From the race website: Dear Runners, Many of you may be aware that Washington State has recently experienced several major storms that have caused widespread and devastating damage across the region. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected. We were recently informed that due to severe …
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From the race website: Dear Runners, Many of you may be aware that Washington State has recently experienced several major storms that have caused widespread and devastating damage across the region. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected. We were recently informed that due to severe storm damage to multiple sections of our race course, we will not be permitted to use the original course for the 2026 Tunnel Marathons. This was not an easy update to receive or to share, as we know how meaningful this course is to so many of you. Please know that we are actively working with our permitting agencies to develop an alternative route for the Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon & Half Marathon, Tunnel Vision Marathon & Half Marathon, and Tunnel Light Marathon & Half Marathon. Our goal is to continue offering you a safe, scenic, and memorable race experience. Registration will be temporarily paused while we finalize details with the appropriate agencies. We are hopeful to have an approved alternate course and registration ready to open on February 1, 2026. We truly appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued support as we diligently work through these unforeseen challenges. Your trust means everything to us, and we remain committed to supporting your running journeys every step of the way. Please stay tuned for further updates. We look forward to sharing more details soon and to welcoming you back for another incredible Tunnel Marathon experience. With gratitude, Kristal Sager Race Director, Tunnel Marathon Team
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The Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon race offers one of the fastest courses in the country. This point-to-point course delivers excellent times thanks to the consistent downhill grade and low starting elevation. It is the perfect race to set a Personal Record and snag a Boston Qualification on a single course. We also offer this same course in August and September.
You will start at Snoqualmie Pass and run through a dark tunnel lit by your best running mates, gawk at the mountains and waterfalls, take in the sweet Washington air, and let your legs take you to the finish in North Bend. The speed of the course comes from a loss of just over 2,000′ of elevation. The Tunnel course is in the top 10 for a BQ per Runners World and Race Raves! This USATF Boston Certified course (WA21010RMB) has helped over 42% of our runners snag a BQ on the ORIGINAL Tunnel course. Founded by Washington resident Brian Pendleton and offered since 2007, you can be sure you’re in good hands. It’s been a favorite among racers, and why runners continue to come back for more!
Come run a marathon with the Tunnel Marathons Team and enjoy a 5-star marathon experience. Whether your first or 100th marathon, we care about our runners, we care about helping you set a new personal record, and we care about sending you to the Boston Marathon if that is your goal.
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Expect ankles to be sore but pretty
Great race and beautiful. Although you have the downhill advantage, it is still trail and it isn’t tactical but after 26.2 miles your ankles and calves feel the uneven ground … MORE
Great race and beautiful. Although you have the downhill advantage, it is still trail and it isn’t tactical but after 26.2 miles your ankles and calves feel the uneven ground and downhill.
If you are cheering, here’s where to go:
Mile 11 McClellan Butte Trailhead .5 mile hike or lots of people go to mile 13 – Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail (Formerly Iron Horse State Park Trail) Access
Mile 16 .25 hike up Homestead valley trailhead
Mile 21.5 Rattlesnake lake/ Rattlesnake Ledge trailhead
Finish/ shuttle to get to the finish
Gorgeous Course
While this is a pricey event, it really is a gorgeous course. They have packet pickup the day prior and morning of, which is really convenient. Starting it with the … MORE
While this is a pricey event, it really is a gorgeous course. They have packet pickup the day prior and morning of, which is really convenient. Starting it with the tunnel is a cool experience and then downhill with some incredible views that really encompass Washington. There are pacers as well as a sweeper, also an early start for runners that are expecting to take longer than 5 hours.
scenic downhill PR course
This was my 26th Marathon and 17th State....This was my most expensive race entry around170$ and I registered when it opened....great and very scenic gradual downhill course....My family made a … MORE
This was my 26th Marathon and 17th State….This was my most expensive race entry around170$ and I registered when it opened….great and very scenic gradual downhill course….My family made a vacation of this visiting Seattle, Olympic NP, and Mount Rainer…The first couple miles were through a tunnel, requiring a head lamp….great course and support…the medal and shirt were okay…not alot of locations for crowd support on the course, but an awesome course if you want to PR/BQ….easy logistics and communication….alot of snacks, fresh fruit, desserts, drinks at the finish line…the shuttle to the parking area didn’t seem to be frequent enough as my family didn’t make it to the finish in time and we had to wait 30 minutes after the race….I would recommend this race due to the scenery, vacation aspect, and ability to PR/BQ
2022 BQ in the Bag!
Great downhill course and race for Boston Marathon qualification! Unique start with 2.5 miles through a pitch black tunnel that can literally and figuratively trip you up, but not if … MORE
Great downhill course and race for Boston Marathon qualification! Unique start with 2.5 miles through a pitch black tunnel that can literally and figuratively trip you up, but not if you have the right gear (light), focus on safe running and not talking, and race smart. Fantastic scenery throughout and excellent race support, starting from the race package pickup, across the course, and at the finish line. 26.2 miles on mostly hard-packed gravel was a welcome change from asphalt or concrete, especially for a downhill marathon. Limited field size of just over 500 helped to simplify and execute the logistics, especially given the point to point start and finish locations. Despite snow on the peaks near the start, the weather at the start in June was surprisingly warm, but not hot. Forecast called for “steady rain”, but it barely rained and this was never a factor other than keeping the temperature down under cloudy skies. Warmer weather for similar races on this course from Jul-Sep could play a bigger factor. As the first post-COVID marathon for myself, and many others, it was a great event. Well done to the race management team! I’ll be back and recommend this race to my friends and the athletes I coach.
Small, quiet race
I ran the August version this race (they had 3 a year). The weather was great, the tunnel was exciting, the field was small and there are no spectators. I … MORE
I ran the August version this race (they had 3 a year). The weather was great, the tunnel was exciting, the field was small and there are no spectators.
I went into this race recovering from an injury. It is a big BQ field since it is downhill for the first 22 miles, so I felt like I was pretty much running alone after the first five miles or so. The aid stations were mostly unattended (not sure if they had volunteers for the bigger pace groups that bounced or none at all) so it was self serve water.
Not much in terms of expo, after party, or swag.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a BQ and go into this race healthy, you would be in good company. If you want a fun race and spectators to help motivate you, this is not the course for you.
A lifetime experience race!
It's a Picture perfect race, surreal scenic beauty and tailor made for a PR or BQ. Ideal weather, smooth mild downhill after 3 miles. The gravel is tough to run … MORE
It’s a Picture perfect race, surreal scenic beauty and tailor made for a PR or BQ. Ideal weather, smooth mild downhill after 3 miles. The gravel is tough to run on if you are not used to it and can takeaway a few seconds per mile but the weather and the downhill more than make up for it. A race managed by someone who loves running and places runners interests first. Very warm and welcoming staff and volunteers! … Anyone who loves long distance running should run The Tunnel Marathon once in their running lifetime!… It’s a one of a kind lifetime experience. I flew all the way from India for this and had a 28 mins PR!! … But irrespective of the time I am glad to run this just for the experience.
Disappointing
No swag bags or bags to carry gear, no heat lamps like stated at the start. Changed start time an hour earlier 5 days before start of race. No volunteers … MORE
No swag bags or bags to carry gear, no heat lamps like stated at the start. Changed start time an hour earlier 5 days before start of race. No volunteers to cheer you on until mile 13, then again at 20. But most disappointing of all no photographer at the end of the tunnel like it had mentioned in the race details. Stopped photography at the finish at 4 hour mark. They packed up and left.
Fast and scenic
*This race has gone through some management changes the last year or two. I can't speak to it now, but in 2015, it was great. The Light at the End … MORE
*This race has gone through some management changes the last year or two. I can’t speak to it now, but in 2015, it was great.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel is a fast point to point marathon on a scenic gravel trail (not technical trail) east of Seattle. There is no expo, which is awesome – very small race, so you show up and get your bib on race morning.
The day starts with you parking at Twin Falls Middle School, followed by a bus trip to the starting area. You cross the start line at Hyak trailhead on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. Not long after starting you get to run through the Hyak Tunnel, which is close to 2.5 or 3 miles of pitch black, with literally just a pinpoint of light at the far end! It’s damp, cool, and full of echoes of runners’ breath, footfalls, and laughter. Run with a flashlight or headlamp!! I carried mine and they give you small bags to drop them in at the first table right outside the tunnel, so you don’t have to carry it the whole time. The tunnel portion is very cool!!
After that you’re running on gravel roads in a beautiful park with a lot of shade, crossing beautiful foot bridges with nice views. The course is very fast, and is pretty much all downhill, though it’s a gentle downhill, not a quad-pounding downhill. There are hikers and cyclists out and about on the trail, but it wasn’t ever a problem.
There are 8 or 9 aid stations along the course, though I carried my hydration pack just in case. We had great weather in 2015, warming up slightly by the end but otherwise comfortable running temps and blue skies.
There was an issue last year with signage towards the end of the course – I think a few mile markers were missing but apparently there was an issue unlocking a fire road gate which delayed them getting those last signs up. Not a big deal. The race was well organized and responsive ahead of time if you had a question.
The medal was decent, though the shirt was a bit too big. The most important thing about this race is the BQ that came out of it! I definitely recommend this event if you’re looking for a PR, BQ, or just to check Washington off your list of states. It was beautiful and a lot of fun. Oh, and it sells out fast, so be ready to sign up!!