The 1st annual Portland Alley Marathon is scheduled for November 3rd, 2012. Individuals and teams (4 or 8) welcome. Register online now at portlandalleymarathon.eventbrite.com, at the Thrive office in Iola or at the Chanute Area Chamber of Commerce in Chanute.

Portland Alley is the 26.2 mile corridor from Iola Kansas to Chanute Kansas where Portland cement has been produced since the early 20th century. The Portland Alley Marathon is designed to bring three neighboring communities together.

The beautiful stretch of road runs north from Chanute, home of Ash Grove Cement Company to Humboldt Kansas, home of Monarch Cement Company and on to Iola Kansas, the former home of Lehigh Portland Cement Company.

The event is organized by a coalition of residents from Chanute, Humboldt and Iola who share the goals of improving health conditions in Allen and Neosho counties while demonstrating the benefits of regional cooperation. The race begins in Chanute on Main Street, runs through the north end of Chanute to Ash Grove Rd., then winds its way down Petrolia Road to Humboldt, where it heads north down the old highway to Iola. South of Iola, it winds its way around Gates and Elks Lake and then north into Iola. An exact race course description will be posted soon.