Windermere Marathon & Half Marathon (US)
Spokane, WA
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Windermere Marathon is truly a PNW gem with a net negative point-to-point course that is known for PRs and Boston qualifying. Both the half marathon and the marathon course follow the centennial trail along the scenic Spokane River and finish in beautiful downtown Spokane! This race is a runner … MORE
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Deceptive in the middle of a flat course
I found the first 10 miles to be fairly easy running. It was out/back course and those middle miles were where some inclines happen that kindof zapped me more than … MORE
I found the first 10 miles to be fairly easy running. It was out/back course and those middle miles were where some inclines happen that kindof zapped me more than I thought.
Great course
This was my first half marathon. A great one to start as it's mostly flat. Now I have done 4 halves, and 1-10K. I love that it is point to … MORE
This was my first half marathon. A great one to start as it’s mostly flat. Now I have done 4 halves, and 1-10K. I love that it is point to point following the Spokane River ending at Riverfront Park. This years medal was one on my favorites.
Great Spokane Race
This is a great course. Usually I run the half marathon and that is a point to point race along our centennial trail and river. Beautiful! This year I did … MORE
This is a great course. Usually I run the half marathon and that is a point to point race along our centennial trail and river. Beautiful! This year I did the 10k and it could use a little work. Because it was a half up and back and not a loop it made for a few issues for passing people. Being on the road where cars were made it difficult to hug the shoulder especially as the runners faster than me were coming back. Lots of elbow rubbing and if I were behind someone I wanted to pass I had to wait on cars and oncoming runners. Not the most ideal course. But the volunteers are awesome and the views are amazing. I love the Windermere and will continue to run it in some way each year.
Great Spokane race!
This is a great race, especially for people newer to running. The course stays pretty flat with a few small hills. It covers a lot of Spokane, running through the … MORE
This is a great race, especially for people newer to running. The course stays pretty flat with a few small hills. It covers a lot of Spokane, running through the valley neighborhoods, moving along the river, and ending downtown. The people involved in running and organizing the race are all very friendly, and there is a decent amount of crowd support. This was my second time racing it, and I really enjoyed it!
Nice, Low Key Race
Mostly flat, mostly scenic course. Started in a pretty neighborhood, wound our way around to the Centennial Trail along the Spokane River. The bus for the early start walkers didn't … MORE
Mostly flat, mostly scenic course. Started in a pretty neighborhood, wound our way around to the Centennial Trail along the Spokane River. The bus for the early start walkers didn’t show. Ryan, the race director, kept us informed about what was, and wasn’t, happening. We ended up on the same bus as the marathon runners and started about 20 minutes later than planned. The situation was very well handled. All the other busses taking runners to the start showed up. There were a couple of food trucks (quesadillas and ice cream!) at the end. The weather was cool and breezy at the start. Much of the course is shaded which is nice. Hotels are easy walking distance from the finish and the parking lot to get shuttle busses to the start. Friendly volunteers at packet pick-up and along the course. Not a lot of crowd support but more than most trail races. I would definitely recommend this race.
A Nice 10K on fairly flat, out & back
Farly scenic, flat, except for an overpass pedestrian bridge, paved route along paved Centennial Trail in downtown Spokane and along Spokane River. 1 major street crossing, with safety crossing and … MORE
Farly scenic, flat, except for an overpass pedestrian bridge, paved route along paved Centennial Trail in downtown Spokane and along Spokane River. 1 major street crossing, with safety crossing and no hold up. Nice start and finish area with plenty of post-race nutrition to choose. Well organized and supported.
Great Small Race
This was a fun, scenic well organized smaller race. 175 in the marathon, so you don't get a lot of spectators, but they were enthusiastic. Virtually the entire course was … MORE
This was a fun, scenic well organized smaller race. 175 in the marathon, so you don’t get a lot of spectators, but they were enthusiastic. Virtually the entire course was scenic – no industrial backwaters here – and mostly along the clear waters of the Spokane River. Most of the course is along multi use paths, with maybe 10-15% on road or sidewalks. Don’t expect an expo, much swag or a large post party – it’s a small race. Weather was low-mid 50’s, partly cloudy, breezy – about as good as you can hope for in late spring. Anyway, cool race, would do it again and highly recommend.
Pretty awesome experience!
Well organized run.beautiful course, friendly experience, awesome swag and set up. Beat my PB for a 5k. friends and I had a ton of fun.Will do again for sure. … MORE
Well organized run.beautiful course, friendly experience, awesome swag and set up. Beat my PB for a 5k. friends and I had a ton of fun.Will do again for sure.
What a great race!
The weather finally cooperated and the race was amazing! Loved the point a to point b course no out and back!! The scenery was amazing and the race was great!! MORE
The weather finally cooperated and the race was amazing! Loved the point a to point b course no out and back!! The scenery was amazing and the race was great!!
Incredibly well organized-Fantastic race
Loved this event and in particular, the incredibly warm, friendly and helpful race organizers and volunteers. Melissa - you are the bomb! Event info was forthcoming in a timely fashion, … MORE
Loved this event and in particular, the incredibly warm, friendly and helpful race organizers and volunteers. Melissa – you are the bomb!
Event info was forthcoming in a timely fashion, aid stations were incredibly well stocked, the course and scenery was beautiful, and the finish line was lively and stocked with superb post race snacks. The organizers and volunteers, however – they MADE this race as stellar as it was. Thank you!
Great event. Course could have been more
Course was along Centennial trail all paved which was nice up to a point. Would have preferred more Spokane especially towards end. Finish in a really dull place. Great aid … MORE
Course was along Centennial trail all paved which was nice up to a point. Would have preferred more Spokane especially towards end. Finish in a really dull place. Great aid stations. Packet pickup sucked. It was downtown during a major city parade!!! All streets blocked off and traffic nightmare. No swag, just a nice technical t
point 2 point mostly along Spokane River
This is a very well run race even despite the early start bus driver who didn’t show up for the early start folks. The race director handled everything so well; … MORE
This is a very well run race even despite the early start bus driver who didn’t show up for the early start folks. The race director handled everything so well; kudos to him!
Packet pick up was located at one of the host hotels (great price) and close to finish line/bus pickup. No swag, shirt and a bib!
The course was staffed with plenty of water/Gatorade stops. Because the race is completely cupless maybe bring your own handheld or camelpack as they handed out full water and Gatorade bottles.
Buses dropped you off at Liberty Lake for the start. By mile 6-7 you made your way along the Spokane River and stayed along the River for most of the race. I would guess about five miles or less was along the highway before making your way through Gonzaga Campus and back to the River to finish.
The course was very well marked (even for the early starters) and traffic control at a handful of needed intersections.
Gentle rolling hills along a river.
Race day was hot! But the aid stations, volunteers and spectators were awesome. Post race meals and stations were a wide variety and wrapped up the race nicely. Given where … MORE
Race day was hot! But the aid stations, volunteers and spectators were awesome. Post race meals and stations were a wide variety and wrapped up the race nicely. Given where the start is, that parking was a little hectic but I think most of us expect that on race so just make sure to arrive early.
A PNW gem even in the pandemic era
BOTTOM LINE: Named for a local real estate agency and its eponymous foundation dedicated to helping low-income & homeless families, Windermere is a relaxed, picturesque marathon that will be even better … MORE
BOTTOM LINE: Named for a local real estate agency and its eponymous foundation dedicated to helping low-income & homeless families, Windermere is a relaxed, picturesque marathon that will be even better in the post- (as it was in the pre-)Covid era. This is largely because 2022 is expected to welcome the return of the original point-to-point course, which includes 11-ish miles of this year’s route plus Gonzaga University and a festive finish near Riverfront Park (in contrast to this year’s necessarily low-key start & finish in the parking lot of the Windermere offices in Spokane Valley). That said, this year the Negative Split team did a terrific job turning gators into Gatorade with a pleasant, well-supported event that consisted of two out-and-backs on the paved Centennial Trail along the Spokane River. I’m typically no fan of out-and-backs, and especially in the later miles when you can clearly see the fatigue on the faces and in the body language of your fellow runners who are several miles ahead of you. Unfortunately, a global pandemic tends to limit your options as a runner or race director. And the river is a beautiful centerpiece for the race, even if the non-river side of the course doesn’t always live up to the same scenic standard.
Spokane itself is a charming city with two main highlights for the weekend tourist: Gonzaga University, a small Jesuit university that’s paradoxically home to one of the premier men’s college basketball programs of the past 25 years, and Riverfront Park, which is the legacy of the 1974 World’s Fair and the focal point of downtown Spokane. Riverfront Park feels like a more sprawling version of Tulsa’s Gathering Place but with a nicer river frequented by gaggles of elegant Canada geese. And while the park is the emerald jewel of the city, its beating heart is mighty Spokane Falls, whose power has been harnessed to generate electricity for well over a century. One of the joys of racing in Washington is that many (if not most) of the state’s marathons & half marathons run within view of an impressive body of water, and Windermere’s course alongside the fast-flowing Spokane River is no exception.
PRODUCTION: Windermere (along with Negative Split’s other marathon in nearby Coeur d’Alene) was one of the few marathons held in the U.S. in 2020, albeit with significant changes, and it was clear from this year’s production that this was not the team’s first pandemic rodeo. From the quick & easy outdoor packet pickup at the local Fleet Feet store (finisher medal included) to the rolling start line to the scaled-back post-race gathering, race weekend was seamless if subdued. The entire process gave me a renewed appreciation—and frustration—for the fact that given the chance to implement similar Covid mitigation strategies based on the science of viral transmission, more events could have safely and responsibly moved forward with reduced field sizes last year.
Out-and-back courses typically aren’t my jam, but this year it couldn’t be helped, and more than anything I think most of us were grateful for the chance to be healthy and racing again. The DIY aid stations were an afterthought for me since I only paused at the mile 8 turnaround to grab a bottle of water, but Race Director Ryan did pass me on a bike in the later (warmer) miles asking if I needed water, Gatorade or anything else, so a shout-out of gratitude to him. More than anything, I appreciated that mile markers were taped to the trail throughout the race, and especially in the closing miles when mentally I celebrate every mile marker as a mini-finish line. Plus, race photos were free, though for whatever reason no photos of me were available—not a big deal since Katie captured plenty along the course.
SWAG: The multi-blue finisher medal is brightly colored and nice enough, though as one-third of a three-piece interlocking medal for runners of Negative Split’s Run the PNW Series (comprising Windermere, The Split Half Marathon and Coeur d’Alene), it’s wedge-shaped and visually less satisfying than a comparable standalone medal. That said, I can imagine the three-piece medal in its entirety would be a lovely keepsake. Fortunately, the long-sleeve black tech shirt is a keeper—I know some folks aren’t fans of black and especially during the summer months, but having grown up an unabashed fan of heavy metal music, for better or worse I still have a soft spot for black clothing, even as my closet steadily fills with race apparel.
For more insights on Windermere specifically and Spokane in general, check out my blog report at https://blisterscrampsheaves.com/2021/09/06/windermere-marathon-race-report/
Nice race!
Great course on a bike path, which reminded me of the rail to trail in northern va where I run frequently. Impossible to get lost, can see other runners; instead … MORE
Great course on a bike path, which reminded me of the rail to trail in northern va where I run frequently. Impossible to get lost, can see other runners; instead of out and back, it was out and back past the finish and another out and back, which added mental interest.
The Spokane River is gorgeous, and a large stretch was shaded as well. There was a stretch by I 90 which was less exciting, but still not too hilly (garmin says 540 feet elevation gain). Being an east coaster, I struggled with the dry desert air (especially since it’s spring ) It felt very exposed and hot towards the end, but the aid stations had chilled water which I poured over my head and it felt amazing.
The shirt and medal are lovely, packet pick up was smooth; it was a good sized race and there were even spectators playing the pan flute and holding signs.
I obviously didn’t love the pandemic, but one positive aspect is the rolling corrals for the start. As the anchorage reviewer mentioned, it created a nice distribution of runners as we ran and at the finish.
My only small complaint is that I didn’t get any photos, and they were supposed to be Finishline photos.
Hands down the best communication!
I traveled to this race from Anchorage, Alaska, and was so impressed! The course was a covid-friendly out and back along the scenic Centennial Trail. There are hills, but they … MORE
I traveled to this race from Anchorage, Alaska, and was so impressed! The course was a covid-friendly out and back along the scenic Centennial Trail. There are hills, but they are short and pretty gentle grade (I actually prefer this kind of variety as opposed to dead flat). The organizers had the most impressive communication and flexibility that I have yet to see in a race. It was unusually hot on race day, and they had plenty of water available. The post-race atmosphere was fantastic too, and it was great that runners of all distances seemed to be finishing around the same time due to the different wave starts. I will absolutely do another one of their events. Last, I got a PR and BQ at this race.
Great race!
This is a great race with very minimal hills. The course was a bit different this year then when I did it previously.... we ran half the distance and then … MORE
This is a great race with very minimal hills. The course was a bit different this year then when I did it previously…. we ran half the distance and then turned around. Overall beautiful scenery and well managed
Don’t miss this marathon!
Super flat, well organized, best race shirt I’ve gotten in years! Communication leading up to and including race day was perfect. We were from out of town and because of … MORE
Super flat, well organized, best race shirt I’ve gotten in years! Communication leading up to and including race day was perfect. We were from out of town and because of all the helpful communication we found our way around easily. Also included was worlds best grilled cheese, and the RaceJoy app, which my family loved! I will be back.
Socially distanced half marathon
This race occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The race was well spaced out and all aspects of physical distancing followed. Smooth enter and exit from the race. The fact there … MORE
This race occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The race was well spaced out and all aspects of physical distancing followed. Smooth enter and exit from the race. The fact there was not hundreds of runners starting at the same time was nice given the trail is utilized by the public at the same time. This course was not what it was originally meant to be but the change was nice and I had a good time.
Good first marathon (amidst the pandemic
Even though everything had to be changed for this race (the date, course, etc) because of the pandemic, the org did a great job of still producing a solid in … MORE
Even though everything had to be changed for this race (the date, course, etc) because of the pandemic, the org did a great job of still producing a solid in person race. This was my first full marathon and while the heat of the day did get to me at one point, I was grateful for all the volunteers and the ease of accessibility of the course. My family was able to meet up with me twice and said that they had an easy time navigating. Negative split always does a great job of putting on races!