Tri-Cities Marathon and Marathon Relay

The Tri-Cities Marathon is back! The 41st edition of this classic race will be held Sunday October 27th.

 

Join us at the Riverfront Hotel in Richland to run a half or a full marathon. Don’t feel like going that far? You can also form a relay team of up to four and cover the 26.2 miles together.

 

Schedule:

Marathon & Marathon Relay Start: 8:00AM

Half Marathon Start: 9:00AM

Course Closes: 1:00PM (subject to change; early start times available)

Awards: TBD

 

 

Course:

 

The Half Marathon course will be the same as before, an out and back through Richland and Pasco, mostly on the paved trails, 6.5 miles each way. This is a USATF Certified Course and is also record eligible.

 

The Marathon course will be changed this year, as the Blue Bridge construction won’t be finished until January 2025. The new course is not finalized yet, but will include a full loop of the river trail with an out and back section to make 26.2 miles. The start and finish locations will remain the same as before. We plan to have the Marathon course certified this year, so you can qualify for Boston, Chicago, etc., or to simply make your results official.

 

Both courses are (mostly) flat and 100% on pavement. Apart from the bridge crossings, no hill on either course gains more than 20 feet total. Elevation data differs greatly between measurements, but most GPS watches say around 400ft gain for the marathon.

 

Every turn will be clearly marked with spray chalk, cones, signs, etc. and a friendly marshal if enough volunteer. (Yes, we need VOLUNTEERS!) Since the course is almost entirely on the river trail or on a connecting road, it will be very hard to get lost unless you do so purposefully. We will also have markers at every mile and 5km intervals. A comprehensive guide to the course can be found in the Athlete’s Guide.

UPDATE: Our new course has been finalized with the exception of the turnaround point, and is on its way to being USATF certified! A map with unofficial mile and 5k markers will be published shortly.

 

 

Aid Stations:

 

The exact locations and intervals of the aid stations are TBD, but will be approximately every 2 miles as with most other marathons. This means about 12 stations for the Marathon, 6 for the Half Marathon, and 2-3 for each relay leg. These stations will be stocked with water, electrolytes, energy gels, and other snacks. Info on each aid station will be posted in the Athlete’s Guide once it is available.

 

Let us know how we can improve our aid stations! They are a key component to a quality marathon experience, and being a small event means we are able to take a more individualized approach to them. What are some of your favorite things to take at aid stations? We are all ears to that!

 

 

Training:

 

“It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey there” could not be more true for long distance events, and you never have to tackle this by yourself. The Tri-Cities has several great running coaches and groups.

Fleet Feet Richland is hosting a training program for the Half Marathon. Long Runs are 8AM Saturdays and Workouts are 6PM Wednesdays at their Richland location. Click the following link for more info. https://www.fleetfeet.com/s/tricities/training/fall-distance-training

The Richland RunFest also hosts a long run group. They currently meet Sundays at 7AM at the Wake Up Call Coffee near Howard Amon Park. Facebook Group Link: https://www.facebook.com/richlandrunfest

Both of these groups, as with most others in the area, welcome all paces and abilities.

Other training groups may pop up here and there, and we will announce as many as we can on our web pages. If you prefer to train by yourself, there are many free training programs and pace calculators on the internet. Take full advantage of the resources around you!

To sign up for this event, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Richland/TriCitiesMarathonRelay

 

Weather:

 

For those coming from out of town, Late October in the Tri-Cities is usually closer to winter than autumn. The temperature at the start last year was 25 Fahrenheit, but on average is more in the 30s. Winds also tend to be calmer in the mornings and gradually intensify through the day, and they almost always blow eastward with the river and slightly northward as well. This may sound cold, but it is actually not very far from ideal conditions for marathon running. Do keep the weather in mind as you train and as you pack your race day gear, though.

 

 

Volunteers!!!

 

No organized running event would be possible without the help of volunteers. Between aid stations, course marshals, event setup, etc., we will need about 70-90 volunteers to make this event the best it can be, and of course any extra help we can get is greatly appreciated. Have family/friends not doing anything on a Sunday morning? Bring them out with you to help you and fellow runners on your way! (Did I mention fresh air is good for everyone?)

 

 

Records:

 

Men’s Marathon: Michael Brady – 2:22:51 (1983)

Women’s Marathon: Kari Hamilton – 2:54:06 (2023)

Men’s Marathon, Old Course: Michael Williams – 2:30:25 (2023)

 

Men’s Half Marathon: Tatsuya Usami – 1:14:21 (2018)

Women’s Half Marathon: Audra McPartland – 1:21:37 (2023)

 

 

 

Check back for more info as race day approaches! We can’t wait to see you at the start line!