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Washington > Birch Bay Marathon & Half Marathon
Birch Bay, WA • Sunday, February 17, 2013 • Course Map
Marked by stunning views of the snow-capped Cascade Mountains as well as the waters of Birch Bay and the nearby Canadian Gulf islands, Washington's Birch Bay also is home to a marathon that celebrates its 45th annual running in the late winter of 2013 -- and its second annual with the 13.1-mile half marathon distance.
Added for the first time in 2011, the Birch Bay Half Marathon follows much of the same route as the full, 26.2-mile marathon. Both races follow an out-and-back route that starts and finishes in Birch Bay State Park, a small 194-acre park that lies along the southern shore of the bay and looks out onto both the saltwater of the bay as well as the freshwater running through Terrell Creek, which cuts through the park.
From there, runners follow the route northward all along the shoreline, running north along Birch Bay Drive as it curves around with the shore up to the first turn, where runners turn right onto Harborview Road. There, runners head north for the next mile or so along Harborview until they reach Drayton Harbor Road, where they turn left and head toward the water, up to the intersection with Shintaffer Road, where they turn left and head south.
There's a brief turn off Shintaffer for an out-and-back stretch to an aid station (along Semiahmoo Parkway), and here they experience the only significant hill of the race, which they climb and then descend again during the out-and-back. Next, runners head back onto Shintaffer and then back toward the Bay, where they turn left onto Birch Bay Drive and then follow the shoreline in the opposite direction, back down to the race finish line in Birch Bay State Park once again.
Along the race route, runners will get to see gorgeous views of Birch, Drayton and Semiahmoo Bays, and the stretches for most of these miles will be all flat. There's also the Peace Arch in nearby Blaine, which runners will see during the stretch near the small border city.
Race Weather & Climate
Located in the northeastern corner of Washington State, just miles from the Canadian border and roughly 110 miles north of Seattle, Birch Bay weather is much like that of neighboring Blaine, which usually sees moderately cool to cold weather in the late winter.
In February, the city's average monthly temperatures range between 48°F and 32° -- on the day of the race (Feb. 17), the average high is 48°F and the average low is 32°F -- while precipitation amounts average just over 4.2 inches for the month.
Course Map
View the race route map for the Birch Bay Half Marathon
Fees
$30 for the half marathon, if registered by October 15, 2012
$40 between Oct. 16 - December 1
$50 between Dec. 2 - January 15, 2013
$60 between Jan. 16 - February 12
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2013 running of the Birch Bay Marathon, Half Marathon or 10K race, register online at the event website.
Official Race Website
www.birchbaymarathon.com
Leave a Comment
Ever run in Washington State's annual Birch Bay Marathon or Half Marathon? Share your impressions, stories and tips from the event.
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