When I signed up for the Jack and Jill Downhill Half Marathon, I had heard about the ease of the course and the beauty of the scenery, and I will … MORE
When I signed up for the Jack and Jill Downhill Half Marathon, I had heard about the ease of the course and the beauty of the scenery, and I will say that this race under-promises and over-performs…a great combination! 🙂 I had been to Seattle and the State of Washington a few times prior to this trip but really had not ventured too far off the beaten path until this trip. It really is a beautiful state, and escaping the heat for a few days was a welcome reprieve.
The Jack and Jill Downhill races (half marathon and marathon) take place on both Saturday and Sunday of the last weekend in July (typically). By the time I signed up for the race in late-spring, the half marathon on Saturday was already sold out, so – not really having another option – I signed up for the Sunday race. These races are quite popular and sell out often, so it’s best to sign up as soon as possible in order to secure a spot.
Being a significant distance from Washington, travel took some effort and coordination. I took a late flight to Seattle on Friday night after work, and given the time difference, I went straight to an airport hotel to spend the night before picking up my rental car the next day and making the 30-mile drive to North Bend and Snoqualmie, which is where the race and my accommodations were located. Both towns have charming downtown areas with great restaurants and lovely gift shops. I chose to have lunch in North Bend on Saturday while I waited for packet pick-up to open and for my hotel room to become available. North Bend has some premium outlets as well, so I was able to occupy my time before packet pick-up started at 3:00 pm. Packet pick-up was located just outside the Nike Premium Outlet Store and does not include an expo. They had some race merchandise for sale, but it was very minimal. The line became quite long as 3:00 pm approached, but it moved quickly. I do wish they had opened packet pick-up a little earlier (because I think a lot of people were waiting for it to open, which is why the line was so long when it opened), but given the race organizers were running another race that morning, I understand it may not have been logistically possible for them to open it earlier. The race swag was fairly minimal as well…mainly a tank top, a bag, and some sort of bandana/handkerchief.
I chose to stay at the Snoqualmie Inn on Saturday night before the race because it was one of the closer hotels to the race. Most of the hotels that are recommended by the race organizers are 15 or more miles away, whereas the Snoqualmie Inn was only about six miles from the race parking. I would highly recommend this hotel; it is nice, clean, and convenient to the race parking and where the shuttles pick up the runners to take them to the start.
The race itself was amazing! After parking at Meadowbrook Farm (a field kind of between North Bend and Snoqualmie), I was bussed to the bottom of the mountain where the race start took place (at the top of the mountain). The race participants were very friendly, and I made conversation with several folks on the bus and as I hiked to the race start. It is a pretty significant distance between the parking and the start of the race, and once I was dropped off, it is another mile hike to the top of the mountain to reach the start line…and the hike is steep! I am not joking when I say I was really out of breath hiking to the top of the mountain, but hopefully if you can run a half marathon, you can hike a mile uphill. This is also why it’s important to arrive at the parking location early as the last bus leaves 40 minutes before the race starts, and by the time you hike up that hill, you’re out of breath. It’s nice to have a little time to reset before you start running!
The rest of the race was (literally) downhill. I have so many pictures of trees, streams, mountains in the distance, and beautiful scenery that is all along the course path. And, the weather was perfect. I believe the high was in the 70s the day of the race, and it was even cooler when the race started at 6:00 am. There really wasn’t a lot of on-course support or spectators simply because we were running on a trail on the side of a mountain (rather than city streets), but there were aid stations that were well staffed every couple of miles. Really, the only complaint I have about the course is the terrain itself. The course is a gravel path, which was clearly described on the race website, but I underestimated how technical the course is. Although I wore my tried-and-true road running shoes without any problem, my feet and ankles were really tired several miles into the race from running on rocks and uneven surfaces. It is easy to step wrong, so you do have to look down quite a bit to make sure you don’t twist an ankle. That being said, it isn’t necessary to wear trail running shoes as the descent is very gradual, but you don’t want to wear minimal running shoes (or run barefoot), either.
As part of my race “preparations,” I also binge watched the Twin Peaks television series as North Bend and Snoqualmie are featured significantly in the show that aired in the early 1990s. So, after the race, I geeked out on all the sites from the show, including the Double R Diner (now Tweed’s Café) located in North Bend, the police station in Snoqualmie that still has the sheriff’s Bronco sitting outside, and bridges and train tracks where parts of the show were filmed as well. Perhaps most notably, though, I chose to stay Sunday and Monday nights (following the race) at the Salish Lodge & Spa, which was known as The Great Northern Hotel in the show and is visible in the opening credits along with twin waterfalls. The Salish Lodge & Spa was definitely a splurge, but I enjoyed every bit of that experience. The rooms are nicely appointed, the dining is wonderful, and the spa services were perfect following a race. I also could hear the rush of the waterfall from the balcony of my room, and I was able to take in views of the waterfalls and hike around the area a bit as well. It was really the perfect way to cap off a race weekend!
On Tuesday morning, I drove back to Seattle to catch my flight, and I would recommend allowing plenty of time to get to the airport and return a rental car given Seattle traffic can be a little intense, especially on a weekday morning. Despite taking some wrong turns, I was still able to arrive in plenty of time for my flight.
I would highly recommend the Jack and Jill Downhill Half Marathon for anyone who is looking for a summer half marathon that isn’t blazing hot and for anyone who wants to enjoy their surroundings as much as the run itself. It’s really a great and well-organized race, and I enjoyed the communities and laid-back nature of the area. This is a race I would consider repeating just because it was such a relaxing and lovely time!
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It's all downhill from here...
When I signed up for the Jack and Jill Downhill Half Marathon, I had heard about the ease of the course and the beauty of the scenery, and I will … MORE
When I signed up for the Jack and Jill Downhill Half Marathon, I had heard about the ease of the course and the beauty of the scenery, and I will say that this race under-promises and over-performs…a great combination! 🙂 I had been to Seattle and the State of Washington a few times prior to this trip but really had not ventured too far off the beaten path until this trip. It really is a beautiful state, and escaping the heat for a few days was a welcome reprieve.
The Jack and Jill Downhill races (half marathon and marathon) take place on both Saturday and Sunday of the last weekend in July (typically). By the time I signed up for the race in late-spring, the half marathon on Saturday was already sold out, so – not really having another option – I signed up for the Sunday race. These races are quite popular and sell out often, so it’s best to sign up as soon as possible in order to secure a spot.
Being a significant distance from Washington, travel took some effort and coordination. I took a late flight to Seattle on Friday night after work, and given the time difference, I went straight to an airport hotel to spend the night before picking up my rental car the next day and making the 30-mile drive to North Bend and Snoqualmie, which is where the race and my accommodations were located. Both towns have charming downtown areas with great restaurants and lovely gift shops. I chose to have lunch in North Bend on Saturday while I waited for packet pick-up to open and for my hotel room to become available. North Bend has some premium outlets as well, so I was able to occupy my time before packet pick-up started at 3:00 pm. Packet pick-up was located just outside the Nike Premium Outlet Store and does not include an expo. They had some race merchandise for sale, but it was very minimal. The line became quite long as 3:00 pm approached, but it moved quickly. I do wish they had opened packet pick-up a little earlier (because I think a lot of people were waiting for it to open, which is why the line was so long when it opened), but given the race organizers were running another race that morning, I understand it may not have been logistically possible for them to open it earlier. The race swag was fairly minimal as well…mainly a tank top, a bag, and some sort of bandana/handkerchief.
I chose to stay at the Snoqualmie Inn on Saturday night before the race because it was one of the closer hotels to the race. Most of the hotels that are recommended by the race organizers are 15 or more miles away, whereas the Snoqualmie Inn was only about six miles from the race parking. I would highly recommend this hotel; it is nice, clean, and convenient to the race parking and where the shuttles pick up the runners to take them to the start.
The race itself was amazing! After parking at Meadowbrook Farm (a field kind of between North Bend and Snoqualmie), I was bussed to the bottom of the mountain where the race start took place (at the top of the mountain). The race participants were very friendly, and I made conversation with several folks on the bus and as I hiked to the race start. It is a pretty significant distance between the parking and the start of the race, and once I was dropped off, it is another mile hike to the top of the mountain to reach the start line…and the hike is steep! I am not joking when I say I was really out of breath hiking to the top of the mountain, but hopefully if you can run a half marathon, you can hike a mile uphill. This is also why it’s important to arrive at the parking location early as the last bus leaves 40 minutes before the race starts, and by the time you hike up that hill, you’re out of breath. It’s nice to have a little time to reset before you start running!
The rest of the race was (literally) downhill. I have so many pictures of trees, streams, mountains in the distance, and beautiful scenery that is all along the course path. And, the weather was perfect. I believe the high was in the 70s the day of the race, and it was even cooler when the race started at 6:00 am. There really wasn’t a lot of on-course support or spectators simply because we were running on a trail on the side of a mountain (rather than city streets), but there were aid stations that were well staffed every couple of miles. Really, the only complaint I have about the course is the terrain itself. The course is a gravel path, which was clearly described on the race website, but I underestimated how technical the course is. Although I wore my tried-and-true road running shoes without any problem, my feet and ankles were really tired several miles into the race from running on rocks and uneven surfaces. It is easy to step wrong, so you do have to look down quite a bit to make sure you don’t twist an ankle. That being said, it isn’t necessary to wear trail running shoes as the descent is very gradual, but you don’t want to wear minimal running shoes (or run barefoot), either.
As part of my race “preparations,” I also binge watched the Twin Peaks television series as North Bend and Snoqualmie are featured significantly in the show that aired in the early 1990s. So, after the race, I geeked out on all the sites from the show, including the Double R Diner (now Tweed’s Café) located in North Bend, the police station in Snoqualmie that still has the sheriff’s Bronco sitting outside, and bridges and train tracks where parts of the show were filmed as well. Perhaps most notably, though, I chose to stay Sunday and Monday nights (following the race) at the Salish Lodge & Spa, which was known as The Great Northern Hotel in the show and is visible in the opening credits along with twin waterfalls. The Salish Lodge & Spa was definitely a splurge, but I enjoyed every bit of that experience. The rooms are nicely appointed, the dining is wonderful, and the spa services were perfect following a race. I also could hear the rush of the waterfall from the balcony of my room, and I was able to take in views of the waterfalls and hike around the area a bit as well. It was really the perfect way to cap off a race weekend!
On Tuesday morning, I drove back to Seattle to catch my flight, and I would recommend allowing plenty of time to get to the airport and return a rental car given Seattle traffic can be a little intense, especially on a weekday morning. Despite taking some wrong turns, I was still able to arrive in plenty of time for my flight.
I would highly recommend the Jack and Jill Downhill Half Marathon for anyone who is looking for a summer half marathon that isn’t blazing hot and for anyone who wants to enjoy their surroundings as much as the run itself. It’s really a great and well-organized race, and I enjoyed the communities and laid-back nature of the area. This is a race I would consider repeating just because it was such a relaxing and lovely time!
Sh!t happens!
Look, there’s going to be a lot of chatter about how the shuttles never showed up and about 100 people didn’t make the start in time. We got to the … MORE
Look, there’s going to be a lot of chatter about how the shuttles never showed up and about 100 people didn’t make the start in time. We got to the start line 35 minutes after the start, even though we were at the shuttle area at 4:50 for our 5:15 shuttle. We ended up starting alone and had to run past about 500 runners that were slower than us on a trail that is 8ft wide. Clearly not ideal conditions. The organizers were stressed out about it and I truly feel bad for them. One offs happen and unless there’s a repeat down the road, I’m not going to carve them in a review for it.
This review is for people thinking of doing the race next year. It’s not so much about this specific race (which is fairly basic but fine) but the course, which can apply to any of the races that take place here.
The course is beautiful (second time I’ve run this course) and if the goal is to run a super enjoyable track in the mountains, this one is hard to beat.
If you are trying to qualify for Boston, I think you need to put some thought into whether this is the race for you. The reviews and write-ups make it sound like it’s the easiest race you can imagine. It is not. Unless you are trained to run on trail, this course can eat you up. The footing is very unstable, and every third stride you seem to land somewhat awkwardly, utilizing muscles you probably never thought of utilizing if you usually run on road. By 20 miles, your ankles are killing you from all the slight rolling, especially if you are trying to run fast. You have to keep looking down to ensure you have the right footing, which takes a lot of mental energy when you’re supposed to be relaxed. At my pace (qualified for Boston with a 3:05 on road last year), this type of surface really puts me out of my rhythm. I have open welts on the inside of my knees from rocks knocking my knees together every few minutes. My heart rate was consistently 7-10 beats higher than the same pace on road, which is saying something considering how downhill it is!
This is just one runners opinion, but I personally find a flat or slightly rolling road race much easier. I think I’m done with the Snoqualmie races for good now :). Best of luck!
Gorgeous, fun gently downhill marathon
The first 3 miles of this race are in a completely dark tunnel and you need a headlamp. I found that scary - but once you are through the tunnel … MORE
The first 3 miles of this race are in a completely dark tunnel and you need a headlamp. I found that scary – but once you are through the tunnel you are treated to a stunning course through the trees, across bridges and over waterfalls with amazing mountain views all the way. There are only 2 tiny uphills and the rest of the course is gently downhill all the way. One of the most beautiful and fun races ever!
Beautiful Trail race-logistics confusing
Overall - this was a beautiful trail race - but the logistics were confusing and a little misleading. First - you must choose a day (Sat or Sun) and a … MORE
Overall – this was a beautiful trail race – but the logistics were confusing and a little misleading. First – you must choose a day (Sat or Sun) and a wave (1 or 2). The packet pick-up was in the outlet mall parking lot in the town of North Bend. There was no expo but a few other shirt options to purchase. The shirt was horrible – it was an ugly tank top. The start time to the shuttle started at 4:00 am – but you can choose a time. You ride the bus for a while then get dumped out only to walk UPHILL for 1.2 miles to the start. Noone from my bus made it to the start line in time for the wave 1 start that we all signed up for. We had to wait another 20 minutes for the next wave to start. The course was all gravel and dirt and was net a downhill elevation – but I never felt like I was running downhill. I’ve done Revel races and those are downhill. The course was nice and shaded with a couple of interesting bridges. There were plenty of water stops with plenty of water and I’m a back-of-the-packer. The finish and the after party left much to be desired. – There were only three choices of food – banana, peanut butter sandwich and one other thing. After the race – you are bused back to the parking lot (I had to wait awhile for the bus). There were plenty of pot-a-potties along the way. The medal was amazing – It was really nice. Overall – it was a good race but not as great as it’s hyped. You will definitely need a car and hotels are hard to find. I stayed in Solquamie and flew into Seattle about an hour drive away. Olympic National Park and Mt. Reiner National Park are close by.
Fastest course I've run
This race course is one of the fastest in the US. Although not as steep as others, the steady decline and the elevation closer to sea level make it a … MORE
This race course is one of the fastest in the US. Although not as steep as others, the steady decline and the elevation closer to sea level make it a very fast run. The trail is hard packed gravel, some loose stone and outcropping rocks may cause difficulty for runners who are pavement only. However, I didn’t find the footing difficult after exiting the tunnel.
The start of the race passes through a 2.3 mile tunnel. Make sure your headlamp is especially bright and stay to the middle of the course – the sides have water filled potholes that are ankle high.
The “expo” was simply tables outside the Nike Outlet in North Bend. The line can be long to get your bib if showing up at a prime time. The shirt is a technical tank – nothing special. Buses to the start were school buses, but the ride is only about 35-40 minutes. Unfortunately, the organizers mistimed the buses and race started 20 minutes late. The support on course was tables of water and Gatorade (not every station) – and that is all. No nutrition so bring your own. Trash bags at the mile markers helped keep the trail clean.
The scenery is spectacular! Wide views of the mountains across the valley. The noise from I-90 is noticeable in some places. The trail is not closed, so expect hikers and bikers. Additionally, spectators on bikes are allowed and can cause some traffic issues. One spectator would pass me, stop ahead and cheer his runner (must have been near me) and then 5 minutes later would be passing me again. Staying on tangents is impossible when yielding to bikes in both directions.
Amenities at the finish were adequate but nothing special. Water, milk, PB&J, bananas. The medal is nice with tunnel doors that open to show two runners.
Overall, an exceptional course that would benefit from better race management. If you have the option, research other races that run this same route.
SPECTACULAR SCENERY/ Worst Aid Stations
It’s an extremely gorgeous course and deserves its rating of the top 10 most beautiful, but is my #1 choice out of 85 marathons I have completed this far, for … MORE
It’s an extremely gorgeous course and deserves its rating of the top 10 most beautiful, but is my #1 choice out of 85 marathons I have completed this far, for worst runner support/ worst aid stations/terribly organized race ever. It didn’t start well with organization as we stood at 4 am waiting for buses to take us to the start that never came for over and hour and half, when they did we got to the start at 6:10 for a 6:00 start time, causing delay in the race start time meaning we would endure the heat longer. They had water and a few Gatorade stops nothing else and many runners come here to BQ. I wasn’t racing this one, already have several BQ times to submit, and currently I am injured, so just planned to run easy. Luckily, I carried more than I usually do knowing I would be out there longer. I gave away most of my gels and all of my salt tablets to help a few runners trying to BQ, but who were dealing with cramps from a lack of electrolytes in this summer heat and poor course support. In my opinion a race director’s #1 priority should always be safety. For $149 and no cost on police as we ran gravel roads down the mountain, that $ should have included water and Gatorade/ some type of electrolytes at ALL aid stations in that summer heat. I don’t care if it’s in the race email, runner’s safety comes first and especially in this summer heat it’s a necessity. I have run plenty of big city races and even Chicago and Boston where they supply water and Gatorade at every station to 30,000-50,000 runners. To have no electrolytes available in that heat is senseless!
I rode back to the parking lot with a group of back of packers who endured that heat for hours that never had Gatorade the entire race as they ran out. I plan to do Tunnel Vision or Tunnel Hill that apparently this one was the copycat to that, as it’s truly is a remarkably beautiful course and would like to see how they do it. Great course, lots of potential, but not a great organization and lacked basic support.
Very unorganized and pathetic event
Where do i start? Showed up super early for event only to wait in line for a 1 hour for a shuttle bus. I was wave one so the first … MORE
Where do i start? Showed up super early for event only to wait in line for a 1 hour for a shuttle bus. I was wave one so the first wave to start. I arrived and noticed wave 1 didn’t wait for the rest of us to arrive left. I quickly removed my gear, didn’t stretch and left with wave 3. But now since the trails were not wide especially thru the tunnel, i found myself trying to dodge thru slower groups of people in a tunnel that has pot holes with little visibility.
The course itself was beautiful and the terrain was rough but I’m used to running on trails. There was little support on the route and aid stations. No gels, not enough gatorade or no support? WTF!!
The race director really needs to give his head a shake especially dive the heat and dehydration starts kicking in.
At the end of the race, there were bananas, pretzels, bagged pbj sandwiches, chocolate milk and only 1 bottle water. Yes only 1!! A lady was manning the water and telling you that every person only receives 1 bottle water. What ? I was cramping and needed fluids!! I ended up cramping and luckily a spectator offered me more water. I seriously don’t know what my fees were for!! This was the worst experience i have ever had especially for a person who travelled many miles away.
I’ll be back to BQ
In chronological order; Packet pick up was smooth, but held on the sidewalk of the Nike store. I was disappointed that there wasn’t an expo for a race that’s been … MORE
In chronological order; Packet pick up was smooth, but held on the sidewalk of the Nike store. I was disappointed that there wasn’t an expo for a race that’s been around as long as this one has.
Transportation to the start was the responsibility of the racer. They said there would be busses to bring us back to the parking lot at the finish line (I waited over an hour for the bus) The day was forecast to be hot and humid, so they started the race 30 min earlier and had extra water stations.
The course was fantastic! Very scenic with quite a few bridge crossings. I wore all terrain shoes and was happy with the choice due to the changing ground cover from loose gravel to hard packed dirt. This is a dual track trail race.
The finish line is minimalist with a few things for the runners. Shade was hard to come by at the finish. The medics were not well supplied for those that were extremely dehydrated or cramping (Usually the weather for this race is much cooler). And as stated earlier, the busses were few and far between causing some to call for an Uber due to having to get to their hotels on time for checkout and/or the airport on time for their flight.
The redemption of this race coordination is the trail itself, B-E-A-utiful gradual shaded downhill.
As fast as it is scenic.
If geography allowed, I would run this race every year. It really is a gem, hidden in plain sight, to be experienced. The course is fast, yes, but the terrain … MORE
If geography allowed, I would run this race every year. It really is a gem, hidden in plain sight, to be experienced. The course is fast, yes, but the terrain changes provide the challenge you’re looking for. If there is such a thing as an “ideal” race, this one qualifies.
This one should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Scenery was Amazing!
For this Indiana girl the scenery sure beats corn fields! The tunnel was in the first 1/4 mile and was about 2.5 miles long (stay in the middle and take … MORE
For this Indiana girl the scenery sure beats corn fields! The tunnel was in the first 1/4 mile and was about 2.5 miles long (stay in the middle and take good headlamp/flashlight, it is dark and uneven). The course of as very very gradual, for me no additional pain, besides the normal. Lol! Beautiful wild flowers along side the course with the huge towering mountains in the background for a majority of the run! Loved the medal and the tank! Packet pick up was fast, smooth and easy! The after party was okay, no beer or much food, , but there is a cool spot about 1 mile down the road MT SI Tavern, with some pretty good food!
Great overall race
Gravel terrain was much harder than i anticipated it would be...Scenic, beautiful course. Plenty of hydration stations with port-a- potties along the route. MORE
Gravel terrain was much harder than i anticipated it would be…Scenic, beautiful course. Plenty of hydration stations with port-a- potties along the route.
It’s all downhill from here!
Expo was horrible and practically non existent. Not sure if it was due to Covid or not, but disappointing Race morning, the shuttle parking area was a mess if you … MORE
Expo was horrible and practically non existent. Not sure if it was due to Covid or not, but disappointing
Race morning, the shuttle parking area was a mess if you had the earlier bus to the start line. Gates were closed at the school, then they opened them, then they closed them only to reopen them again.
Race start was a little messy. Could not here the MC as he only had a handheld megaphone and the honor seeding by pace was chaotic and non existent.
But all of that was worth the 2.3 Mike trip through the Iron Horse tunnel and after that, non stop scenery and only one road crossing the whole 26.2. Aid stations were plentiful about every two miles and everyone was friendly.
Medal was nice as was the dri fit shirt. Order up a size lol
Great race to PR or BQ.
Scenic course, not the most organized
Pros: 1. Very scenic course 2. Gentle downhill course makes for fast race times 3. I thought the tunnel was really cool and made the first 3 miles fly by … MORE
Pros:
1. Very scenic course
2. Gentle downhill course makes for fast race times
3. I thought the tunnel was really cool and made the first 3 miles fly by
4. Aid stations every ~2 miles (water and gatorade only, no gels)
5. Nice shirt and finisher medal. You got to pick from 3 different shirt designs which I thought was cool.
Cons:
1. The race is not very well organized. The race director was not very communicative leading up to the race and many runners questions went unanswered. There was nobody organizing the buses (aka nobody to tell you which bus to get on and the bus assignment time you reserved was completely meaningless). I asked the bus driver if I was on the right bus but many other runners didn’t do this so the runners on the full marathon bus had to keep telling half marathon runners they were on the wrong bus. They also told my husband who switched from the full marathon to the half marathon at packet pickup that there were no more spaces on the half buses for him if he switched and he would have to arrange for his own transportation which he did and paid a decent amount of money to arrange. Then when he got to the start he saw multiple buses pulling in half empty. They also did a weird “rolling start” that didn’t make any sense and wasn’t organized at all. The runners were just standing around the start line all confused wondering when they should go (no assigned corrals or signs for a self-seeded start). You could also barely hear the national anthem for the full and my husband said they didn’t even play one for the half. Lastly, trying to find my headlamp bag after the finish was a nightmare.
Overall, beautiful downhill course but poor race organization.
Other things to note:
1. I wore Hoka Cliftons for this course which were perfect for the packed gravel (did not feel a need for trail shoes)
2. They mention on the website that you may lose signal in the tunnel and your running watch may not be accurate. I ran with a Garmin Forerunner 245 and it never lost signal and was very accurate!
beautiful downhill course
- great downhill course. nothing steep at all. very gradual - beautiful green scenery. lots of shade! - tunnel just after the start line. in a completely dark tunnel for … MORE
– great downhill course. nothing steep at all. very gradual
– beautiful green scenery. lots of shade!
– tunnel just after the start line. in a completely dark tunnel for what seemed like a couple of miles. definitely will need a headlamp. a little bit disorienting being in there so long, but the rest of the course is just beautiful.
A bucket list race
This race should be on everyone's bucket list. Starts high in Snoqualamie Pass, runs through a tunnel that is 2 MILES long and so dark it cannot be imagined, and … MORE
This race should be on everyone’s bucket list. Starts high in Snoqualamie Pass, runs through a tunnel that is 2 MILES long and so dark it cannot be imagined, and scenic. Though I greatly enjoyed the race, there are a few things that made it a bit interesting. First, our shuttle driver got lost. We still made it to the start OK, but definitely anxiety producing! Second, I did not truly understand how difficult it would be to run in the tunnel. It is dark. I had a light as well as everyone I saw, but it was not bright enough. I expected the tunnel to be cooler than outside, but it was warmer and very humid. The trail was uneven through the tunnel so a little scary to run with little light, unsure footing and humidity. Third, it gets a little redundant. The scenery is the same, over and over and over. For 26 miles. And 4th, the flashlights again. There is a drop right after the tunnel to put your flashlight in so you don’t have to run with it forever. BUT, at the finish, there is no huge marked area with the flashlights. There is barely any finish area. A spot to take a picture, some merchandise to buy, some food. I took the shuttle back to my car and then realized I forgot my light! Drove back to the finish and had to ask where the lights were. There were 100s of them in a grassy area behind the merchandise. Not intuitive to look there are no sign indicating they were there. As I was one of the last folks there as the finish was being dismantled, all those lights were forgotten. Still, I would recommend this race. Just know that it isn’t perfect!
PR/BQ COURSE WITH BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
Simply Gorgeous course. Running through the Washington Pines, through a 2.5 mile tunnel, over bridges with views of gorges and waterfalls and rock faces. I almost stumbled twice admiring the … MORE
Simply Gorgeous course. Running through the Washington Pines, through a 2.5 mile tunnel, over bridges with views of gorges and waterfalls and rock faces. I almost stumbled twice admiring the scenery. 2000 foot slow descent on dirt packed/stone road leads to very fast times without Quad soreness normally associated with large descent type courses.
Beautiful Mountain View’s and PRS!
The most beautiful course! Loved my medal and shirt! I stayed in Issaquah… I loved it there! My favorite marathon! Very gradual downhill. I never felt like I was going … MORE
The most beautiful course! Loved my medal and shirt! I stayed in Issaquah… I loved it there! My favorite marathon! Very gradual downhill. I never felt like I was going downhill except for one little part. I ran this race in July it did get kind of hot at the end but I’m from Texas so I’m used to it but for anyone who is not just know it may warm up especially at the end. Also the tunnel wasn’t my favorite thing but it was neat and different. I lost the 3:10 pacer but I still ran a PR and had a fabulous time! Lots of great people at this race! Everyone I talked to after the race ran a PR or a BQ!
Not that down hill
Downham not as I expected it running on gravel road hard on your feet if you're not used to that scenery was awesome I would not recommend this restaurant to … MORE
Downham not as I expected it running on gravel road hard on your feet if you’re not used to that scenery was awesome I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone
Jack and Jill fell down the Hill
Small expo. Simple shirt. Hotels are several miles away, so you must drive to catch the bus, which will take you to the start. The vast majority of the marathon … MORE
Small expo. Simple shirt. Hotels are several miles away, so you must drive to catch the bus, which will take you to the start. The vast majority of the marathon is run along an abandoned railroad trestle and as such is hard packed gravel. For the vast majority of the marathon, you do run a very gradual down hill, although you may not even notice, so the legs don’t get the hard pounding from a true downhill pavement run. The race begins in small groups so that the course is never too crowded, and in fact i ran alone much of the race. The scenery was beyond beautiful as you are out in nature, very rarely on roads, so no vehicular traffic to disrupt your run. Not much of a post race gathering, but overall a very enjoyable course.
Exactly as advertised "gradual" down!
Thank God this is not so steep that your quads are completely thrashed by the time you're done. This is a gradual downhill on an easy gravel trail. Definite PR … MORE
Thank God this is not so steep that your quads are completely thrashed by the time you’re done. This is a gradual downhill on an easy gravel trail. Definite PR course. Most organized run of ever done and definitely the fastest. Strawberries at mile 21 were a big hit.