Yakima River Canyon Marathon - Race Reviews

If you run for the joy of the sport, this is the race for you. If you think 'boooring' when other races boast of a 'flat, fast course', this is the one you want. Spectacular scenery and a well organized no-frills crew. I ran by a coyote skeleton and the remains of an elk that had tumbled down the cliffs. Wow! Howling wind in your face through the gaps, and a long hill near the finish. 'Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.'

I am pursuing the 50 states and chose this marathon for my WA race because of the wonderful things I'd heard about Bob and Lenore Dolphin. I was very happy with my choice. As recommended, I went to the Yakima area for the entire weekend so that I could experience everything: the pasta dinner Friday night, the post-race potato feed, and the breakfast Sunday morning. I recommend staying in or near Selah or Yakima so you are close to all of these activities. The race starts in Ellensburg and there is a hotel there, but everything else other than the race start is in the Yakima area. And the shuttle bus to the start from Selah works great. I opted to take the early start (with permission) because I am slow and while it made for a very early morning, it was a wonderful choice to start with other slow but fun people. Pros: -Organization is top-notch. Every little detail was taken care of (for example, they even put a label on your gear bag) -Course is gorgeous. -Good value (race fee includes pasta dinner and post-race potato feed) -They post articles and pictures from previous years on the wall at the pasta dinner which is really special -You can buy a photo of yourself at the finish area for $20.00. Pack a 20 dollar bill in your shorts! -Weather was great in 2014 (cool with little wind) -Dolphins treat everyone like family, and there are such friendly and seasoned participants -I like the baseball-style cotton shirt; different than the typical tech shirt we get -They put out clothes that were dumped at the previous year's race for us to use (and they were washed!) -Women got a rose at the finish line Cons: -Camber in the road was relentless. Towards the end of the marathon I was so sick of the slanted road. -First water stop was not until after mile 6 for the early start folks (I heard it was after mile 3 for the regular start folks) -More water stops needed -Pasta dinner went on way too long. I had to miss the speaker (Kathrine Switzer) because I needed to get to bed and she didn't start until 7:45. With a 4am wake-up call, I couldn't wait. Please note that all of the wonderful meals do go on for a long time because there are so many awards, prizes, speeches, etc. You might want to build this into your schedule. I had to leave the breakfast mid-way through because I didn't realize everyone would introduce themselves and stories would be told. I am so glad I did this marathon while the Dolphins were the race directors. This is the ideal race for slower participants who want to be treated fairly and honored. I stayed in Seattle for a couple of nights before and after the race as I had never been to the area, and I absolutely LOVED my visit there.

This was my 36th different marathon. Pros: Beautiful courseworth the challenging hills and camber in road. No issues with buses at start or finish. We had an indoor facility to wait in at the start. Cons: The medal is beyond cheap. The worst medal I have ever receivedso disappointing! The woman sped up the singing of the National Anthem at the start to a point where people were laughing like it was a joke. If you don't have time to sing it then don't sing it. The first water stop wasn't until after 3 miles, and they were few and far between after that. They need more than 11 stops. The pasta dinner ran on too long with awards and memorials. At 7:45 Katherine Switzer had yet to take the stage, so we left and missed what we really came to hear. Their medical at the finish was a joke. They didn't even have Ibuprofin. My friend needed an IV, so they actually called an ambulance (even though there were 3 ambulances parked at the finish), and took her to the ER at a local hospital! Other things worth mentioning: Cotton finisher's shirt instead of tech top. No real food at the finishjust snacks. It's a no-frills finish. I bought a race photo at the finish ($20). There is not a lot to do in Selah or Yakima. I'd suggest staying in Seattle the night before, as you can pick up your packet race morning. Overall, it was one of the prettiest marathons I have ever run, but I think this race needs some updating!

This ranked among the most beautiful marathons I've done. As a racewalker, I was alone the whole time, and cherished the opportunity to spend hours of solitude with the river, barren hillsides, cliffs, fishermen and the occasional cabins and wineries. The fact that this year's weather was reported to be the best of many years certainly didn't hurt! If you want hordes of cheering supporters, look elsewhere. But if you want an extremely supportive, 'down home' environment at the pre- and post-race dinners and with the volunteers at the aid stations, look no further. What a wonderful opportunity to soak up the beauty of this corner of the world, with friendly, helpful folks there for you every 2-3 miles. I can see why some people choose to do this marathon every year. I found myself extremely appreciative of the stark beauty of this canyon and the gift of my physical ability to traverse its length by foot.

No matter what the weather throws at you (my course PR was in the snow/sleet in 2012, and today with a beautiful day, the winds were brutal (for me) and I was slower than ever!) this is simply one of my favorite races. The Dolphin team are inspirational just plain and simple! It can be (and has been for me!) a PR course, but it's a real crap-shoot on the weather as to whether you'll PR or not. If you crave the big city races with lots of give-aways and people cheering every 100 yards, this isn't for you. If you want to feel like you're worth a million bucks as a runner, you want to have some peace and tranquility away from the commercial marathons, and want to be treated like a queen/king, then this is the race for you! There is simply nothing better than cheering Bob on on course and the Lenore hug at the end!

Beautiful marathon course! The wind whipping through the canyon was certainly a challenge that I was not prepared for. The hills were long (the hill that begins just before mile 22 is more than a mile long). Contrary to other reviews, the last 3 miles are not all downhill. Prepare yourself. Excellent volunteers at all the aid stations! Course was long (26.41) even with running the inside of all of the curves. As mentioned before by other reviewers the camber of the road can be hard on the legs. Interesting finisher shirt. Overall not a bad marathon for someone wanting to enjoy the scenery and not concerned with a PR.

Others have addressed the beautiful scenic course. Including the snow at the start the entire experience was memorable. The excellently organized event is hosted by RD's Bob & Lenore Dolphin. Beginning with the pre-race pasta dinner, all that makes a great Marathon happen and the post-race dinner/award event the entire weekend was a classic. The 2012 YRCM was Bob Dolphin's 500th. Marathon. It was a privilege to be a part of the festivities.

I give spectators 5 stars because the ones who were out there were awesome!! I regret missing the pasta party. I heard it was excellent... but I flew out the day before on the 6 a.m. flight from Boston, and we had a snowstorm, so I was delayed. At least made it the morning of the race! Loved getting a cotton t-shirt since I have so many tech shirts now! The race organizers and volunteers were excellent! Loved being able to buy my picture at the finish... and such a nice presentation with the course and rose! Runners were very friendly. I'll never forget the course views... I ran with my camera and have a great slide show! What a great West Coast marathon - sweet memories!!

This race had majestic views that created a mood of serenity. This was one race where I didn't care that there were not a lot of fans because the scenery was all you needed. It even distracted me from a couple of pretty wicked hills. The lone ghetto blaster placed in a rock at the top of the hill playing "Highway to Hell" was classic. I would definitely tell friends about this one!

This is a race that is designed for runners and not as a backdrop for corporate logos. Heck, the shirt has no sponsor logos. Plus the competitors seem to be the friendliest of any race that I've done. The race is a pure point-to-point, with no backtracking. The race loses about 300' over the 26 miles, but there are hills at 14, 18 and 23 miles (mile 23 is the high point so the last 3 miles lose 100' apiece - it's nice to have gravity's assistance when you need it most). The course is on a state highway, so it is fairly wide, and the hills are not steep. The first 5 miles are OK scenery-wise, but the last 21 are about as good as it gets. Aside from the 3 hills where the course pulls away from the river, the river is your companion. The walls of the canyon shoot up at about 45 degrees about 1,500' above the river. There are portions where you will be running along the base of 200' cliffs. This is a desert canyon. There was a small rockslide caused by some bighorn sheep above us. Due to clouds in the distance we were not treated to a view of Mt. Adams at the 25 mile mark. It seemed that there were 2 or 3 times as many cars on the road this year. There had been heavy rains the previous days, so instead of the clear Yakima River, the river looked like chocolate milk, with a few logs and branches along for the ride (unlike in previous years, the river was traveling faster than runners were). The course is closed, so aside from the aid stations (as always staffed by wonderful people), their are no spectators - only the other runners.

This was my first marathon and I can't wait for next year. Lenore Dolphin has to be the best race director anywhere. There are two challenging hills late in the run but they are doable. The fantastic scenery and enthusiastic, supportive volunteers make the miles fly by. Every marathoner should seriously consider this race.

Great, scenic course, mostly downhill, with a little wind at times. Good aid stations every couple of miles.

Pros: This is a terrific race. Incredibly scenic course; I saw several deer and hawks during the run. There are not a lot of spectators. However, the course volunteers are very friendly and enthusiastic. The course has several hills, so this most likely won't be a good PR-course. Cons: The shuttle service is confusing and may not run often enough, especially towards the latter part of the day when more finishers are coming in. They have loud music at the last hill. This may be a matter of personal taste, but I found the blaring music distracting and rather unpleasant. However, it may have helped some folks get to the top of the hill. Overall, it is a well done race and well worth running.

Great run. I strongly disagree with the comments/attitude of M.L., from Walla Walla, WA in a previously posted review. I fail to remember a single car passing fast. There may have been only 20 or 30 cars along the entire 26.2 miles. In my view, all appeared careful and slow. This course, for a road, was possibly the safest run provided I have ever been on over several dozen races. I also want safety. Next to a trail run, Yakima Canyon Marathon is about as safe as it gets. My one suggestion is to clarify the bus shuttle timing. From where do they leave, and where do they drop off? I wasted a lot of time, along with others, hoping to catch a bus to the showers and back to the start line after the race. The buses were a great provision, but even the volunteers could not tell us what the bus routes included.

Gorgeous scenery. I love the personal touches that race directors Lenore and Bob did for all of the people who came to the race! They gave out flowers at the end, and recognized the first marathoners, or marathoners who'd run all 10 races, or people doing their 100th, 200th, etc. Love the pics available on the site for $10 - instead of Brightroom or ASI charging $5 shipping just for a picture! The pasta dinner was good, and the speakers were entertaining. Beautiful age awards for all categories! Lots of door prizes. I love the Dolphins (RD's), and love the course! Highly recommended!

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.

A fantastic run through an absolutely beautiful valley in central Washington. This is in the desert, so good weather is likely and the time of year means that it's not too hot yet. The course weaves around a few blocks amongst some farmland before entering the Yakima River Canyon. The paved surface is good and the road is closed to most traffic. Aid stations were located every 3 miles to start, but became more frequent in the second half. The camber of the road isn't always flat and it seemed to me that all of the right-handed turns were longer than the left-handed ones, so my right thigh took a worse beating than the left. There were two hills in the second half; the first one lasts for about half a mile and second is one and a half miles. Not terribly steep, but any hill after mile 20 is worth mentioning. There's a long, gradual downhill to the finish. I couldn't take advantage of it and pick up the pace this time around (on my first marathon) but I imagine that this would be really quite helpful for the slightly more experienced. Organization was great and the shower facility was available afterward for no cost.

How's this for a fabulous amenity: transport to a local high school gym for post-race hot showers with soap, shampoo and towels provided. I've never felt so good within an hour of finishing any of my 83 marathons.

I ran the 2009 race and it was a fantastic experience. I PR'd on this course. The temperature was perfect for running, there was great support at the water stops (every 2 miles), and the port-a-potties along the route were very welcome. The course is a slight downhill, with 2 large hills during the second half of the race. There are few spectators, but that is to be expected for a race of this size. If you thrive off a crowd, this is not your race. However, if you love beautiful scenery, lots of space to run without people jostling your elbows, and cool but sunny weather conditions, then this is for you!

The Dolphins do it right and it's a runners marathon with all the fixings! From the pasta party Friday to the awards ceremony with another nice dinner! Oh yeah, there was a marathon in between too! A beautiful course, very peaceful and a bit challenging. Be trained. I had only run an 18 before this race and paid the price by the 2-mile incline at miles 21. This marathon is so user-friendly, and you get a hug from the RD when you finish. Just a down-home, life-as-it-should-be kind of atmosphere the entire weekend. I will run this every year and I like the medals - just perfect for the event! If Heaven has marathons, this is the closest thing to paradise you will find!

WOW! What scenery! The start of this small marathon was about a three-mile loop around the local area. Then the course went into Yakima River Canyon, and the scenery was non-stop. The support was fantastic. There aren't a lot of cheering crowds because the course goes through the canyon that is closed for the marathon... except to limited local traffic. However, the volunteers make up for it at the aid stations. I couldn't have asked for a better marathon experience! Congrats to all on a marathon WELL DONE!

This was my best ever marathon, and not because I PR'd and BQ'd, but just because everything was so well organized and it felt like everyone was truly royalty. It also helped that while it was chilly for the first few miles, the sun was shining! If you're ready, then there's no reason why you can't PR on this course - the gentle downhills provide plenty of opportunities to make up for any lost time on the two hills, which weren't as bad as I expected, really! They were gentle climbs, versus straight-up-in-the-air climbs, and everyone around me was encouraging each other. It was great! I'm running Boston next year, thanks to this race, and have already decided I'll run YRCM beforehand, just because! It was also great finally to meet Lenore and Bob too - they are my heroes and they make you feel like you're worth a million dollars. I, too, give the fans 5 stars because those volunteers and fellow participants are all you need to be happy and feel special. I loved that my husband was able to get right to the finish line and cheer me in, almost being more excited about the race than I was. :)

As a way-back-in-the-pack marathoner, I was in awe of the volunteers on the course. They kept checking to see if I was doing okay or if I needed anything. Okay, they were also waiting until I went by to pick up the mile markers, but it was still nice to know they were there if I had needed something. I was also pleased to be able to attend the awards ceremony. Usually I'm still on the course when that is going on. I'll be back to do this one again if for no other reason than to get up that hill again.

A spectacular event, from the organization to the volunteers. The water and medical support stations were top-notch and the volunteers manning them were so supportive and cheerful - my thanks to all of them. The pre- and post-race activities are second to none. Lenore is a one-person (got to be politically correct !!) dynamo. She was involved in all aspects of the race, from conception to the last person crossing the finish line. If Lenore ever gives this up, she will leave a very, very difficult pair of shoes to fill - or hat to wear, take your pick!. God willing, I'll be back next year to attack that hill at mile 22!. Well done, all of you.

This year, 2008, was my first attempt at this marathon, plus my first marathon run of 2008. The run website is a little confusing and could be clearer about the organization; the site is not clear enough about the bus runs to/from the start. This is a one-way course, so you need to choose if you want to park at the finish and bus UP to the start or park at the start and take a bus BACK to your car from the finish line. The Day's Inn in Ellensburgh was used as the race HQ and organization again was a bit confusing, as there was no indication where to go to pick up your race packet. This wasn't a big issue, but it could easily be rectified with a simple sign. Thankfully there was no parking costs! Having run Seattle and Bellevue, this was a relief. After a brief warm-up loop, we headed off past some neat houses and then down the river canyon - and here is where the course began to impress. The views were simply amazing and I ran a lot of the way with my head turned this way or that, looking at the scenery. You soon became aware that this was a slight downhill almost all of the way, with slight hills thrown in here and there. Aid stations came and went, chatter abated as the crowds thinned out and I tried not to think of the cherry-flavored Powerade that had been inflicted on me at around mile 6. Cherry. UGH! Thankfully after that we got PowerAde Ice (I think), which was far more palatable. The crowds were almost non existent, much as expected. There were some distractions of the humorous kind and along the way you could see signs such as the expected "Almost there," the kind that elicit grim smiles such as "Wall? We don't see no stinking wall," the inspirational, such as "Pain is temporary, pride is forever," and the down right weird, such as "Caution, rattlesnakes crossing. Out here you can believe that!" The Hill at 22 miles is a 360-foot climb; it's a gentle slope but a real killer because it is so long. In fact it takes you right back up to the same altitude as the start line, maybe even slightly more. On the plus side I found that all of the hills were gentle enough to allow a full run down the other side, unlike some I've done where they are so steep that you can't run up OR down them without risking your knees exploding. The finish line was low-key; all in all, it was to be expected, and it fit in with the friendly feel of the event. Everyone was very positive and warm along the way, and this was especially appreciated. The finisher's medal was somewhat low rent, a generic metal disc with a resin inlay, but given the small number of entrants, this was entirely fitting as it kept the price down. I'll cherish it as much as the flashier ones I have for the bigger events I've completed. In the finish area there was plenty of food and fluids, even flowers such as roses and carnations. One area that was definitely in need of improvement was the bus arrangement. You had the option of going to Selah or Ellensburgh depending on were you were parked. This was a fiasco, and no one seemed to know who was going where or when. The 2 bus drivers were talking on the phones all the time and the conversation was far too dizzying to comprehend. I boarded a bus that I was told that was supposedly going to Ellensburhg, but it ended up going to Selah instead, and then we had to go back to Selah after we'd eventually set off for Ellensburgh and change buses for reasons no one seemed to be able to explain. We were all too tired to bother much. Hey, we were sat down in comfy seats after all, but there was a lot of discontented grumbling going on for a while. This is a great marathon, well worth it and a genuine treat. I'll be back on this course again next year, hopefully to finish under 4 hours this time.

This was my first marathon, so I don't have anything to compare it to. However, I cannot imagine a better-organized race. From packet pick-up to the pasta dinner (a dirt-cheap $7) to the course and the finish, everything was smooth and efficient, and incredibly friendly. They also go out of their way to welcome first-time marathoners - they put a special sticker on your bib, and at all the aid stations the volunteers shout out extra encouragement. Plus at the awards ceremony all the first-timers get a special certificate. The course is absolutely gorgeous, but be ready for the big hill at the end - I was glad to have done some hill training. It is a closed course, so there aren't spectators other than at the start and finish. But the aid station volunteers make up for it with their enthusiasm. Next year, I'll be back.

First of all, THANK YOU to MarathonGuide.com for terrific information regarding this and other small races around the country. Without the runner comments from past events, it would be much harder to get reliable information about these types of races. I relied on the information posted for the last few years to make my decision to run Yakima - and I was not disappointed. This is one of the best races in the country - large or small. Terrific organization, great course, good pre- and post-race festivities, and excellent on-course support. This is a great race to check out - especially for 50-Staters.

Nothing negative can be said about this event. It has everything. If you enjoy running, you will enjoy this marathon. It will always be one of my favorites!