The Orca Run 2021
A virtual run to celebrate our namesake, the magnificent Orca. A portion of every entry goes to support the Orca families of Washington state and British Columbia. The Orca Run is a seven-stage virtual run that you can complete anytime in October.
Each runner will be paired with an Orca from a local pod, and invited to learn more about that particular Orca and it’s family. For each of the seven stages, run or walk as much as you like. Then, log your run via our online app and watch your Orca travel around Puget Sound and visit sites important to Orca preservation and learn about the importance of the Orca in Native American history and beliefs. Finally, you will learn what you can do to help your Orca.
You can opt to set your seventh and final stage as a virtual race, with some fun surprises in store!
The Basics:
–Run or walk seven times in October.
–Log your run/walk in an online app and learn about orcas while doing so.
–Earn some very cool swag and support three great non-profits.
–If you want, pick from a few set distances to make your seventh run race day!
Basic Entry
$45
- The Orca Run tri-blend gender specific shirt
- Finisher Medal
- Access to online app
Enhanced Entry
$55
- Custom Orca socks
- The Orca Run Pin
- The Orca Run tri-blend gender specific shirt
- Finisher Medal
- Access to online app
Digital Entry
$10
- Access to online app
Orca Running Socks!
Available only with ‘Enhanced’ Entry!
Medal
designed by Alison Bremner-Marks, Tlingit artist
Gender Specific Shirt
What can I do to help support orcas?
You can do plenty!
- If you can, donate to non-profits that support orcas and the ecosystem that supports them, especially salmon habitat.
- Do not go on whale watching tours, anywhere.
- Avoid any activities that put contaminants into the water system–like washing your car in the driveway or dumping any oil.
- Eat salmon that is not only wild-caught, but is Orca Safe, such as Lummi Wild.
Where does the name 'orca' come from?
You may be surprised to learn that the name ‘Orca’ comes from the Romans! The name ‘orca’ apparently either comes from the word for the shape of a barrel or cask (a reference to the body shape of the orca) or to Orcus, a Roman god of the underworld and punisher of broken oaths.
When will I receive my swag in the mail?
Swag will be mailed out via USPS beginning in early October.
What non-profits does The Orca Run support?
The Orca Run and the Orca Half support three non-profits. Two are focused on supporting our local orca population: The Whale Trail and Long Live the Kings. The races also support United Indians of All Tribes.
The Whale Trail focuses on education and building awareness of orcas and how to safely observe them, while Long Live the Kings aims to restore salmon populations to a level to support the recovery of the orca population.
United Indians of All Tribes supports urban Natives in Western Washington by providing educational, cultural and social services that reconnect Indigenous people in the Puget Sound region to their heritage by strengthening their sense of belonging and significance as Native people.
A portion of every registration will be evenly split between the three. In addition, participants can make an additional optional donation to any of the non-profits during registration.
When do we run?
You can choose to run anytime in October. The Orca Run format is a seven-stage virtual run, meaning you can run it in as quickly as seven days or stretch it out over the whole month. Each stage will see your Orca journey from one stop to the next, learning as you go.
What is the format? Why isn't there a set distance?
The Orca Run is a slightly different format from many other virtual runs. It consists of seven ‘stages’. You complete each stage with a run or walk of one mile or more. With each completed stage, you’ll use our online app to accompany your orca on a journey of education around the Puget Sound. You can do all seven stages seven days in a row, or spread them out over October.
Optionally, you can choose to pick a set distance for a ‘race day’ in October for your last stage, with some fun extra surprises!
Got questions? Submit them here!
We do not have any additional registrations available.
You may be surprised to learn that the name ‘Orca’ comes from the Romans! The name ‘orca’ apparently either comes from the word for the shape of a barrel or cask (a reference to the body shape of the orca) or to Orcus, a Roman god of the underworld and punisher of broken oaths.
- After humans, orcas are the most widely spread mammal on the planet.
- There are no documented cases of a wild orca ever killing a human.
- Orcas live in groups of anywhere from 2 to 50 whales, called pods. Pods are matriarichal, with a female whale leading the pod. Much of the pod will consist of the matriarch’s children.
- Along with pilot whales, orcas and humans are the only mammals that experience menopause. Female orcas experience it at around 40 years of age.
- Orcas have the second largest brain in the world, second only to the sperm whale.
Nearly 40% of the Southern Resident (the group of whales living in Puget Sound and British Columbia) population was taken in the 1960’s and 1970’s. 36 whales were forcibly taken from their families and sold to marine parks for human entertainment. 11 whales died in the process.
Along with a large reduction in prey, water contamination, and interference from constant whale watching tours, the population of orcas has steeply declined to a low of 73 whales in 2020.
Here are a few things you can do:
- Do not go on whale watching tours.
- Avoid spilling contaminants into the water system. This means disposing of unused medicine safely, reduce stormwater runoff, and simpler things like using a drive through car wash instead of washing in your driveway.
- Make sure you know the laws for boating around orcas.
For more, we highly recommend checking out this amazing presentation from NOAA: Orca Presentation
