Marathon

A wonderful course that circumnavigates Bellingham Bay while offering sea & mountain vistas. Starting on Gooseberry Point with several miles along a bluff overlooking the bay, through rural farmland, through beautiful neighborhoods, along waterfront greenways and over top Bellingham Bay before returning to an exciting finish downtown.

Marathon Run & Walk

  • Start time: 7:30 AM - NO EARLY / NO LATE STARTS
  • Participant age must be at least 16 years by day of race
  • 625 registrations capacity
  • Participants receive a short sleeve Leslie Jordan superman blue, gender specific, technical shirt (sizes S to XXL; check fit guide for accurate size selection)
  • Opening ceremony at the beautiful Wex'liem (Place of the Frogs) Community Building
  • Start on Lummi Nation School entrance driveway off Blackhawk Way on Gooseberry Point
  • Shuttle bus from finish line at Depot Market Square to marathon race start on Gooseberry Point for participants
  • Start coordinates: 48.7276°N -122.6545°W
  • Start elevation: 32m; 105ft
  • Finish coordinates: 48.7476°N 122.4805°W
  • Finish elevation: 20m; 65.6ft
  • Race is chip timed by Accustat Sports Timing using Winning Time chip system
  • Mile markers every mile; kilometer markers every 5 KM
  • Hydration stations with water and nuun electrolyte enhanced drink (Citrus Fruit or Orange) will be be located roughly every 2 miles
  • Petroleum Jelly will be available at all hydration stations
  • Hammer Gel will be the on course carbohydrate energy fuel available at 11.6 (Montana Huckleberry) and 19.8 (Raspberry) mile marks
  • USATF Sanctioned EventMedical Aid station at miles 16, 22 and 24
  • 6 hour finish time limit (13:43 pace); walkers are encouraged as long as they are able to complete the course within the cutoff time; walkers not reaching the 22 mile mark by 12:30pm will be asked to leave the course
  • Finishers receive a commemorative finisher medal
  • USATF Sanctioned (control # 11-36-133)
  • USATF Certified (certification # WA11034MN)

IMPORTANT: All Late Packet Pick-up Race Day packets must be picked up at Depot Market Square. Packets are not brought to the marathon start.

Course Highlights

Marathon Course Description

On Gooseberry Point on Lummi Reservation, athletes start on the entrance driveway to Lummi Nation School off Blackhawk Way. The descent from the start affords a beautiful view of Lummi Island across Hale Passage. A short gentle ascent leads to breathtaking views across Bellingham Bay of islands, Bellingham and mountains for miles 2 through 5. Miles 6 through 15 are a breeze with little elevation change along Haxton Way Pedestrian Trail and country roads with a stretch along Red River and views of Mount Baker. Cross over the Nooksack River then gently ascend 125 feet over miles 16 and 17. Get a rush of energy as marathoners and half marathoners merge near mile mark 17, then enjoy peeks of Mount Baker through Birchwood Neighborhood while coasting down 140 feet over miles 18, 19 and 20. Athletes make their way to downtown Bellingham along the waterfront for miles 21 and 22. Leaving downtown Bellingham for miles 23 and 24, the course runs along the evergreen South Bay Trail through Boulevard Park across Pattle Point Trestle and Taylor Avenue Dock with views, sounds and smells of the bay. Gently ascend through mile 25. For the final mile, enjoy a gentle descent with panoramic views of Bellingham Bay with the crowds cheering athletes to the finish line near Depot Market Square.

Marathon Course Directions

Start adjacent to the Owl Totem on the entrance driveway to Lummi Nation School off Blackhawk Way on Gooseberry Point on Lummi Indian Reservation, turn right on Blackhawk Way heading east down gentle descent with view of Lummi Island across Hale Passage, left on Lummi View Dr, left on Lummi Shore Rd, enjoy 4 miles of beautiful bay, island, city and mountain views, continue of Lummi Shore Dr, left on Kwina Rd, right on Haxton Way Pedestrian Trail, right on S River Rd, right on Slater Rd, right on Ferndale Rd, left on Rayhorst Rd, turnaround on Rayhorst Rd, left on Ferndale Rd, pass course half way point, left on Marine Dr, cross bridge over Nooksack River, continue on Country Ln, left on Marine Dr, cross bridge over railroad tracks, left on Alderwood Ave merging with half marathon athletes, continue on Airport Dr, right on Alderwood Ave, cross over then turn right on Bennett Dr, left on Cottonwood Ave, continue along short pedestrian path to right on Firwood Ave, left on Cedarwood Ave, right through Birchwood Park to Coast Millennium Trail descending into Squalicum Creek Park, continue on Squalicum Pkwy, continue on Roeder Ave, continue on W Chestnut St, right on Cornwall Ave, left on Maple St, right on Railroad Ave, left on E Laurel St, right on South Bay Trail crossing pedestrian bridge, cross Wharf St to continue on South Bay Trail, cross railroad tracks to Boulevard Park, cross Pattle Point Trestle, continue on S Bay Tr, cross Taylor Avenue Dock, ascend to left on 10th St, ascend on S State St, continue on Boulevard St, continue on N State St, left on E Laurel St, right on Railroad Ave to finish line near Depot Market Square.