Overall Rating
Overall Rating (5 Reviews)
4.6
(5 Ratings)  (5 Reviews)
DIFFICULTY
2.2
SCENERY
4.4
PRODUCTION
4.8
SWAG
4.6
Beat The Blerch is a 5K, 10K, half, and full marathon created by The Oatmeal and inspired by this comic about running. The Carnation, Washington race will take place in a quaint little town located about 35 minutes outside of Seattle. It begins at King County’s Tolt MacDonald Park, and … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Sep 07):
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H (°F)  69  77  79  83  68
L (°F)  58  59  55  62  62
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Recent reviews

    Possibly my favorite race to date! The comic book behind this race is hilarious, so I have been wanting to run in this race since 2014! And it lived up … MORE

    Possibly my favorite race to date! The comic book behind this race is hilarious, so I have been wanting to run in this race since 2014! And it lived up to ALL the hype!! There was a huge amount of food before the race even started (burrito-donut bar, anyone?) The race was along a trail and in the woods, we ran along a river and over a bridge, it’s a really great location!! The trails are super wide too, so no issues bumping into people (they had wave starts with like a minute in-between waves, to spread people out at the beginning, super smart!). There were people dressed up along the trail, with a fat cherub (blerch!) Offering people rides in a little chariot! There were couches in the middle of the woods and signs to “take a rest, you deserve it” …. and cake at the aid stations. It was amazing! I appreciated every detail this race put into making it great. It was great.
    And despite having to run at a slight uphill for miles and miles…. after halfway, we got to run downhill!! (Out and back course). All the racers were in such good moods, even the fast people who are usually so serious at races!

    Overall, this is THE race to do if you like having fun while you run!

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    aweiler FIRST-TIMER '22

    The environment was fun and supportive! The route was flat and straight. There was cake and couches at the water stations. This run was well organized, and was quite enjoyable. … MORE

    The environment was fun and supportive! The route was flat and straight. There was cake and couches at the water stations. This run was well organized, and was quite enjoyable. Would definitely recommend, and will be running it again 🙂

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    RunShaylaRun FIRST-TIMER '22

    This particular race event was created by a PNW local comic book artist, Matthew Inman, who is also the creator of the Oatmeal. There are couches along the race, plenty … MORE

    This particular race event was created by a PNW local comic book artist, Matthew Inman, who is also the creator of the Oatmeal. There are couches along the race, plenty of tongue in check places to take snaps, and lots of cake with a Burritoughnut Station, where you can build a burrito out of doughnuts. You’re also celebrated for your personal worst. You even get chased by someone dressed in a Blerch costume, and along the course people were dressed as characters from the comics. The swag bag had the cutest t-shirt, and the cutest Blerch medal. Would I do this race again next year? Heck yes, and I would bump it up to a half marathon!

    DIFFICULTY
    1
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5
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    seabass REPEAT RUNNER '18

    The course itself is an out and back with a slight uphill for the first half which means a slight downhill for the second half. With the hill and the … MORE

    The course itself is an out and back with a slight uphill for the first half which means a slight downhill for the second half. With the hill and the trees it makes for a mostly shaded run. The water stops have cake pops (I didn’t try these), a couch and a blerch to talk you out of continuing to run. In the race village you could get all sorts of terrible foods, including a burrito-nut (doughnut wrapped in a burrito). I highly recommend this race and will run it again as often as I can.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    4

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    peachie470 FIRST-TIMER '15

    Wow what can I say the Blerch got me.... A beautiful course on the trails in WA, but the temptation of cake and couches got me. I rolled up to … MORE

    Wow what can I say the Blerch got me…. A beautiful course on the trails in WA, but the temptation of cake and couches got me. I rolled up to the first aide station and not only was there a blerch there but big foot too! They invited me to sit and have nutella sandwich and cake with them. So of course I stopped and had some tasty sweet snacks. Everything about this race was awesome from the free pictures, to great tasting cake, awesome medal and shirt, to meeting MATT himself. I would definitely come back to have some cake with the blerch every year. My one complaint is that the half marathon started a little late for my taste (9am) and it did get a little warm out there on the trails.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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