Julie Bletz's Staging Area

This run is in a beautiful location in Eastern Washington and it’s an easy drive from Seattle on the morning of the race. There’s a small field at this race, which makes it a pretty mellow start and if you aren’t a speedy runner and didn’t bring a friend, you may find yourself running alone for most of it. One thing to know about this race is that it is not actually a 25K, but rather more like a 30K (18 miles). The advantage to runs in Eastern Washington is that they tend to be a bit dryer than on the other side of the mountains. The disadvantage is that it can be downright dusty, which is easily exacerbated by dirt bike riders who are sharing the trail. Almost all of the climb is in the first 8 miles, which is brutal, but it is followed by around 10 miles of sweet downhill that involves some nice river crossings (over bridges) and beautiful views. At the finish, there is music, food, beer and tons of yellow jackets that make the food and music a little less enjoyable. This race is worth doing once, but I can’t say I’d consider a second time.

As other reviewers have stated- this race is top-notch! It’s challenging, but not defeating, and has beautiful scenery (ocean, beaches, eucalyptus groves) that saves you from the reality of what you are doing. We shuttled from San Francisco to the start with no problem and were able to stay warm in a North Face dome tent that had been set up for results (BTW- don’t underestimate the warming power of the tablecloths). You easily get lost in the scenery and the continual up and down of the course. If you are looking for a flat race, this is NOT your race. At the aid stations there are lots of options for snacks and those who don’t mind bubbles while they are running can “Do the Dew”. I highly recommend looking at the race profile before the race so you know how many more hills you have until the finish and won’t be surprised by the last little climb to the finish. The only issue we had was with the shuttles at the end. We had to wait around 45 minutes to catch a shuttle to where we needed to go. I guess the “endurance” and “challenge” applied to more than just the run…

This was my 3rd Rainshadow 25K, and it was the easiest of the 3, but was by no means easy. There are some good climbs, but they all seemed reasonable. The views are great, and there are lots of wildflowers all around. I was also surprisingly happy that it turned out cloudy on Sun Mountain – perfect running weather with the occasional mist to keep things cool. As always, the production was flawless (at least from my perspective). I’ll definitely continue to do more Rainshadow races! If you like a race with lots of swag- you should know that you’ll have to buy it yourself at the merchandise table after the race (or pay up front for the shirt when you register, but be warned, they will not send you the shirt if you don’t make it to the race… found this out the hard way).

In terms of location: Winthrop is a great little town to spend a couple days in- be sure to check out the Old Schoolhouse Brewery and get there early to grab a table right next to the river on the back patio. If you are lucky, you’ll catch a great band while you eat. This race is about a 4-hour (beautiful drive) from Seattle. There are lots of reasonably priced options for hotels. I highly recommend this 25K!

This run offers breath-taking views as you run several different loops on Whidbey and Fidalgo Island. The race is not for acrophobes – the Deception Pass bridge connecting the islands is 180 feet above the deep and turbulent water. Prior to the race, there is an announcement reminding runners that they can die on this course with the numerous cliffs next to the trail, and signs along the way remind you that falling can be deadly. Combined with the wet and slippery wood bridges, rocks and roots, this course requires careful footing, which can be difficult at times when you want to take in the spectacular views! Rainshadow running does a great job of marking trails, and providing post race food (pizza from a wood-fire oven and beer) and music. My only complaint was that the race start was delayed by over 15 minutes, yet no announcement was made to let us know what was going on. I suggest getting there an hour before to get through registration, which had long lines and probably caused the delayed start. For those outside the WA area, you can easily drive up from the Seattle area the morning of the race. It will take about 1.5 hours to get there. Also, the weather can vary dramatically from year to year, so be prepared. We had perfect running weather with temps between 45 and 50, but it can definitely be much cooler and wet. And look at the map carefully before the race so you aren’t surprised by the ‘summit’ that you have to run up around mile 12. Finally, this race is popular and entries are limited, so you should definitely sign up as soon as registration opens in spring of each year. It sells out fast because it’s such an awesome course.

Take a short ferry ride from West Seattle to run this trail run and check out quaint and quiet Vashon Island. The race is extremely well-run, and all the people are friendly and out-going. The post-race food was awesome and the medal gets points for uniqueness- they are made out of green glass bottle bottoms. You can’t go wrong with this one if you are looking for an easy (flat) and short trail race.

Evergreen Trail Runs has a knack for putting on really fun trail runs that can be enjoyed by every kind of runner, no matter the level of experience. The Dash Point race will make you feel like a kid again, running through the forest. Lots of variation in terrain makes the race fly by and before you know it, you are at the finish! The food afterwards was amazing and really hit the spot. And as always, everyone at these races is super friendly. I can’t say enough about how well these races are organized.

At this race, you’ll find an awesome rolling course that is challenging, but not too challenging, and the weather will be chilly, but not too cold. You’ll be surrounded by other runners who are enthusiastic and friendly. And every year, this race is incredibly well-managed; parking is easy, the course is well marked and there are plenty of water stops, and there are lots of people cheering from their homes along the way. And I’m never disappointed in the technical shirt! For all these reasons, I have run this race multiple times, and will definitely be running it again in the future.