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You may have seen the posters: This year’s Obliteride to fight cancer will take place on Saturday, August 8, with a kickoff party the prior evening. Those expecting to use the Burke-Gilman Trail or Gas Works Park (or, to some extent, the roads in those areas) should be advised that things will be a little busier than normal. Larry gave you an initial heads-up a couple of weeks ago, but here are some more details.

This Saturday morning, the annual Obliteride to fight cancer will kick off with close to 4,000 riders, runners, walkers, and others beginning their journeys at the UW and ending at Gas Works Park. However, the festivities start Friday night, so the event will bring a couple of days of potential traffic snarls, not just for drivers in our neighborhood but for users of the Burke-Gilman Trail as well.

History

Obliteride participants raise money through donations from their networks of friends and colleagues, which go directly to the Fred Hutch Cancer Center to support their work. Local TV personality Jesse Jones, formerly of KING5 and now with KIRO, lent his considerable support to Obliteride in the early days after his own battle with cancer. Since its debut in 2013, Obliteride has raised $67 million for the Hutch, $9 million of that just last year according to their 2025 annual report.

Routes

Routes and start times are very, very similar, if not identical, to past years. Participants on all routes will begin their journeys Saturday morning at the UW E18 parking lot along Montlake Boulevard near N 45th Street, with staggered start times for each group of participants:

• 6:30 am: 100-mile riders start
• 7:30 am: 50-mile riders start
• 8 am: 5K walkers/runners start
• 9 am: 25-mile riders start

All routes finish at Gas Works Park. The 5K folks make their way straight there from UW. The 25-mile bikers head across the 520 bridge to Kirkland, and return more or less the same way. (See the 25-mile GPS route here.) The 100-mile bikers also cross 520, reaching points as far east as Carnation and Fall City, before returning to Seattle via I-90. (See the 100-mile GPS route here.) The 50-mile bikers shortcut this route by heading straight south to I-90 upon crossing Lake Washington. (See the 50-mile GPS route here.)

Celebrations

Obliteride is more than just sweating through some miles. The event actually begins Friday night with the Friday Night Party:

Obliteride includes a fun party the night before Obliteride Day with live music, an opportunity to connect with teammates and fellow Obliteriders, kid-friendly activities, a full dinner buffet, and some delicious beverages. It’s about bringing the Obliteride community together to celebrate our impact, honor loved ones, and kick off an incredible weekend! The party is on Friday, August 7, at Gas Works Park in Seattle from 4–8 pm.

A similar event takes place Saturday. Admission is included with participants’ registrations. Not biking, running or walking? You can still attend either (or both!) celebrations. Tickets for adults 21+ are $40 for Friday, $30 for Saturday, and $65 for both days—less for youths ages 10-20. Children under 10 are free. Purchase tickets online through Thursday, August 6, or day-of at Gas Works Park.

Event and Traffic Windows (According to Google)

• Early Departures: Expect minor street delays near the UW E-18 parking lot start line between 6:30 and 9 am.
• Trail Traffic: The 5K uses the Burke-Gilman Trail from 8 to 10:30 am, creating heavy congestion for walkers, runners, and bikers using the trail.
• General Route Flow: Riders move along Lake Washington and surrounding regional connectors through the afternoon, utilizing open roads with standard police and volunteer traffic control.