I chose this race because of previous reviews I had read. The natural beauty was awe-inspiring to the max. The volunteers seemed like family - maybe more so. Many elite runners were recognized at the pre-race dinner. You read of some in Runner's World. Race directors, Bob and Lenore, are immortals. They have experience, dedication, and huge respect from every participant. They will take care of you, and are not money-hungry like many race directors. They are very generous. Thanks to all who made this a huge success. I recommend this race to any first-timers who need a memorable "first-time" race experience.

P.S. The way-out location of this course prevented large numbers of spectators from coming out, and thus prevented me from giving that category 5 stars.

This was a great race with a few challenging hills. Not a lot of spectators, but the volunteers were wonderful! The run along the river is very peaceful and pretty. Weather was excellent and the support at the finish line was fantastic!

...it might as well be marathon heaven.

If you are reading this review, looking for a West Coast race to do, read no further, click the link above and register. You can read the other reviews, but they will say pretty much the same thing: wonderful, great, perfect....

If you want a city race with marching bands, 30,000 other runners, and half marathon walkers walking 8 abreast, go elsewhere. If you want a point-to-point marathon (no back-tracking, no half marathon, 5K, etc.) in a peaceful setting, this is for you. This is on the dry side of Washington, so rain shouldn't be an issue (I've done it 3 times and each time it was overcast/partly sunny, with starting temps around 35, and finishing temps around 55). There are about 500 competitors. For the first half-mile, you have to avoid other runners for a bit, but that's it.

A few things stand out. First, the race director runs the race. Second, the shirt isnt covered like a race car with sponsors logo. Third, the people who participate in this race are probably the happiest, friendliest people I've seen in any race.

Bob Dolphin (co-race director) runs the race, while his wife, Lenore (other co-race director), is a bit like Where's Waldo, as she keeps popping up along the course checking in on everything. At the end of the race, she's there to give every finisher a hug. Where else would you get that kind of attention?

On the course I heard people talking about the hill at 20, 21, 22 and 23 miles (same hill). For the record, the summit is about 100 yards before the 23 mile marker. It is not steep, but it is about 1.3 miles long. As far as I know, there is no name (Doomsday, Heartbreak, Queen Anne). Maybe at the finish line next year they can have balloting among the finishers to name the hill.

About the only things I would change is: add a Clydesdales division (I'm over 200 pounds). My only concern is that it may get too big.

If you're reading this in Topeka, wondering if your spouse will want to come with you, there are about 100 wineries in the Yakima Valley.

Whether for your first or fiftieth marathon, this is the one to do.

Even though my last two finishes at this race were some of my worst times ever, I came back because the course, race directors, and other runners are amazing. The scenery is spectacular, and everything about this race seems to be put on for runners, by runners:
" Well-placed water/PowerAde stations
" Food on the course
" Great spread and personal congratulations at the finish
" Free showers with soap and towels provided

In short, I do this race for great time. But much unlike other races (where everything was perfect), one thing seemed amiss this year: There were TONS of cars on the course. That's not a big deal if you're warned about it ahead of time and everybody knows to run in a certain (coned-off) lane or on the shoulder. But in this curvy race, which is advertised as being run on a closed road, runners plan to run the tangents, and having cars there unexpectedly kind of puts a cramp in that plan. The thing about it too was that most of the cars had spectator passes - but despite this, they were going pretty fast and were kind of impatient. Several cars came right up on people's backs. I estimate there were around 5-10 cars driving the course the other two years I did this race, but this year there were probably 25-30. It was pretty crazy, and was especially troublesome when:
" They came along at a strongly-cambered section of the road, and you had to run on the least flat part
" They came from both directions at once
" They zoomed by during the later stages (the two-mile hill, and seriously, like less than a mile from the finish line)
Anyway, I've probably said enough about it. It just struck me as a curious development that I hope was some sort of fluke or one-time problem.

I still think this race is amazing and would recommend it to anyone. I just hope they come up with a fix for the high traffic.

This was my first marathon, and I loved it. It was hard, but I attribute that more to my lack of training than the race itself. True, there are two hills, the second of which comes late in the race, but they are nothing extreme.

The scenery was spectacular, with steep, grassy and rocky canyon walls above, and the river with some trees down below. I loved the solitude of the course, and the number of runners is perfect: enough so you don't feel alone, but there are only space issues during the first mile or two and then the pack dissipates.

The race was well organized, and the volunteers were great. There were enough crowds for me on this course. We got a lot of encouragement from them, and the little bit of music coming from a DJ at the top of the first hill around mile 16 and a few other boom boxes was perfect to add a sprinkle of sound to the pervasive silence.

The food at the pre- and post-race dinners was junk, but it was probably typical of these kinds of functions. I thought that the towns near the marathon were pretty boring places, but coming from Portland was a fantastic drive along the Columbia River.

If you are looking for a beautiful course and solitude, don't skip this one.

I now only run marathons that offer something of interest: great scenery, interesting city, relatives/friends nearby who I wish to visit, especially challenging courses, an area I have never seen before, etc. This one met nearly all of those possible requirements. The route was billed as scenic, and that was an understatement! I took my camera with me and spent so much time taking pictures that I ended up with a negative split as I finally forced myself to do more running the second half of the race. This is one race where you can blame the course for a poor time - not because of difficulty (thought the mile-long hill at around the 22 mile mark made things interesting) but because it is too beautiful. Coming from eastern Tennessee with its lush green hills, central Washington's pale green of sage brush and grass mixed with earth colors of the dry, treeless volcanic hills, overlooking the blue of the river seemed almost exotic. The cold temperature at the start soon rose to a comfortable coolness, and we were blessed with sunshine all race long. You couldn't have wanted a lovelier course and better weather.

The organization was very good. I especially appreciated that the buses supplied to take you to the start, or back to the start from the finish, were motor coaches with comfortable seats and lots of leg room rather than cramped school buses that many other marathons use. My only gripes with organization is that the post-race spread was disappointing, and that a volunteer at the packet pickup station in the Convention Center the day before the race gave me very bad information about the location of the finish line in relation to the convention center where I would park my car. Volunteers should be instructed to refer any questions that they have no sure knowledge about to someone who does have the answers.

While volunteers manning the aid stations were great, the race is not one that has much spectator support. But they would just get in the way of the scenery anyway!

While most out-of-towners seemed to drive from the Seattle area to the race, I flew in and out of Portland, OR so I could visit my son there. That route takes you along the fabulous Columbia River Gorge. Wondrous vistas of Mts. Hood, St. Helens, and Adams. Even a bit of Rainier.

If you want a race that is a feast for the eyes and soul, if not the stomach, you must do this one.

My most important goals in any race are to finish and to have fun. There is no way to do this race with all the Maniacs present and not have fun. It was a perfect day, with excellent running weather and beautiful scenery. At one point, I saw mountain sheep on the hillside across the river. I even made it up "the hill" this year without stopping!

My husband and I selected this race as our first marathon. We trained together for five months and finished just as we had planned. We did not have any trouble with the hill at mile 14... but we were a bit intimidated by the one at the 23 mile-point. We finished strong and I'm sure we will be back next year to do it again. The weather was perfect for running, and the volunteers were top notch! The hug at the end was pretty neat, too!

This is about as good as it gets. I would recommend this as a destination marathon. There were about 500 competitors, on a point-to-point course. It's only a marathon (there's no half, 10K, or kids' run).

This was my second time doing this race. I was on a day trip from the Puget Sound area, with my 16-year-old son serving as my driver. As such, I missed the dinner the night before, but everyone who was there said it was fabulous. The packet pickup is at the Days Inn, 100 yards off I-90 in Ellensburg (2 hours from Sea-Tac Airport). The starting line is 200 yards away; it's about as easy as can be.

The entire race was under clear skies, with minimal wind. The 8:00 temperature at Ellensburg was 32F, while the noon temperature in Yakima was 55F.

The first 5 miles meander through farms with the hills and mountains in the distance to keep you company. At the 5 mile-mark you enter the canyon. The highway follows the river as it twists and turns for the next 21 miles. Aside from volunteers (who were great), it is just you and the other racers for the last 21 miles (which I like). The hills of the canyon extend 1000-1500 feet above the race course. Near mile 25, Mt. Adams comes into view. The canyon opens up right at the finish line. It is a spectacular setting.

The hills near miles 15 and 18 were bigger than I remembered. The hill at mile 22 wasn't as bad as I remembered, but then I had planned on walking it all along. There were a few places where it would have been a good idea to stash an inner tube and float a portion in the river to cool off and rest, while still making forward progress (I think this is known as "cheating," plus the water is probably really cold).

Showers are a few miles from the finish line at the junior high, with shampoo, soap and towels provided!!!!

The only negative was that, due to avalanche control on Snoqualmie Pass, it took four extra hours to get back to the west side of the mountains.

I can't say enough great things about this race and I'll be back next year. Who knows, maybe in 2010 I'll run the mile 22-hill.

I have never finished a race and received a hug. But everyone gets one at this marathon. Very friendly atmosphere and a great time.