If you’re going to walk or run a marathon, you may as well be picky about when and where you choose to do it. More people are planning vacations around their marathon attempts. Fortunately, we don’t need to travel very far to find some of the best races the country has
to offer.
Spring is an ideal time to run a marathon (even if training during the winter isn’t). Finding a spring marathon in this part of the world is not hard to do – choosing one, however, can be. We hope this guide will help make your decision a little easier.
While it may be too late to register – let alone train – for a few of these marathons, some are still giving out race numbers and will continue to do so until the day before the big event. If you aren’t already in marathon shape, you can always join the festivities as a fan or a volunteer.
Of course – it’s never too early to start planning for next year.
Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon
Where: Vancouver, B.C.
Date: Sunday, May 7
Events: Full and half marathon, wheelchair marathon, Canada Kids Marafun, Health and Wellness Expo
Vancouver, with its modern and historic charm and large, forested parks, is a great city for runners. During the race, marathoners traverse a fairly flat, paved course that goes along Vancouver’s inner harbor, through historic Gastown and into Stanley Park. The only gain in elevation comes with two trips across the Burrard Bridge (100 feet) – but since the crossings come at miles 17 and 23.5, they seem a lot worse than they actually are.
Half marathon runners face a tougher challenge: a loop around Stanley Park that includes a 200-foot climb at mile 7.5. Despite “the hill,” this event sold out last year, drawing 8,000 people. The Canada Kids Marafun is a one-mile loop that benefits the Ronald McDonald House of British Columbia.
For post-race feasting, try one of dozens of all-you-can-eat sushi restaurants (usually offered during daytime hours only). Then ease your aching muscles with help from a local microbrew at Storm Brewing, located on Commercial Avenue.
If you’re coming from Washington or Oregon, it could be a long, painful ride home Sunday night. If you decide to stay until Monday, check out Benny’s Bagels on Broadway for its funky atmosphere, great coffee and affordable, tasty breakfast.
The Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina is the marathon’s host hotel, but lodging in Vancouver is abundant – and quite affordable if you shop around. The marathon offers shuttles from numerous stops downtown to get you to the starting line.
More Info: www.vanmarathon.ca/hm/, www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/,
www.stormbrewingvancouver.com
Newport Marathon
Where: Newport, Ore.
When: Saturday, June 3
Events: Full Marathon
With a limit of 750 runners, the Newport Marathon treats every participant like a champion. The mostly flat course is incredibly scenic and follows the Yaquina Bay and River estuary most of the time. Starting at Yaquina Bay State Park, the course includes one 40-foot hill at mile four and a second gentle hill at mile 25 – so it’s no surprise that many runners earn their Personal Record (PR) at this race.
While you won’t see huge crowds of spectators along the way, the ones that do show up to support runners are second to none. Water and sports drink stops are plentiful. And what would a seaside marathon be without oysters? Oregon Oyster Farms offers world famous Yaquina Bay oyster shooters at mile 11 and 19. Last year, one racer broke her previous oyster eating record by sucking down a total of 29!
Take a group of running buddies and make a weekend out of the race: Enjoy a post-marathon meal at the Rogue Brewery, stretch your tired legs with a walk along the boardwalk
and visit the world renowned Newport Aquarium.
More Info: www.newportmarathon.org, www.discovernewport.com
San Juan Island Marathon
Where: San Juan Island, Wash.
Date: Sunday, June 4
Events: Full and half marathon, Health and Fitness Expo
If you’ve never made the trek to San Juan Island, the first weekend in June is ideal timing for a visit. While the tourist season will have just begun, the island is still fairly empty this early in the season – even with a few hundred visiting marathon participants.
Full and half marathoners share the same course for approximately 7 miles – rolling hills in the interior of the island through agricultural landscapes. The full marathon course, however, takes a challenging detour up West Side Road to Lime Kiln State Park. Depending
on your level of competitiveness, you can reward yourself by taking a breather at the state park, a well-known whale-watching viewpoint. Marathoners then rejoin the half marathon route – which includes a couple more hills – before heading back into town and across the
finish line.
On Saturday, after picking up your bib number at the Health and Fitness Expo, keep your legs loose with a walk around Friday Harbor before heading back to the marathon’s host hotel, the Best Western. For a nourishing pre-race meal, enjoy moderately-priced Northwest cuisine at the Friday Harbor House.
Other great dining options include Basil’s Restaurant on A Street and the Backdoor Kitchen, which – as its name implies – can be hard to find. Park at the Green Man Nursery and you’ll see signs for this small, inviting café.
More Info: www.sanjuanislandmarathon.com, www.sanjuanisland.org, www.fridayharborhouse.com, www.backdoorkitchen.com/index.html
Runner-Ups:
Don’t miss these other marathons taking place throughout the Pacific Northwest this spring.
April 2: Whidbey Island Marathon,
Oak Harbor, Wash; full & half marathons; (206) 729-9972, www.whidbeyislandmarathon.com
Description: This is not an easy island jaunt: Expect a 200- and 300-foot hill climb in the first half of the marathon. The highlight of this beautiful course is a
crossing over the Deception Pass Bridge towering 182 feet above the water. The half marathon is less steep, but still challenging. Nature’s Path Organic is the new title sponsor for this event – so post-race food will be wholesome and plentiful.
April 23: Wenatchee Marathon,
Wenatchee, Wash.; full & half marathons, 10k, 5k, & 1.2-mile kid’s run;
(509) 662-2066, www.wenatcheemarathon.com
Description: Enjoy running along the traffic-free Apple Capital Loop Trail, an asphalt path that skirts the Columbia River. The rolling course does not see more than a 100-foot change in elevation, making this a fairly easy route. In its second year, this small race wins big points for hospitality.
May 21: Capital City Marathon,
Olympia, Wash.;full & half marathons, 5 miler, kids run; (360) 786-1786, www.capitalcitymarathon.org.
Description: This marathon has a new course for 2006, with great views of the capitol area, Mount Rainier, the Olympics and Puget Sound; walkers welcome for the half marathon and 5 Miler only.
June 11: North Olympic Discovery Marathon,
Port Angeles, Wash.; full & half marathons, high school team relay, kids marathon; (360) 417-1301, www.nodm.com
Description: All participants run along the paved Olympic Discovery Trail starting in Sequim and through rural landscapes before reaching a 5-mile stretch along the Straight of Juan de Fuca. Reward yourself at the finish line festival in Port Angeles, which includes food and music.
June 11: Eugene Marathon,
Eugene, Ore.;full & half marathons, 10k, (541) 684-4951, www.Walk-With-Me.com
Description: Eugene is a running town, which is why it’s surprising that the city did not host a marathon before 2002, the year of the first Walk-With-Me Marathon. Despite its name, the event includes both running and walking events. This is a fairly flat, double-loop course in and around Oregon’s third largest city.
— Becky Brun is the editor of Outdoors NW Magazine.
An avid runner, she completed the Vancouver
Marathon and the San Juan Island Half Marathon in
2005. Thanks to Eileen Harrington, who posted a PR
at the 2005 Newport Marathon, for her insight.
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