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Washington > Mountain Marathon & Hillbilly Half Marathon
Olympia, WA • Saturday, March 2, 2013 • Course Map
Runners should expect what organizers say will be a "mud bath" at the late winter/early spring running of Olympia's Mountain Marathon & Hillbilly Half Marathon, a 26.2- and 13.1-mile trek through the technical trails and woods of Washington's Capitol State Forest, a 91,600-acre forest that lies just five miles from the urban streets and neighborhoods of nearby Olympia.
Set for its third annual running on the first weekend of March 2013 -- after a 2012 race that saw nearly 280 runners cross the finish line in both the marathon and half marathon events -- the race will take runners in both events on an out-and-back route that starts and finishes at the parking lot near the Rock Candy Trailhead inside the forest, just off Highway 8 along Rock Candy Mountain Road.
From there, runners in both events follow the same trail -- those running in the full marathon start at 8:00 AM, followed by those running the half marathon at 8:30 AM -- southward through the forest and up into the mountains, in the direction of Rock Candy Mountain, just south of Summit Lake. Once runners reach approximately the 6.55-mile point in the race, those running the half then make the turnaround and head back along the route they've just run back to the parking lot for the race finish.
The course itself, organizers add, will offer gorgeous views of the hills and mountains all around as runners tromp through the trails -- which will be filled with muddy spots, they add, as this time of year brings plenty of wet weather -- of this park that sees an average of more than 800,000 visitors each year. Hikers, campers, horseback riders, hunters, and off-road vehicle drivers make it a popular attraction year-round.
The race is part of the locally-based Guerilla Running Club's Capitol Forest Trail Race Triple Crown series of running events, which also includes the Capitol Peak Fat Ass 50K and the Capitol Peak Ultra races later in the year. Organizers add also that because the race is held in early March, snow is always a possibility -- so be prepared for cold & slushy terrain!
Race Weather & Climate
Located near the southern tip of Budd Inlet here in western Washington state, just over 60 miles southwest of Seattle, the city of Olympia typically experiences mild to cool and sometimes quite cold conditions in the late winter and early spring, when the area also sees its wettest weather on average.
In March, the city's average monthly temperatures range between 53°F and 34°F -- on the day of the race (March 2), the average high is 51°F and the average low is 33°F -- while precipitation amounts average just under 5.3 inches for the month.
Course Map
View the map for the Hillbilly Half Marathon
Fees
N/A
Registration
To reserve your spot in the late winter/early spring 2013 running of Olympia's Mountain Marathon or Hillbilly Half Marathon, visit the event website.
Official Race Website
www.guerillarunning.com
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