail”.

From downtown, take Mill Ave S to S 3rd St to Cedar River Trail.

From 405 traveling north, take exit 4 toward WA-900 W/Bronson Way, turn right onto WA-169 9 N, continue straight onto Bronson Way N, turn left onto Mill Ave S, continue onto S 3rd Street and turn left onto Cedar River Trail.

From 405 traveling south, take exit 4 for WA-900 W toward WA-169, merge onto WA-900/Sunset Blvd N, turn right onto Bronson Way N, turn left onto Mill Ave S, continue onto S 3rd St, turn left onto Cedar River Trail.

There is a large gravel & dirt parking area near the start, under the 405 overpass. Additional parking is located at Liberty Park, 1101 Bronson Way N, Renton, WA 98057. There is a crosswalk on Houser Way S from Liberty Park to Cedar River Park Drive, from where participants can cross a footbridge over the river to the start area.

Post Run Coffee

Every week we grab a post-parkrun coffee: Common Ground Coffee & Cupcakes, located at 900 S 3rd Street in Downtown Renton. Please come and join us!