Saturday, September 16, 2023 • Seattle, WA • Course Map
Set for its 7th annual running this fall, the Orca Half offers stunning views of the waters of Puget Sound and an excellent chance to earn a personal record time — in fact, they even have a bell out for runners to ring at the finish line if they’ve achieved a PR in the race.
Runners will start the race at West Seattle’s Lincoln Park, a 135-acre park located on a bluff that juts out into Puget Sound next to the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal, and is home to a paved walkway along the water as well as forests, rocky beaches, and more than 4 1/2 miles of walking paths and nearly 4 miles of biking trails through its woods.
That’s where runners will spend the first few miles of the race, after they leave the starting line next to the Coleman Pool along the water and head north along the paved walkway. After they make the turn at the edge of the park, they’ll head back south and then spend the next three miles inside the park, on out-and-back stretches along its trails.
Historic lighthouse. At about a third of a mile past the mile 3 marker, they’ll leave Lincoln Park and head onto Lincoln Park Way and then Beach Drive, which they’ll remain on for roughly the next three miles. They’ll follow it all the way to Alki Point, where they’ll be able to see the Alki Point Lighthouse, which is still functioning today after more than a century — its construction was completed in 1913.
Once they make the turn onto Alki Avenue, they’ll run past Alki Beach Park, which stretches a couple of miles all the way up to the northern end of the island. Next, they’ll follow Harbor Avenue south into Industrial District West, where they’ll nearly reach the West Seattle Bridge.
Before they do, they’ll turn around and head back north to the finish line, which lies at the Don Armeni Boat Ramp.
Small field size. The number of participants is capped at 450, so runners are encouraged to sign up early.
The race features a wave start beginning at 7:20 AM — the first wave leaves then, with subsequent waves starting every 15 minutes until the eighth (and final) wave at 9:00 AM.
The course will close at 1:00 PM, organizers note, so you’ll have five hours at the most to complete your 13.1 miles — plenty of time if you’re walking.
Race Weather & Climate
Nestled along the shoreline of Puget Sound with the peaks of the Olympic Mountains off in the distance, Seattle typically sees some of its mildest and driest weather of the year in September. Temperatures average between the low 50s and the upper 60s/low 70s, and rainfall totals average just over 1.6 inches — making September the city’s fourth-driest month of the year.
On race day (Sept. 16), the average low is 50ºF and the average high is 68ºF.
Past Results
- 2022 Results
- 2021 Orca Half Marathon Results
- 2019 Orca Half Marathon Results
- 2018 Orca Half Marathon Results
- 2017 Orca Half Marathon Results
- 2016 Orca Half Marathon Results
Course Map
See the race route map for the Orca Half here.
Starting Time
7:30 AM (first wave starts)
Fees
$77 – $92 for the half marathon
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of Seattle’s Orca Half Marathon, register online at RunSignUp.com here.
Official Race Website
Facebook Conversations
Ever run in the Orca Half? Share your impressions here, as well as anything you learned about the race that you think other runners/walkers should know.
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