About cycling & running in YakimaYakima Training Notes
Running: Locals use the Yakima Greenway pathway for steady base miles because the paved route runs 20 miles along the Yakima and Naches Rivers. Cowiche Canyon Conservancy trails give runners basalt, creek shade, and more than 60 miles of dirt when Z2 needs singletrack. The Cowiche Canyon loop is 10 km with 144 m of gain when you want a simple aerobic loop. Yakima Running Club brings youth programs, adult coaching, races, fun runs, and social gatherings. Hard Core Running Club of Central Washington puts on Clear Lake Memorial Runs. Yakima River Canyon Marathon, Yakima Skyline 50K, Yakima Mile, Dye Hard 5K, and Wilridge Wine Run 5k anchor the calendar.
Cycling: Locals ride the Greenway, the Naches Loop ride, and the Yakima Beer and Cider Loop when the legs need spin instead of punishment. Yakima Basin Velo is the home club, and its rides sound familiar: spirited and fun, stay together and regroup, or enjoy a nice, easy, social ride. Manic Monday gives riders 16 miles with 613 feet of elevation gain from Wide Hollow elementary at 72nd and Nob Hill. Naches Loop ride gives 21 miles from Suntides Golf Course. The Yakima River Canyon Road runs 4 miles, and Ahtanum Ridge puts the climbs west of town. Your Canyon for a Day Bike Ride and Hop Harvest 100 Century Ride are the big cycling dates.
Season: Yakima sits at 28 m, and the city trains like a dry valley with mountains close enough to matter. March to November carries the main race season, with April stacking Yakima River Canyon Marathon, Yakima Skyline 50k Trail Run, and Never Say Never Half Marathon. Summer temps hit 9°C, so locals start early, carry water, and keep intervals honest. Cowiche Canyon feels best when its walls throw shade. Winter temps drop to 2°C, annual snowfall reaches 125 cm, and road riders shift toward careful Z2, while runners pick clearer paths and lower-risk footing.
