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Washington > Seattle Marathon, Half Marathon &
5K
Seattle, WA
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Date
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Event
Details
One of the Pacific Northwest's biggest big-city marathon and half
marathon events, the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon, Half Marathon
& 5K drew
a field of just under 11,000 runners and walkers for its 26.2- and
13.1-mile events at its 2008 running. Run each year on the Sunday
after Thanksgiving, this event takes participants on a course through
Seattle's city streets in the shadow of
the famed Space Needle and features beautiful views along the
course of nearby Lake Washington and Lake Union, as well as an
elevation
profile that alternates between moderately hilly and long, flat
stretches.
Runners and walkers in both the full and half marathons start the race
downtown at the Seattle Center, just a few blocks away from Elliot Bay
to the north and Lake Union to the east. From there, runners head out
on a counter-clockwise out-and-back loop through the city, hitting some
rolling hills in the first few miles along 5th Avenue. The course
passes by Qwest Field and Safeco Field, the home stadiums of Seattle's
Seahawks of the NFL and Mariners of Major League Baseball, before
turning onto the Interstate 90 Expressway as the course turns east
toward Lake Washington.
At the intersection of I-90 and Lake Washington Boulevard, which runs
along the lakeshore, those running the full marathon split off and
continue straight across the bridge to Mercer Island, while those
running the half make a left turn onto Lake Washington Boulevard. This
stretch of the race is among both its flattest and most scenic
stretches, as runners can see sailboats streaming along the water as
they pass by a number of the city's urban parks, including Leschi Park
and Madrona Park.
The run along the lakeshore lasts for about two miles, after which
runners and walkers enter the Broadmoor area of the city, turning onto
Madison Street and then into the Washington Park Arboretum. This
stretch of the race features winding twists and turns through both
Washington Park and then Interlaken Park, a 51-acre densely wooded city
park filled with hiking, biking and walking trails. After the run
through these parks, runners head back onto more urban terrain as they
hit the stretch of the course that parallels Interstate 5, along
Boylston Avenue and Lakeview Boulevard.
The final two miles of the race unfold just a few blocks away from the
shores of Lake Union, as runners head along Eastlake Avenue and
Harrison Street back toward the finish line on the northeast side of
the Seattle Center at 4th Avenue, at the entrance to Memorial Stadium.
After completing the race and collecting their medals, runners and
walkers can enjoy a shower or get any medical attention needed at the
race's "Victory Recovery Center" in the Seattle Center's exhibition
hall.
Race
Weather & Climate
Famous for its reputation as one of the nation's rainiest cities,
Seattle lives up to that reputation with its early fall weather, as
November is the city's wettest month with nearly 6 inches of average
precipitation. Area temperatures can get quite cold in November, as
the city's average monthly temperatures range between
51°F and 40°F during the month.
Fees
$75 for the half marathon, if registered by October 15, 2009
$85 between Oct. 16 - November 18
$100 at the race expo on Nov. 27 - 28
Registration
To reserve your spot in the fall 2009 running of
the Seattle Marathon, Half Marathon or 5K, register online at Active.com.
Website
www.seattlemarathon.org
Half
Marathon Course
Map
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Your Race Story
Ever run in Washington's annual Seattle Marathon or Half Marathon?
Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Post your comments in Runner Reviews for the Seattle Marathon, Half
Marathon & 5K
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