There are a number of pretty cool half marathons in the Seattle area and count the Kirkland Half…read moreamong them. It's a little smaller than some of the halves around here (a little over a thousand people this year), but a good choice for a low-key race. So there's not really an expo and the finish line is tiny, but the course is interesting and well-marked with volunteers at all of the potential trouble spots (i.e. busy cross streets, confusing intersections, etc.). Five water stations are present along the course and there's a medical tent if you happen to blow a hammy on a hill. There's a nice amount of hills, if you're interested in that type of workout (or just masochistic). The first seven miles are run through residential areas and are a series of back-to-back hills with a nice elevation increase. From miles seven through ten, it's a steep downhill: my fastest mile was the eighth in this race. The course gets more scenic along this stretch as you head back toward Lake Washington with the Olympics in the distance (mountains, not London). The last few miles are along the waterfront with a few more hills thrown in for good measure. The timing is nice in early May since it's usually pretty nice running weather. They also have day of race registration, so if you find yourself bored on a Sunday morning.....

Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club has the goal to make Washington one of the best places in the…read morecountry to ride a mountain bike. Working to build and maintain trail systems, educate and train riders, and hosting group rides through out the State. They have built the I-5 Colonnade park as well as many others. I have only been on a few rides with the BBTC but all of them were really fun. I really like the web site and wiki page for finding spots to ride around the sound, and people to ride with. A great organization to volunteer for or just meet some like minded singletrack junkies.

I was drawn to the Tehaleh Evergreen Trail Runs due to the fact that I wanted to do a double half…read moremarathon weekend, which meant one half marathon on Saturday and one half marathon on Sunday. *Crazy ain't it? But that's me and my life for a good portion of my life. The Tehaleh Evergreen Trail Runs running event is a small event that showcases and draws many seasoned trail runners, as well as experienced marathoners, to the Pacific Northwest during the last weekend in September. Typically, the weather during that time is generally cooler and makes for a great race atmosphere. To most, this race is not known to the masses, as trail races cater to the chosen few who want a cheap race but not be bothered down with big crowds, heavy logistics, and high entry fees. For those of you who love a good time and want to run a technical trail (at some spots), this may be the one for you, although there were some parts of the course that were paved, but 75% of the course is all trail. I was here for the 2015 installment of this trail race and ran the half marathon. The Tehaleh Evergreen Trail Runs offers the full marathon and a half marathon, as well as a 10K, 5K, and the kids run. I was privileged to see the kids race while waiting for the half marathon to start. Since this one is a very low key affair, they only offer race day packet pick up. They don't have any race t-shirts and don't give out finisher medals at all. I should have known that before signing up, but then again, I don't read through the fine print at times and assume that all races have finisher medals. The race starts and finishes at the Donald Eismann Elementary School in Bonney Lake. Parking here is quite plentiful, as long as you get here early enough to covet a great parking spot near the start / finish line. The race registration is as cheap as you can get and I paid $41 for the half marathon, whereas the marathon is priced at $48. Pretty darn cheap for a race, but bummed that there was no race t shirts nor finisher medals. For me, it was just 13.1 miles and on a trail no less. On some spots along the course, it felt like I was lost and in the middle of nowhere. The course was basically a loop course, where the half marathon did it once, but the marathon does it twice. The course had some hills and some uphill climbs. There was a grossly narly downhill section on the course, which was basically a 45 degree section of trail that was a challenge to get down without breaking anything. That took me a while, but at least I didn't break anything or fall down. Bonney Lake was about 30 - 45 minutes from downtown Seattle, so best believe that it takes a while to drive down to get into the trails out here. In the end, the volunteers were great and the trail was marked with orange ribbons that was tied to tree branches and signposts, so it was marked pretty well. Thank goodness I didn't get lost and the weather was comfortable and didn't get too warm. This trail race is what it is. If you love trail distance racing, this one may be the right one for you. If you like bling with your racing, it may not be the one for you. But it's just running and be glad you are out here and competing. It's a fun way to see the country and the travel is quite nice too. While I am not keen on trail racing myself, it's a nice race with fantastic organization, so I'd recommend this one, if you are chasing states and don't like the urban vibe of the Rock n Roll Seattle marathon (June) or the Seattle marathon (November). Run more! Support local! B+

Great race organization. The first race I did with ETR was my second half ever. It was up Tiger…read moreMtn. I like to look back and laugh. The next with them was this last weekend (Lake Sammamish). The runs have grown in size drastically and so have the quality. There was a DJ and more sponsors and schwag. I like that at the end of a race they have food to accommodate any craving- sweet, salty, crunchy and reusable cups!! My only complaint came from the Tiger Mtn race. It was really hard to figure out on the course which way to go in the maze of trails based on the various lengths people were running. I'm sure that has been cleared up though. Also, maybe one more water station on the routes.. Great runs, though, with great organization. THANKS!! I'll keep truckin with them for sure!

I ran this one before 2020 so I can't speak for later years. But I can say it was pretty fun. It…read moretook place around the Museum of Flight on a hot summer day. Use sunblock and shorts. I had to pour water on my head because of the heat. Friendly people throughout the race. 5k was a day before and marathon next one. I was expecting a little more of a celebration afterwards though. The Expo was great. Bigger than Hot Chocolate's good old years. I found many interesting things and vendors. Take your time. It took the day before in the theater or event spot in the Seahawks Stadium. There was a line before it was opened. It was worth it.

This is a pretty nice race. I've run a lot of Rock N Roll races (Nashville was my favorite) but…read morethis was okay. Registration was easy but looking up your bib on line was way harder with this race than with others. Need to work on that user interface. The expo was fairly large but they didn't have vendors selling Gu, which is the brand of goo I use when running. That's the first expo I've ever been to where I can't find some! Getting to the start of the race was pretty easy. From the monorail it wasn't well marked and there weren't a lot of volunteers around directing people but by following the crowd I was able to get to my corral. Start was well organized and smooth. Once the race started, it was okay. The course is narrow in some places, only one car lane wide and that caused some bottlenecks. Additionally, some of the water stations didn't have any water or volunteers left by the time I got there (I was running slower than normal). There was not much crowd support along the course and the hills were obscene! Oh my gosh, that one short, steep hill at mile 9.5 almost killed my friend. Also, I ran the half and counted only four musical acts, one of which was a DJ. Most Rock N Roll races do better with the music. Finish line was fairly well managed, but again, not much signage or direction to family reunion area. Race day was beautiful so I can't complain too much. Other races are better organized and have more course support (and fewer hills) but I am not holding that against the Seattle race. Overall, it was pretty fun.

This was one of my favorite runs because of two reasons: it was flat and you run alongside the…read morewater nearly the whole run. What more can you ask for? The starting line and finish line are at different spots, so when you first arrive, you park at the finish line (Madison Park) and then shuttle to the starting line (it differs depending on whether you're running the 5K or 10K). It was easy to find the shuttle pickups; just look for the long line of people. Surprisingly, it didn't take long to get on the school bus. They could cram a lot of people on the buses with runners awkwardly trapped in the aisle as the bus took us away. Upon arrival, check-in had no line, so it was very easy to pick up my bib. The bathroom line was super long though with 15 porta potties and a bunch of anxious runners. The race itself started on time. I know I said this was flat, but there was one TINY incline and then one actual hill you run up around mile 5. For the most part though, super flat. There were race photos taken during the run, water stations, friendly volunteers, and festivities at the finish line. I even won a raffle prize! Overall, great race, would highly recommend.

35 years of this event and nobody has Yelped it yet?!?!?…read more I was in town for my niece's graduation from Seattle Pacific University, so I looked on the calendar for any running events that might be going on this weekend. Luckily, I was able to come across the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Shore Run/Walk. For my family, this event was perfect. They offer a half mile kids fun run, a 5K walk for the non-runners of the family, and a 10K for those of us that are a little more competitive and enjoy a little smack talk. From the 10K perspective, this is a small race. The entire group looked to be now more than 250-300 runners - a STARK contrast from the 40,000 + from the San Diego Rock N Roll Half Marathon I ran 7 days prior. It was actually really nice to be a part of such a small and intimate run. With regard to the course, it was absolutely beautiful. The 10K begins at Ferdinand Park - be careful not to get confused with the 5K Furry Run that starts only yards away at Seaward Park (what was that all about?) - and continues along Lake Washington Blvd with beautiful vistas of the lake, through McGilvra Blvd and neighborhoods out of my tax bracket, and on to the finish at Madison Park. Beware the "hill" at about the 4.5 mile mark. Though a bit steep, its relatively short, so a little preparatory hill work should help you beyond that without too much issue. On the topic of water stations, there was one at approximately the 3 mile mark, and one more about the 5 mile mark (just a bit beyond the "hill"). The finish line at Madison Park was festive with booths and activities. The gear check was a bit difficult to find because the event is so small, there wasn't exactly a "booth", it was more like a volunteer holding bags in the back of her car. So to the gear check volunteers, and to the woman that volunteered her SUV, thank you! Thanks to all the sponsors, especially The Old Spaghetti Factory. I'm not one to dine at such establishments, but our bibs were good for a free dinner. For 8 of us, our bill came to $27 and a "congratulations" from our server - it continued to carry the intimate sentiment from the race through dinner (don't worry, we tipped her well). A chance to run a beautiful course with my family and to contribute to an amazing cause, I wish I could say I'll be back. The truth is, now that my niece has graduated and is now coming home, I'm not sure if I ever will. But what I will say is thanks to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and to the people and communities of Seattle. You have a beautiful gem of a run here and if you've never participated in it, mark your calendars for next year. Oh, and this is the first time I've ever run with my phone in hand, hence the pictures. You're welcome. ;)

This is one of the most fun races you could ever run. Everything was so thoughtfully organized and…read moreexecuted flawlessly. The location was easy to find and parking was plentiful. Now, if you don't know what the Blerch is - look up The Oatmeal. Read two of his short comics: The terrible and wonderful reasons I run long distances" and "the do's and don'ts of running your first marathon." Now, you are in the right mindset to Beat the Blerch! We were greeted by the Start line. Disney songs and pop music flooded the area. Blerchs were wondering around offering mallow puffs (bacon and chocolate covered marshmallows) to all. We quickly registered and received: a headband, sticker, tattoo, bib, and long sleeve technical t-shirt with the specific length we were running on it. We snapped a quick picture on the sofa with the Sasquatch, while the Blerch snoozed along side of us. We stretched and took off in one of the 2 minute waves that spread people out and made the course comfortable. Blerchs chased us and people showed up in droves, dressed as food, dinosaurs and hornets. The first water station had cake on a stick, purple juice, water, pb&Js, and..a couch. We ran along side the river and over the beautiful gold Tower bridge. All the water stations had couches, Blerchs, and cake. The mood was light and cheery. We ran along the front of the Capitol, back over the bridge, and ended with a high five from Sasquatch and our names over the loud speaker inside Raley Field. This was my daughter's first race. She is not a runner. She had a blast. All because of a guy that draws funny pictures. Amazing.

I've been trying to contact Matt for weeks now. My race kit was sent back to sender due to wrong…read moreaddress. Since then I've been trying to get in touch with Beat the Blerch team to help me resolve this problem. I emailed him on Beat the Blerch, I emailed him on The Oatmeal account, I just can't seem to get response from him. I'm a huge fan of his work and I've been supporting this race since 2020. last year (2021) I didn't receive my race shirt, I let it go because I love the race. I contacted him and no response. This year I never even got my race kit. I am deeply disappointed in such poor customer service. I really want to support this race. I respect Matt as a runner but being disappointed two years in a row might be the reason I stop supporting him completely. Please check your email and social media Matt and help send me my race kit again.

This is one of my favourite races. It's so coloured because everybody has something green and with…read morethe best attitude :) you will receive your swag with a very funny irish-ish shirt. I wish they had continued the hamrovk snicker promotion this year. Let's hope Brooks has something next year. The race is on a flat surface downtown Seattle. Of course there are cutters. But what I don't like not a tiny bit is that even when there are various waves, people still register in the first ones for runners when they are walkers. This makes the competition super hard and slow for true racers :( There won't be any difference on the final board if starting on last wave... At the end there is a party at Seattle Center with music and beer. Wish at list 1 cup would be for free as in other races.

*Cue Bagpipes*…read more Green. Green wigs, green tights, green, green, green, green t-shirts reading "10% Irish, 90% Drunk." Young, old, freakishly fatless, chubby walkers, jogging strollers, entire families in green plastic derbies. Ms. McMexican and Ms. McKraut finish it up and head home to make soda bread - completely undoing any benefits reaped by their early morning dash. Slainte'! 34 minutes bitches.

Thanks to a fortuitous change in plans, I was lucky enough to go on a retreat with RAW and cannot…read morespeak more highly of the experience! Upon arriving, the lodging we were staying at was rustic and tucked away in nature, a true "get away." It felt like we were sleeping in a tree house! Tracey left us little welcome notes, which was a very nice touch to make us all feel welcome. Throughout the weekend there are multiple activities to choose from - bike rides throughout the beautiful island, as well as yoga sessions in the morning and afternoon. The cycling is great for experienced riders and newcomers alike as it is geared towards sightseeing, but still a very good workout! I was nervous as I hadn't ridden in months, but everything is optional so if you choose to stay behind at the lodge or head into town, there is that option as well. No one is competitive and while our group varied in athletic ability, I still felt able to enjoy the riding despite being less experienced. The yoga is equally amazing - the instructor mirrors the energy level of the group well and makes adjustments for all levels! By the end, I fully decided to do yoga regularly - her classes got me hooked! The food is AMAZING - I cannot speak more highly about how fresh, organic and healthy it is, as well as how creative the chef is in making things that thrill your pallet. YUMMY! Every meal was a surprise and an absolute delight. From the presentation to the variety, I loved it! She also made special adjustments if you didn't eat something (meat, cheese, etc.) so the meals were custom to you. I could go on about how wonderful the weekend was but I'll sum it up so I don't get too wordy - this retreat is a great chance to spend some time reflecting, enjoying nature and connecting with other women. We laughed, shared stories, drank wine, ate great food, exercised and by the end, I felt like a million bucks! I can't recommend this more - everyone walks in a little shy and walks out good friends. You can do as much as you'd like or as little as you'd like and it is a great way to recharge your body and mind! And lastly, Tracey (the owner) is an amazing leader - she is warm and friendly and immediately makes you feel comfortable. She really brings out the best in people and I am glad I got to know her over the course of the weekend!

When you meet Tracey.. you just want to keep talking to her…read more.. From the first time I heard her speak in front of hundreds of women cyclists at a bike shop... I knew then I wanted to go to her retreat, get to know her better, and just keep talking to her, listening to her... Truly there is not a more genuine, happy and bright sunshine of a person... She is a special part of the gift of your RAW retreat....!!! The other "gifts" include all the women that this great idea brings together... the laughter, joys, stories shared on all the moments in between yoga sessions, lunches on picnic tables or wineries, bike riding beautiful roads, challenging moments of going up hill where you band together to help your fellow woman up a steep climb.. to the sections of downhill that make you go "wwwweeeee" :)))) I can't think of something I want to do more.. I've already done one retreat.. but I'm ready for another.. and now I really also want to share this retreat time with my friends!!! I honestly can't believe how much I loved the weekend!! Do this for YOU, and if you bring a friend- wonderful.. but if no one you know is going.. you must still GO and meet other amazing women...!!! The weekend was such a treat!!! :)