Tacoma City Marathon Half Marathon & 5K

Starting and finishing at the Point Ruston village along the waterfront, the half marathon course first takes runners south on an out-and-back section overlooking Commencement Bay on the southern end of Puget Sound. This section of the course is almost completely flat with views of Mount Rainier off in the distance, perhaps to make up for the hills to come. After passing Point Ruston again, runners continue heading north toward Point Defiance Park, the largest urban park in Pierce County, and home to a variety of wildlife, both in the zoo and aquarium and living freely in the park. This middle section of the course features the half marathon’s hilliest sections as well as an escape from the city life. Runners head out of the park near the mile 9 marker, and from there the remainder of the half marathon weaves its way through northern Tacoma’s residential neighborhoods before returning to the finish line at Point Ruston. One more steady uphill climb awaits runners as they leave the park, while the last two miles are almost entirely downhill.