Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
Running through the beautiful neighborhoods of Seattle is a treat don't get me wrong, but there are certain areas where you just know will be a difficult climb to get to. Particularly the Queen Anne and Magnolia neighborhood. After reviewing the new course for 2025 extensively through Strava I knew it was going to be not only a challenge on the climb but also very technical... which no one wants the combination of when running for 26.2 miles. I found when entering the University of Washington section of the course there were countless 180 degree turns and running on unmarked paths, at one point we ran a quarter mile in the parking lot of the football stadium. Clearly the race director needs to work out some kinks before next years race or else you'll probably see a drop in participation.
Conserve a lot of energy for around mile 15 - on. After you hit Gasworks Park and enter Fremont area you'll start to experience more rolling hills, switchback style sections (particularly running along the Burke Gilman and a part of the Magnolia neighborhood). In a time of battling through the second half of the race this is when the energy return will matter the most when you are fighting mental demons simultaneously.
I recommend staying closer to the start line as opposed to the Westin where the race expo takes place. I stayed at the Hyatt Place that was under 7 minutes away from the start line as opposed to 18 minutes. And believe me, this makes a huge difference at 6:00am on a cold near Winter morning in downtown Seattle.
The course was the right amount of changes of pace that you didn't get mental fatigue that some courses give.
The on course experience from a logistics was 5 of 5 stars, never felt like I was too far away from a water area, toilet lines never seemed to be more than a person.
The course itself was both beautiful and disgusting at the same time. I get it marathons are long and you have to put the miles so they connect, but running around the port in the later half was just bad, the roads in that part where so chewed up that sometimes i had to worry about footing while the cars where passing by. It also seemed like half of the course was just a tour of the University of Washington campus. The gas works was cool and some of the early parts though where really pretty vistas.
Off of the course however I felt it was a little lacking. The start felt like I was at a local run clubs race with any one just able to come up and there was no rhyme or reason to a lot of it.
Communication around the race seemed lacking until about 3 days before the race, I had to double check if I even registered the week before cause I hadn't seen anything from them since the original registration confirmation. More on communication it wasn't clear to me that the course was undergoing revamp when I booked the hotel, Before it was finish and start near each other, this year it was about a mile away from each other and a pretty steep hill as well. The finish area was well signed and people seemed to be getting stuff but it also seemed like a cluster F, garbage every where lines that you didn't know where the went to till you found the sign, would have been easier with a non-racer to help already scout the area or a finish area map.
Basically every road surface is used: nice concrete, busted up concrete, asphalt in all states, dirt path, gravel, etc.
This year there was a lot of front end up hill which made the rest of the course seem flatter than it was.
The Downtown Hampton Inn and Suites is literally two blocks from the start if rolling out of bed and being there is your thing, if not have to go far from finish i would suggest somewhere else.
The closest public transit to the finish is ~1/2 mi from the finish up a hill, which was my intended way of getting back to hotel, however there where enough of the "Lime" e-bikes near the finish that I was able to snag one get back to the hotel (was almost there by the time I would have to get to public transit and didn't have to wait)
This was the worst marathon I've ever been part of. I flew in from Austin to pace a dear friend/client on his first marathon and let me start by saying there were 50, literally 50 turns with switchbacks on the course. The day before, we were standing at the expo and watching the video feed of the course and I couldn't believe my eyes. How could anyone be allowed to create such a course and still be the race director? Apparently it was a new course from the previous year so I can only imagine what the course was last year. The first part of the course, according to my friend, was scenic and beautiful. The second part was an entirely different course. I caught up with my friend around mile 15 and did my best to keep him in good spirits throughout his race. As a coach & pacer, I didn't understand the severity of this mess until I was on the course. Even trying to find the course via strava or Google maps was a challenge and I didn't fully grasp it until I arrived at the expo. Whoever came up with this course should not be allowed back next year period.
Do not add this race to your race calendar. Avoid this race at all costs.
For us, getting to the start line and meeting up with him was simple and easy. Running this mess of a course was downright pathetic.
I ran the half and was not impressed with the course. The two mile marker was in the wrong place, by a LOT. Everyone commented on it. The route did not take in the beauty of the city. It was a bit grimey with one section going next to fast moving cars and separated only by a few cones. At one point, we went within feet of a homeless encampment. The aid stations were good and the ending with the space needle in view was nice. Not much in the way of water views or going through pretty Seattle neighborhoods.
Beautiful and challenging course, well supported from start to finish, and motivating spectators. Race day is Thanksgiving weekend.
Train for hills. Also, the last two years I ran this race the weather was cold and wet.
challenging fun course...good support...SMA does a great job before and after, too
hill training a must and since it's the Sunday after Thanksgiving...expect the weather to be possibly mizzle/drizzle and/or cold...
get there a bit early for parking...enjoy serious coffee afterwards!
The course was very pretty and I really enjoyed the atmosphere but the hills were much steeper than I had expected. They were small but steep!
I would certainly recommend running the first half slower than you want to because the hills on the second half of the course are brutal.
It was a chilly morning but there was a great food court right by the start of the race full of runners. It was a good place to wait for the race to start.
Very well organized on the course. Lots of friendly volunteers along the route and plenty of rehydration stops. Lots of portable toilets. Pretty and challenging course. Good running conditions in 2016. Nice finish.
Recovery center was pretty lame. Warm but food/drink limited to water, bananas, dole fruit cups, cheap mini bagels with nothing to go in them, Darigold milk based protein drink, and believe it or not Folgers coffee packets (this is Seattle). The organizers should meet up with the Cascade Bike club (the organizers of the STP) to learn out how they look after participants at the rest stops
Not much fun walking up and down steps of Memorial Stadium to recover gear check - gear check could easily have fit into the recovery center building.
Expo okay but hard to find a volunteer who knows anything about the race.
Last 6 miles are tough
If you are running the marathon get there late after the half marathon crowds leave. Street parking is pretty easy a few blocks west of the Seattle center. Start does not use corrals which it just about gets away with.
Although the half marathon has thousands of runners, the full marathon has about 1500. It's a local race on a beautiful course, historic.
The first half has some significant hills coming to the express lanes and the ends of the I-90 bridge. This may not be relevant in the future since the course will change because of light rail construction. Miles 18-23 have substantial extended and rolling hills. Weather is very variable in late November, be prepared for sub-freezing weather, driving rain, sun, but most likley overcast with drizzle.
My running club, the Seattle Green Lake Running Group, provides the official pacers, and they are the nicest and most reliable pacers anywhere!
I enjoy the view of the mountain in the distance and the challenge. There are some hills, but afterwards, I was pumped!
Don't exert all your energy early... hill at mile 17 and at the last 1/4 mile... the last one is like a surprise
Don't take the monorail if you're staying at the Westin. It's easier to walk and plus it's a good warm up