Will T.'s profile

   

A great fun run!! Scenery is nice, but not spectacular (ok, I've run the Big Sur Marathon 3 times). But the 15,000 + runners, all of the killer costumes and the GREEN everywhere made it a wonderful run. Got to love the people who ran close to naked (no, not Bay to Breakers), but it was 37 degrees at the start and can you say no shirts and just running shorts!? OUCH! Lots of fun people and lots of great memories. Could not have been better! The only I'm thinking was lacking was that there were not enough bellows in the race, which will hopefully be taken care of next year! BTW, the Beer Garden afterwards was fun and LOUD!

   

The Seattle Running Company annually sponsors a series of races on Cougar Mountain (Bellevue area of Western Washington). The races start in May and cover distances of 5, 7.5, 10 and 13.1 miles. While there are no frills, the Seattle Running Company does a great job organizing things, clearly marking the course and really making the day a celebration of running. The half marathon is a true trail run, starting at an elevation of about 1,200 feet, climbing as high as 1,600 feet and dropping down as low as 650 feet. LOTS of ups and down, switchbacks, roots, rocks, stumps, fallen tree and cool wooden bridges. The scenery is great! As you run, you really lose sense of time and distance and really live in the moment. But be prepared! The race is not for the fainthearted - only 11 of 169 runners broke 2:00. Congratulations to Uli Steidl, who somehow blew through the course in a record 1:34 and to Jeanine Stewart, the first female finisher (2:03). And congratulations to Jolene Gailey and Sherry Weed, who never gave up!!

   

Quite simply the most scenic marathon course in the world. The views from Highway 1 are incredible, and you will never forget the climb up and down Hurricane Point. Add to all of this live music all along the course and you have the perfect race!