Green River Marathon - Race Reviews

First off, a FREE marathon in a beautiful location is unbeatable! Thanks to the director for putting this together! And this year, what a surprise... we received a medal as we finished!!! That was a huge perk! The first half was on a beautiful and quiet trail, but with little shade. Second half was through some industrial parts of the town, neighborhoods and then along Marginal Way, a busy road heading to the waterfront trail. This is the only spot I got confused with the race course. Everything was very well marked, but around mile 20 is when i somehow missed an arrow and ended up running into tall grass and railroad tracks. knew I was close but ended up finding the course at mile 21. The last 5 miles heading toward Alki were more populated, partly because it was a beautiful 88 degree day, but made for good distraction to the finish. This was by far my worst finishing time for a marathon, but that was due to an injury.. but it allowed me to take in all the sights and smile at the finish line on a beautiful California-ish beach setting! There were many 50 staters running this race, and its a great choice for Washington... only 1 hill that I can recall!!! Great for such a hilly area.

Wow, a free marathon. Lots of credit must go to the organizers and volunteers who put on this Boston-qualifier race. Money they make from t-shirt sales and donations goes to charity. The running community should get together and create more of these type of races. The course starts out running along a river in a beautiful forest. There is a middle section along busy roads and in an industrial area but the finish is along the water with a spectacular view of downtown Seattle. Not a lot of crowd support, but the volunteers outdo themselves cheering and the people who are coincidentally along the course (running, biking, etc.) could not be nicer!

This was a great low key no frills marathon. i don't have anything negative to say about it. Good organization, plenty of fluid stations, friendly volunteers, sufficient number of portapotties in the parks along the course and a well marked course made this a wonderful run. I prefer the smaller marathons and this was perfect. I found several runners along the way running close to my pace and talked to some very friendly people. I am from Cincinnati and will definitely do this one again. I did not run the full 26.2 but ran 19 as I was using this as a training run for a marathon in July.

I would highly recommend lots of people for this marathon if it is your first one. The marathon is free which is great and the aid stations had people keep waiting until people up to 8 hours were still going. This was my first marathon at the age of 13 and finishing at the beach was nice with the restaurant close by at the end.

A nice, low-key run with friends, and you definitely get more than you pay for. Many kudos to the race director for his efforts and generosity. I was surprised at the number of people who ran this as a first marathon, but it makes sense if you want to avoid the hassle and distractions from a larger event. I would definitely do this race again and recommend it to friends. No complaints, so here are some observations. 1. The aid stations were enthusiastic and had plenty of water and Gatorade for a warm June day, but they did not have any gels or other foods. (Since the RD is already shelling out for the drinks, it would get pretty expensive for him as the race gains in popularity.) So, just know you have to carry your own if you want Gu. 2. A very nice, flat course. One short but steep hill at mile 13ish. I think I lost about 20 or 30 seconds at traffic lights, but I wasn't really keeping track. The Army Corps of Engineers should be removing the sand bags that are currently along the original race course, so hopefully it will revert back to that course for 2012, because the river views were beautiful. It would also do away with the traffic lights on the first half of the course. 3. Obviously no spectators to speak of, apart from about ten people who would drive from aid station to aid station. But they were great. 4. There are no medals for this race, but don't let that stop you if you're big into medals. Go down to the beach, grab a sea shell and write GRM 20** on it and tie a string around it. Or do like me and laminate your Spud's receipt and hang it on the wall. 5. I wanted to run this race by feel and forget about my time, so I left my watch at home. Not a big deal, until I crossed the finish line and the guy with the clip board asked, 'So, what was your time?' Thanks, Steve, for a great run. I'll be back.

If you enjoy running and want a marathon with no hassles and yet a great experience, this marathon is for you. I discovered this marathon while looking for a marathon to run in Washington and highly recommend it. There are no bibs, timing chips, finisher medals, or big expo. You had the option to order a shirt for $15, and the shirt was a really nice tech shirt. You get to run mostly on pretty trails and get great views of Mt. Ranier and Seattle. There were adequate aid stations with water and gatorade. I carried my own bottle since it was a hot day and the volunteers were more than happy to fill my bottle at each aid station. I stayed at the host hotel ( great value)and walked to the start. As Steve the race director promised, I easily found a ride back to the hotel afterwards. There are many positives about this race: it's free, the race director is awesome, the volunteers are fantastic, you get to meet a lot of wonderful people, the course itself is scenic, and there were NO hassles. The only negative is that there are no police at intersections, which means you will spend time waiting for traffic lights. For me this was not a big deal, but if you really care about having a longer race time because of the stops then this may not be the race for you. This race is meant to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience and you will not be disappointed. You will pay a lot of money to run in other marathons, but will not get the relaxed and fun atmosphere of this race. Thank you Steve for organizing this FREE event and doing such a great job! It is truly a marathon to run just for the enjoyment of running. I will be back!

A well-organized, fun event. I only have good things to say about the Green River Marathon and a few of the main points are: o Great group of volunteers and organizers o Mostly flat course, well-marked o It's free! o Finishes in a beautiful settings I'll hope to be able to run this again next year.

Great weather, great staff, and all in all, an awesome day to run. I had quit smoking a year and a half before this race, and I tried one down here in Bakersfield and bonked at 22. I trained for 16 more weeks, missed the registration for the R'n'R Seattle, and decided to do this one. I could not have made a better move, actually. A small race with a great crowd. The only downside for me was stopping at traffic lights for cars - "bad knees."

No matter how many marathons you may have run - and I had run 38 in four continents before this - the Green River Marathon has to rank among the top five on any runner's list for several reasons: 1. It's absolutely free. That in itself makes it unique. Incomparable. 2. The best bargain for an official hotel. It costs only $62.00 per night plus tax for a room with a king bed, microwave, fridge, TV that offers up to channels in the 900's, no line-ups at check-in and check-out and is within half a mile from the start line. You can't feel more at home than staying at a hotel where the manager has done this race a few times herself. 3. No bibs. You design your own number - which is assigned before the run - on your leg however artistically you want with a marker. You get to keep your design as a souvenir for the next three days before it's washed out. 4. No mile markers anywhere on the course. Instead of a deterrent, it keeps the mind focused and actually makes the run seem shorter because before you know it, you've already run another three miles as you arrive at the next water station. 5. Most helpful volunteers. I never used my phone during my runs. This time, I had to borrow a cell phone from a volunteer to call my wife, who was supposed to hook up with me at every water station in our family car. I lost her at mile 7 and I was starting to worry. The volunteer at mile 10 had no hesitation in letting me use his phone even after I told him that this was a long distance call outside the U.S. Minutes later, my wife reunited with me. After that, it was just a breeze. 6. A most personable Director. Steve Barrick did everything to ensure that everyone enjoyed his party. He punctually arrived at the "expo" at 6 p.m. and was the last to leave at 8. He answered every question you could think of, always with a smile and good humor. He even ran the race and greeted every finisher after him at the finish line. I haven't written any reviews in 15 years since I ran in Kathmandu and Canberra. Steve's organizational skills and personality speak volumes. 7. A stunning view of the Seattle skyline. You don't even get that from running the Seattle marathon. The last mile or two was so refreshing that it made me forget that I had been running for five hours already. 8. Reliable aid stations. Even a straggler like me never had to worry about having no water to drink or cups to drink from at any of the nine stations. The best part of it all was that I never saw or smelled any nail polish. 9. Late start. The official start at 8:30 was the second latest for me - still 3 1/2 hours earlier than the noon start of the Swiss Alps marathon. And if you arrive the night before, that means you don't have to wake up at 4 or 5 on race day. I had the option of starting an hour early, but I decided to join the big party at the official start because, after all, this WAS a party - Steve's free party. 10. The finish line. No fanfare. No timer. Just a 2-foot line marked by colored chalk on the sidewalk of southern California-like Alki Beach. This is no mirage. To me, it's the most fitting crescendo to another magical journey.

I have run this marathon twice, and each time i have been very pleased with the course and the volunteers. Plenty of aid stations and crowd to keep you motivated. If you want to run a marathon, but without all of the glitz and glamor of the big-city marathons, then this one is for you.

As I was looking through Marathon Guide's race schedule for a race to run, I came across the Green River Marathon. I was curious about this since I had never been to Washington State before and I just happened to be going to the area for work that same week. I emailed the race director the week before the race. It was as if he had auto reply on. He confirmed my status right away. As the race date came closer, logistics started getting harder for me. I could not make it to the start line. I notified the race director of my situation. So what does he do? He arranges transportation for me to the start - free. Still being skeptic of what was to come (it was a free race - what can you expect?), I was going to carry my own aid. I was reassured that there were 10 fully loaded aid stations on the course. He was not kidding. The volunteers were better than I have seen at most of my 34 previous marathons. The finish of this race is in Alki, WA. Again, of all the finish lines I have seen from past races, never have I seen a better place. A beautiful beach with lots of places to eat, etc. Let me recap: free entry, free transportation, free aid and get this - it is even a certified Boston marathon course. Runners were qualifying for Boston without paying a cent. I tip my hat to the race directors. So why do races cost up to $100+ dollars? You would be crazy not to consider doing this one in the future - definitely a five-star event.

I'll be the first to comment on the 2009 race. This was my first marathon. Though I live in NY, I have been a bit intimidated by the NYC Marathon and wanted to try something low-key. And the GRM is low-key! The comments from prior years drew me here, what with the flat course, helpful volunteers, and pretty vistas [along the river, finishing along the beach, excluding the industrial parks!). Thanks to Steve and the volunteers, it was a wonderful experience.

This is a low-key, friendly race that is a heck of a lot of fun. It a flat, fast course; everyone is a volunteer; and both the runners and organizers support it simply because they obviously just enjoy running on a Saturday morning with friends. The course can be a little confusing and could use a few more directional markers, but overall, a great day of running.

This was a free marathon put on entirely by volunteers. Great job! The course is generally along the Green and Duwamish Rivers, before the rivers empty into Elliott Bay/Puget Sound, with the last couple of miles run along the shoreline. The Green River Marathon and the United Way Run (UWR) use the exact same course, the latter race being held in the Autumn. We were told to follow the UWR pavement markings, and it worked remarkable well. After reviewing the satellite map, I was certain that I would get lost. At a couple of places where routing was questionable or poorly marked a race official was posted to help guide the runners. The course could stand to be re-marked before next year, as some of the existing markings are well worn and faded, and a couple of transitions could be marked better. The race started in the southern part of Kent (where the parking lot was small for the anticipated 175 runners) and basically followed the river, ending up in West Seattle. There were a couple of neighborhoods to go through and along an industrial dock area north of the West Seattle Freeway. There were aid stations at adequate intervals, all staffed by friendly and enthusiastic volunteers - younger and older - willing to be of service to the runners. And they did a great job! GU was available at two different water stops, spaced into the middle of the course. Bathrooms were available about every 5 miles. There were two short hills later in the course, one of which was kind of steep. Otherwise, it was quite flat. Once past the industrial area, running along Harbor Avenue, it was quite spectacular looking across Elliott Bay at Ballard, downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, the sailboats, cargo ships, ferries, and cruise ships; also, people and pets enjoying the waterfront. After a span along the waterfront, the finish line was a welcome sight, and food and drink available from area vendors. The weather cooperated too. It was overcast and in the upper 50's. There were several minutes of misty Seattle-type rain later in the course, but it did not last very long. It was a very pleasant event. I was concerned that mileage markers were not used, but it was not as bad as I though it would be without them. Though I have not run the same marathon twice (yet), I would consider running this race again next year. It was a great event, and very worthwhile. Thanks to Race Director Steve Barrick and the host of volunteers who stepped up to help out.

This was a beautiful course for the most part. You guys did a fine job putting it together. The temperature was a little warm and I was a little tired, but I look forward to running this with a fresh set of legs next time.

Steve Barrick and company did a wonderful job putting this event together. The course was friendly even though the temperature was not so friendly as the day progressed; however, the breeze off the beach made it pleasant to the finish line. The aid stations were well-stocked and well-staffed and came at the right time. The spectators didn't even know they were witnessing a marathon - they just showed up naturally and did their own thing. The post-race informal festivities were memorable. Where else could I have had lunch with three race directors - Bob and Lenore Dolphin, and Steve Barrick? To top it off, this marathon qualified me to join the Marathon Maniacs! Mahalo Steve. Mahalo Ma and Pa Dolphin for the lunch. Mahalo Regina, for volunteering. Mahalo to all you happy volunteers. Mahalo to the photographers. What a weekend!

Right from the start in a quite little roadside park I knew that this was going to be fun! Everyone was friendly and excited about the run on an almost perfect day... I ran with M. F. from Texas in the lead pack on the early start. We had a lot of fun! Winding along side of Green River, over pedestrian bridges, around baseball fields, through industrial areas, then to the ocean (or bay, or sound, or whatever!) :) We ran along the water with the Seattle skyline in the backdrop. The run finishes right across from Spuds Fish and Chips where the runners gathered afterward for some food and drink. Next time, I'll stick around and eat at Spuds! M.F. and I had to boogey to the next race, so we missed the post-race frivolity! Thank you, RD Steve, and all the volunteers (and my running partners!). You all made the run great!

My second time to run this race. Enjoyed it even more than last year! The aid stations are great - they had GU at 2 of them this year. The organizers clearly get joy from what they do. You can feel it! Wonderful assortment of runners. I look forward to next year!

This was a nice course mostly along a river or the ocean. You do have to transition from the river to the ocean, so you have to leave the flat river, and cross over a hill and industrial area to get over to the flat ocean shore. But for the money, you can't beat this course! A group was allowed an offical early start... that makes a small race even smaller, but the race started so late that I needed the early start to get to my next event. Unfortunately the early start meant that you were out before the rest stops and before the people that knew the course. I carried a bottle of water... a real lifesaver there! Our group had a great time - we were the lead group of the early start so we had no one to follow. We'd stop and all consult on where to go. It was just so much fun... we had some relay runners with us so we changed our relay runners out ever couple of miles. When we did hit rest stops, they were well stocked. I loved the watermelon! A shirt was offered for purchase. What a great deal! It was a very nice shirt with a great colorful design... and it was a whopping $12! What a great deal! I'd say that this was a fun event, decent course... only a couple of rough spots and token hill or two to keep this from being totally flat. Now being "lost" with the early start group made this race an adventure. It would be much easier to run if you could follow someone that was from the area, but I am living proof that you can find your way with aid of the course running directions.

My 2nd time to run this marathon. I love it even more! The organizers continue to do a great job and clearly love what they do - it shows. The aid stations were even better. They had GU at 2 of them! Wonderful assortment of runners from all walks of life(excuse the pun). Look forward to next year.

This is a low-key, well organized event. No race numbers, and no entry fees, but great aid stations and lots of fun. I was amazed that every aid station featured water and sports drink (remember, the entry fee is $0). There was even one station with Gu. I had to stop and check my directions four times, but did not get lost. The weather was warm for Seattle (70s) and the course may have been a bit long (or I just had a slow day). I would definitely do it again.

You can tell that the race directors of this event really care about having a fun atmosphere for runners. It is about friends getting together to push each other through a full marathon or relay teams of any size and ability that can come out to experience the fun as well without feeling pressure of "a big marathon event." These guys do a great job.

This marathon encourages participation of all types of runners, including relay teams, first-timers and old pros. Friendly atmosphere with well-placed/stocked aid stations and a festive finish.

very small and low key. you need a copy of the race course in hand or u will get lost as i did-3 times but it just added to the ambiance of my 1st marathon.the aid stations are EXCELLENT!!! as are the race organisers. u can tell this is a labor of love. will do it again.