Tacoma City Marathon - Race Reviews

This is my third time in a row running this race. A great change that started last year, is that there was shelter near the start. Another good thing is that there is free parking during packet pickup and near where you take the shuttle. The course is similar to the last two time I ran this race. Some cool parts include running on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, through Point Defiance, and near the water on Point Ruston. There are only 9 aide stations, so make sure to drink more water when it's available if it is the same in the future. If I were to make suggestions for improvement, I would add more aide stations and add more porto potties at the stations. I think there were maybe one or two porto potties for some of the aide stations, and it can be annoying to have to wait in line if you're chasing a time goal. If you run this race, make sure you do some hill work in your training.

There was no expo for this race. There was nothing really exciting about packet pickup. We just went to the Silver Cloud Hotel and picked up our packets at a table. I did wish there was more to it to get people more excited about the race. On race day I went to Point Ruston to catch the bus to take me to the start. Since I am local, I knew the parking situation there and didn't really want to deal with paying for several hours for parking. Street parking is actually quite limited and one does have to pay for the parking spots outside of the lot. I think an improvement would be if the race could have more detailed information on parking, and could work out a discount or free parking for participants. The bus ride was fine. Got to the race start early. It was cold and raining, and I was with a group of people trying to stay warm under a shelter. The race itself was fun. It's a lot more dense until the half marathoners separate out. There are some great views, such as running on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, around Point Defiance, and along Point Ruston. I wouldn't recommend going out too fast initially because it is quite hilly. Also, it might be a good idea to carry some water. Not sure if there was a mistake, or there was a shortage of volunteers, but there was no aid station until around mile 8. It was consistent from then on. But 8 miles without an aid station is not good. Although it was cold and rainy at the start, it dried up and warmed up. It was sunny at the end. Great thing is that there are a lot of food options at Point Ruston to choose from after the race.

We had a chilly morning for the start and no place warm to wait, but there were lots of porta potties and there was never a long line! The course was more challenging than I anticipated, but yet it was very scenic. Even though there weren't a lot of spectators for much of it, the ones out in the neighborhoods were awesome and encouraging. We were fortunate that the weather was absolutely perfect for a marathon this year. I got a room at the Holiday Inn Express which was an easy walk to the bus pick up and from the finish line. The room was clean, well-equipped, and spacious. The staff were helpful and friendly. They even gave us a 2:00 pm checkout time. I would highly recommend it to anyone running this event! Even though this was a relatively small event, it was well organized and I enjoyed it very much.

I registered for this race because of the Marathon Maniac 10th Anniversary. I have been a Maniac since 2004 so it was special. This was a beautiful course, hilly in the first half but once we reached the park it was downhill for at least 5 miles. The park was amazing, cool and shady. The last 5 miles or so was on the waterfront. The traffic control on this course was superb. The police not only did a great job but were supportive and friendly. Nearly all the road crossings were manned by the police and I never had to wait once. The highways we ran along were deserted so never once did I have to worry about traffic. Spectators were sparse but very supportive in the nice neighbourhoods we ran through. The aid stations were excellent with plenty of supplies and some had cookies and brownies. The young people that were working at them were super. The expo was very small and there could have been more porto potties at the start. Tacoma was a great city to visit, loved the glass museum and the glass bridge. Marathon hotel was excellent with a very good marathon rate. Overall an excellent race with friendly people. I would definitely do it again. Well done Maniac Tony!

Tacoma is not San Francisco, but it's a pleasant city with the Chihuly Glass Museum, a long waterfront, a beautiful penisula park. The latter two are part of the course, which is much more fun and beautiful than the previous version. Organized by Maniac Marathoners, there's a fine tone of marathon enjoyment and caring organization to the run. Only negatives: very slim expo; the bus shuttle logistics need to be on the map/marathon info handout; and the marathon-expo-hotel refused to provide late check out??????

First time running Tacoma this year (2012). Mostly ran it because I too am a Maniac and i live just up I-5. The hilly course was a concern so I stuck with the 4hr pacers (who were really great) for about half the race. Left them at 19 and ran my first negative split!! The hills were not as bad as I expected and a nice to chat more than normal. If you want a small, some hills, super friendly fellow runners filled race, try this race. Tony, I hope the rumors to change the course to p2p and faster are not true. Leave the course as is. Finish area, enjoyed the band, the food and SUNSHINE.

This is a marathon not to be missed. The weather was as superb as anyone could want for marathon running. Early morning clouds and not too warm sunshine thereafter. Well organized with great support along the way, adequate water stops, generous energy gel provided (at least three on the marathon course), gorgeous views through much of the first two-thirds including water, a lovely park, an island and a spectacular bridge lookout. The expo was fine but I couldn't find any last minute running items like GU but as it turned out, it wasn't even necessary given the generous amount of sport drink and gel on course. It is great when my only complaint for a race was one turn when I had to hesitate because I could have gone two different ways and there was no arrow or marking...but no big deal as I could see others as soon as I turned the corner. Thanks for the great race!

I had been looking forward to the race because I love being a member of the Marathon Maniacs. Unfortunately, this is the ugliest marathon I have done yet. There are miles of beautiful roads in Tacoma, and yet for several miles we ran next to a very busy freeway. I don't want to think about how much exhaust fumes I inhaled. I will definitely avoid this marathon until they figure out a better run.

This is a great race - for 2011, we had perfect weather and spectacular views along the hilly but manageable course. The organization was fantastic and the pacers were great, as were the uniquely shaped medals. They also had the half marathoners start a half-hour later than the full marathoners, so there was nice separation, and the course was not too crowded for the first few miles. The spectators toward the end (in the neighborhood right before the downhill) were fantastic - right when you needed it! My only (tiny) gripe was that the shirt is short-sleeved, which means I won't wear it much (you can tie a long-sleeved one around your waist...).

I am a Soldier in the Army recently stationed here in Washington and I had a blast on this run. The weather turned out to be great and the route offered nice surroundings as well as a challenge with the hills. Tacoma city's finest did a great job offering traffic support. I found this event to be well organized and I plan to participate in 2012 as well. I commend the people behind the scenes that did a awesome job putting this event together. The whole experience was enjoyable.

This is a tough, hilly course. It is character-building. The organization was great. This course is a must for Marathon Maniacs. We had a lot of fun before, during, and after the race. A big thanks for putting on a sterling marathon!!

This was the 4th annual Tacoma City Marathon, and there are clear signs that this is a young race. The course has a lot of attractive sections, especially along the bay and in Pt. Defiance Park. It also has the feel of someone's favorite running route rather than a marathon course. There are too many turns early in the race and some narrow sections. Course support was good. The expo was very small. You did not feel like stopping at the vendor's booths because of the people walking by to pick up their race packets. The race shirt was one size too small. I think a lot of people had exchanged their shirts already, because I had to keep the size I ordered. Too bad, because it was a quality fabric with a nice design. Tacoma is an average race - not great, but not bad either.

Difficult course with some wind along I-5, but Point Defiance is a great section of the run. Overall, a great, very fun marathon that I would recommend to everyone.

I have lived in Washington for almost my entire life, and I did not realize how beautiful Tacoma is. The course took us through some beautiful old parts of the city, along the water, through parks with gorgeous views, and yes, over some REALLY TOUGH HILLS!! The expo was small, but nice, and there was plenty of street parking the morning of the event. The starting area was well stocked with porta-potties - no waiting. It was fun to see the maniac pacers get out of the limo, and to hear the national anthem before we started. There were not a ton of spectators, but those that were there were wonderful. I LOVED the lady who popped up every few miles along the course to cheer us on. I was hurting around mile 22, but then at mile 24 someone said, "It's all downhill from here!" And it was. The finish was incredible, with lots of early finishers standing there, cheering us slower ones on. Post-race food was okay; it is the only thing I would improve on. I know some people like pizza, but I don't think I could have kept it down. More fruit next year? This was so much fun. I even PR'd on this challenging course. I'll be back!

The course was good, but I was disappointed with the expo and medal - as well as the attitude I got at the marathon packet pick-up station for trying to exchange a shirt that was too small. Positives: 1. The marathon course was nice, with a good mix of the city. I enjoyed running along the sound and in the park. The course was not as hilly I as thought it was going to be. 2. Traffic control was awesome. My hat off to Tacoma's finest for keeping the roads safe throughout the course. 3. The water stops were well stocked with water and GU. They all did a great job. 4. The weather was awesome. Perfect for a marathon. 5. The spaghetti dinner was fun and Dick Beardsley was awesome. Negatives: 1. The medal was really small!! At first I thought it was for the relay runners until I asked another marathoner if it was the right medal. In seeing photos of medals from other years, I'm really disappointed with the marathon medal for this year. The half marathon medal actually looked nicer then the full marathon medal. 2. The expo was really small and most of the vendors didn't seem to care to even be there. The packet pick-up people were really rude, when I tried to exchange a shirt that was too small. 3. The host hotel tacked on an extra $43 in taxes to my already high rate. Be warned, it will be $172 and not the $139 host rate as advertised. All in all, it was an OK marathon, but I'll probably not be back.

I really enjoyed running this marathon. There were so many volunteers cheering on the runners and so many spectators there to support us and do the same. The views through Tacoma were great. I grew up in the area, so I was excited to have my first marathon experience here at home. I couldn't have asked for a better 26.2 miles. With the combination of the course and the people, I'd be happy to do it again next year!

Perfect weather, incredible views! The early start was very appreciated (no lines at the porta-potties). Glad I was ready for the hills. Best part was the stretch through Pt. Defiance Park. I even enjoyed the miles along I-5; it was scenic and close to the finish. Volunteers were treated well (great jackets) and took good care of us. Spectators were sparse, but cheered for everyone. This is a must-do for any Maniac.

This race isn't so big that you have to fight your way forward and isn't so small that you get lost. The hilly course winds around the Puget Sound's second-largest city. It features views of Puget Sound, a wooded section around Point Defiance Zoo, one echo-filled tunnel, cherry blossoms and antique houses, and a fast downhill finish. Volunteers line the course in a manner suggesting there was a special sale at Central Casting, including several groups in costume. For such a small race, the number of volunteers is impressive. And finally, as icing on the cake, there was pizza at the finish.

I flew in from St. Louis and the entire week before, I kept checking the forecast to hear about rain, wind, etc. Even after I arrived on Saturday, rain was still in the forecast. However, Sunday morning was BEAUTIFUL: 50 degrees, mostly sunny, and a mild breeze. I'm so glad that the weathermen were wrong. As a 5-hourish marathoner with a plane to catch, I opted for the early start with probably 50 or so others, most of whom were faster than I am. The male winner ran by me about the 12-mile mark, and the 4-ish hour runners were near me at the end - and that really motivated me to try to "look good." I am also hoping that the photographer took a picture of me at the finish with the time clock showing an hour less than I took - lol. I was also pleasantly surprised to find the course less hilly than I expected and the last almost 2 miles were almost totally gentle downhills - love that. Very nice race. Would definitely consider doing again after I knock off the remaining 37 states I have left to hit 50.

Boy, the weather was beautiful for this one! The previous night was stormy and rainy, but by Sunday it was clear and sunny. This was my first marathon (so I don't have a good frame of reference in terms of course difficulty), but I felt taken care of from start to finish. And those Maniacs did an awesome job pacing!

This was marathon No. 16 for me and one of my most favorites. I took it slow, since I had just run Boston, but I really loved the course. Sure, it's hilly as advertised, but I found that I preferred the uphills, given that I had trashed my quads in Boston. Still, if you live in the Seattle area, the hills aren't anything you're not used to. I hesitate to give only 3 stars for spectators since that certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment. But if you're looking for lots of crowd support, it's probably not the race for you. However, if you're looking for tons of VOLUNTEER support, then this race truly delivers. Plenty of aid/port-o-potties along the course. And speaking of the course, can you say "breathtaking?" Mind you, we were blessed with perfect running weather (it had been threatening to rain all week, yet on race day we had cool temps with blue skies with a few clouds). But the scenery was spectacular. I'll definitely run this race again.

Perhaps it was having to endure the "aroma of Tacoma" as a kid, or watching too many episodes of "Almost Live," but my opinion going into this race wasn't the best. After all, it is Tacoma. I was wrong. This was the second year for this race, which consist of a full and half marathons, along with a 10K. I was able to get on-street parking (I got there about 6:00) a block away from the convention center (packet pick-up, finish line and plenty of real bathrooms), and about 6 blocks from the start line (which is where marathon pickup was at). The race start times are staggered by 30 minutes, so most full and half participants will not be passing one another (the full and half share the first 8 1/2 miles and the last 100 yards). The weather was just about ideal, as it was cloudy/overcast, with a starting temperature of about 48. There were sprinkles a few times during the race, but nothing significant. While running past Stadium HS (~mile 4), several were commenting that there would be a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier, had it been clear. The marathon meanders for about 4 miles around downtown, then makes a counter-clockwise loop around the city. The race starts by heading south for about a mile, fairly flat, then turns to head north one block over. The block between makes you realize that this is not going to be a flat race. There are several hills, but if you live in the Puget Sound area, you've already trained for that. As with 99% of races, the volunteers were wonderful and law enforcement great. I didn't see any significant instances of frustrated drivers being stuck due to runners (the first miles were early enough that there wasn't much traffic - Ruston Way was pretty much closed to traffic - and when it was time to re-enter traffic, runners were spaced out to allow auto traffic through). If you are looking to do a race in either Seattle or Tacoma, do this one (Yakima in early April is the one to do, if you don't mind driving farther). This "felt" like a race for runners. The Maniacs and company run (no pun intended) a first-class event. Perhaps the best part was heading to Frisco Freeze after the finish and un-doing all the good for my body that I had done that morning. (Frisco Freeze is Tacoma's version of Dick's Drive In, but greasier. Growing up, my grandparents lived 2 blocks away, so it is amazing my heart made it past 12 years.) Frisco Freeze is at Division and L (3 blocks from where the route goes through Wright Park).

This was a very well staged event, on an interesting and challenging course.The weather was perfect for running a marathon; starting around 48 degrees and rising very little during the race.The course was well staffed with volunteers and drink stations. I especially liked the bright yellow mile marker signs, which were easy to spot from a distance. I would have to rank this as one of my favorite marathons, even though I have run much faster at other places.

I'd never been to Tacoma so wasn't sure what to expect. I really like the variety of the scenery throughout. We ran through downtown, along the river, through beautiful Defiance Park, neighborhoods, and along a super smooth bike path to finish. Great! Kept my mind busy since there wasn't much crowd support. However, I liked the more peaceful journey without all the hubbub. Small race made it super easy run your pace right from the beginning. No starting line chaos. Parked on the street nearby so I could walk to and from the start/finish with ease. Awesome! Volunteers at the aid stations were wonderful! Great to have 3 different GU stations along the way so that I didn't have to carry any nutrition. Love that! Only 2 suggestions for improvement: the race packets for the morning of were not at the expo site, as advertised. Since we parked near the expo, we had to walk all the way to the start line to get our numbers and then back to our car and back to start line to run. So better pre-race communication on that would've been good. Also, the awards for the women's race were improperly distributed and still haven't been sorted out (two weeks later). Most people could care less though, I'm sure! :) I would definitely recommend this race to others with fair warning that the hills are very, very challenging. It reminded me of Boston - my quads were sore for a week after!

I loved this course; it was a bit difficult, but the day was perfect and the scenery and atmosphere just seemed right. The maniacs were out in full force and had pacers for those wanting a certain time, which was a nice touch. There are many marathons in Washington state, but I have to put this one at or near the top of my favorites. The volunteers were wonderful and they gave out Gu, as advertised. Just showing up with running shorts, shirt and shoes is all you need to do, as they take care of you completely from beginning to end!

Listen up!! If Grannie Annie, at age 64 1/2, can do these hills, so can you. The Marathon Maniacs put on one good, challenging race. Thank you for the one-hour early start for us slow pokes. Great medal; great, black, tech, short-sleeve shirt; great directions throughout the course; great traffic control. There's one killer hill just to get your heart rate up, and there are other hills to challenge the muscles. Expo, wonderful: even better. After-race expo is open; baggage pickup, bathrooms, medals - all indoors. This is my 47th state in 50-states quest, and I am very proud to say I came through it just dandy. Tacoma City is a wonderful place to visit.

This is my third half-marathon (the first two being Seattle and Vancouver). The primary reason I chose Tacoma was the proximity to my own home in Port Orchard and the fact that it was on a Saturday. I loved running this course. The hills in downtown were not that bad, especially since they were at the beginning. I enjoyed the historic downtown area and am impressed with how they have cleaned it up. I loved running by Stadium High School and Stadium Bowl. Running down Ruston Way was OK - it would have been nicer on a clear day. I enjoyed the last mile - it was a great challenge. The finish was a bit tight (I squeezed through in an effort to get the best time possible). I don't need big crowds, music at every mile, or some of the other things the bigger city runs have had. My young family was able to get a GREAT spot to watch me round the corner and finish. I thoroughly enjoyed running in Tacoma and there is nothing like that first mile, with so many people of like mind and purpose. I look forward to making this an annual tradition.

Tacoma's Marathon will become a destination for all marathon runners. It is a beautiful course, challenging and fun! It runs along the water, through Point Defiance Park and past the Narrows Bridge... with a great noise distraction between miles 20-23 (Highway 16), and a final mile with a gentle downward slope (with a slight upward hill at the very end). All it needs is to recruit a few more spectators, which will happen in the years to come. Great job, Tacoma... see you next year!

The day was perfect - cool and overcast. Great scenery along Puget Sound and Fort Defiance Park, with flowers and views everywhere. The hills were a challenge, but actually good for the legs and mostly gradual. Most complaints in last year's "comments" were fixed. This was worth traveling up for.

So it was my first-ever half marathon run, and I've never done any type of race before, and it was awesome. I loved the staff - they even had encouraging police. There are several hills, but I loved them; they added to the challenge next year. I would love to try for the full.

This was my first marathon and I really enjoyed it - I am doing it again in 2008. The hills are tough, but if you are a Tacoman you're used to them!

This was the first time I have ever stopped to visit Tacoma and it was a very nice town. Easy packet pickup the morning of race and parking near the finish. With my key tied on my shoe I could finish the race, grab a water, hop in the car, and head back to Portland. Small field made some of the would-be organizational errors small (e.g. bathrooms in front of start line?). Course was lovely, especially miles 1-18 out around Point Defiance. I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed discovering some great parts of Tacoma. I could only complain about a very tough stretch mentally between 20-23 (tough miles anyway). It was straight along a bike path near the freeway... very little scenery and endless pavement visible to the front. A long downhill finish partially made up for this and gave me some momentum back. Overall, a fun race, great town, and I would say just the right amount of support. I appreciated the fact that I could run alone (no runners or support staff) for a few miles of the race.

I ran the Tacoma City Marathon as my third marathon. I had a great run and highly recommend this event. The middle third of the course is quite hilly and the runner needs to be prepared. Things I liked: The diverse scenery along the course The many, enthusiastic volunteers Nice shirt Things I did not like: Very little selection of food at the finish line No space blankets at the finish Few spectators along the course The fact that the race was held on Mother's Day (changed for 2008)

Although I've lived in Tacoma for 16 years, I never would have seen this part of it unless I did it while completing a marathon, and nice it was. The course was somewhat hilly, and I expected as much. The police were right there controlling traffic at the intersections and encouraging us on; I even got to high-five one of them. The locals showed up at various locations throughout the course and were loud, and loud is good. Only challenging things were: no space blankets post-race on a chilly day (but how were the organizers to know about the ever-changing Northwest weather?); and having to run on a Sunday. Oops! Scratch that last comment. I noticed the 2008 version is scheduled for Saturday. How sweet it is!

I thought this was a really nice course as far as the scenery. Not a ton of spectators, but the ones who came out were quite spirited.

I ran the half marathon course and thought it was great. The only improvements I would like to see: 1) A starting banner. 2) Bathrooms not in front of starting line. 3) Separate the half runners after the turn-around on Ruston Way from the runners headed north on Ruston. 4) For the money, all I got was a cotton shirt. Need to upgrade the shirt.

This was my first marathon and I loved it. I actually didn't notice the hills that much just because it was challenging in general, being my first. I loved the fact that there were not that many people running and you didn't have to fight people for a patch of pavement. No bottlenecks! Least favorite thing: the last few miles that run right next to I-5 are torturous. It's a nice path, but after running 20 miles you'd rather be in the trees than sucking on fumes. Other than that, it was a beautiful course. Definitely will do it again!