Capital City Marathon - Race Reviews

Very well organized race, rolling hills with their own version of heartbreak hill around 22 I think. Decently scenic course (if you like woods/forest/occasional water mixed with more urban at the beginning and end). Lots of turns but well marked and volunteers at every turn to point you where to go. As mentioned in another review, half marathon started 45 minutes later which was nice for a less congested start. Aid stations about every two miles which made planning very easy. Good post race food (pizza, fruit, etc.). Not a lot of crowds early, but two or three house parties after mile 20 were pretty cool. Most of the roads are minimally closed/controlled before getting back into Olympia proper. Nice smaller race if you need a Washington marathon.

I was pleasantly surprised by this marathon! The race management did a fantastic job and I believe they must all be runners as they executed on the things that runners care about. The expo was a nice size in a park so folks could spread out. Race start and finish festivities were at the same park. I don't always opt for the pre-marathon pasta dinner but did for this one and am glad I did. The only feedback I could offer is that I eat later and the dinner was scheduled to end at 7 but they were shutting food down at 6:30. Thankfully I got there 'early' (for me) and was able to get some of the scraps. The catering staff was very nice and the setting was interesting and beautiful as they had it at a legislative building, so I understand why they couldn't have the event for more than 2 hours. COURSE: My mistake but I found myself surprised by the hills. But this being said, it was my fault, and the course was very pretty. The hills were genuinely rolling so they weren't terrible, but they were definitely there. Also relating to the course, they started the half marathon people 45 minutes later which helped spread people out. Great approach! I ran into some of them during the last few miles but this timing made the marathon feel like the main event and I enjoyed not running those first few miles with fresh-legged half marathoners. Nothing against them, but it makes it more of a mental game to slow down and stick to your 26.2 pace. I wish more marathons came up with a strategy like this. SWAG: For some reason, the last few marathons I've done have had some sad shirts and things. Not the case here! Great shirt. Really nice job on the shirt and the medal was also nice. Post-race food was nice and varied - salty, sweet, and things in between. Aid stations on course were all well stocked and at the right increments (approx every 2 miles). Lots of wonderful volunteers all weekend! This was a pleasant run, and the race management did a great job. This race has been running for 35 years and it's easy to see why- I am sure they will keep going for many more years and I hope to return. It was nice traveling to a marathon and town that gets things right!

This was my first Capital City Marathon and I enjoyed it. The scenery surpassed my expectations, as did the wonderfully supportive volunteers and community members who came to cheer. It is a small marathon, mostly on rolling country roads, but the people who came out and fellow runners were awesome. The course is challenging, beautiful and very well organized.

Very well organized, nice small race (I heard about 300 marathoners, 2000 half marathoners, but it looked a little bigger to me). Nice long sleeve hoodie for participants, and decent medal. Easy street parking, plenty of chemical bathrooms, excellent aid stations, plenty of food at the finish (pizza, chocolate milk, fruit, bagels with peanut butter and Nutella), free massage with little wait. Downhill finish is great, I was flying even after struggling for a few miles. I am a 'flatlander', so the hills took a toll on my legs. It was harder than any of my previous 63 marathons. For comparison, it is harder than Austin or Waco, TX. But I enjoyed it overall and I would do it again.

Huge pluses: The marathon and half-marathon start at different times. The Governor hotel is across the street from the start and finish Packet pick-up available on race morning About 300 marathoners; small enough that you don't spend the first mile in a pack of humanity Also nice: Last couple of miles are downhill Plenty of dinner options within two blocks of hotel/start-finish There is a significant uphill at about mile 23. It's totally doable, but you wouldn't want it to be a surprise.

I really enjoyed this small sized marathon. The hills are spread out throughout the course which I like since it mixes up which leg muscles you are using. The hill from 22-24.5 was a bit much but I liked the downhill finish. The SWAG was great and the volunteers did an amazing job. Not much in the way of fan support but a few energetic fans out there. I would definitely do this race again. I do think the course runs a bit long through by about .2 mi so something to think about if you are close to a goal or BQ.

I enjoyed this run, it takes you through the city first and out to the Eastside with lots of nice views overlooking water, looking at mountains, around very nice neighhborhoods and up some challenging and fun hills. The race food and SWAG was the best I have ever had.

I make this comment after three consecutive years running the course and after consulting with numerous other finishers. The course is long. It is long by almost two tenths. This is based on numerous GPS measurements over years as well. I don't know if this is because of the way the organizers direct runners on race day or what, but it is a significant issue for folks who put in a lot of training and want to run their best possible times. This has been brought to the attention of the organizers, but to my knowledge it has not been taken as seriously as it should be. This is also quite a difficult course, with many hills, so the extra length makes it quite hard to achieve your best possible result. The people who do the race are good folks, though.

Add this race to your list of to do's. You won't be disappointed. A well organized, fair course and great value for money ($75 for the marathon) make this a very worthwhile race. The swag is great, as mentioned in a previous post. A tote bag and running jacket for all the marathoners and a coaster instead of a medal at the end. The race jacket was very handy as the weather conditions were less than ideal this year and I ended up wearing the jacket for the entire race to keep warm. The resolve of the volunteers was impressive given the conditions. Most of them would have stood in the rain for hours and they were upbeat and cheerful. The course has a few hills, but don't let that put you off. It is not as bad as some of the posts would lead you to believe. For every uphill there is a downhill :) You can run a fast race here, just train properly. There are water stops every two miles, all very well stocked and organized. The size of the race is part of the charm. Running in quiet country roads by yourself is very therapeutic.

This was my second CCM & a total change from my previous run. First of all the weather was awful, it was cold & miserably wet. Thankfully it wasn't windy & most of the course is sheltered. However the torrents of rain lead to splashing through many deep puddles or wide detours to avoid them, plus wash outs across the course that had lethally slippy debris such a worms which you simply couldn't avoid all the time. The course itself hasn't changed since 2006 when I last ran it, but what has changed was the 'organization' namely the runner's race packet & finishers area. I don't know when this changed but I hated the fact that there was NO finisher's T shirt & NO finisher's medal. I mean, they're kidding, right? Instead I was given a jacket (despite ordering a 'Size large SHIRT'!!!) of dubious quality & certainly far below the standards of the jackets I've purchased. I gave it away in disgust. Even worse, at the end I was handed the usual water, but they were out of space blankets (a SERIOUS oversight given the awful weather) & what looked like a 30th Anniversary CD or DVD which felt heavy enough to include a medal...this turned out to be a shockingly cheap mug coaster & NO MEDAL! I wasn't the only one wandering around repeatedly asking for their medal & not believing the answers given. I gave my coaster back too & wrote to complain the CCMA. I will also not be running this race again, I consider it an insult not to be offered the traditional rewards for finishing, a T shirt & a medal. On the plus side there was still the pizza for marathon runners but you only get one slice...nice that the staff enforcing this rule were filling their faces with slice after slice. What race did they run I wonder? This made me as mad as hell & simply added to my disgust. Like I said, I won't be doing this run again until runners are treated with a lot more respect.

I enjoy races like the Capital City Marathon: A small race that sticks to the basics and delivers a solid race experience. This year's weather was ideal for running - perfect temperatures and light cloud cover. The course is not fast because of the hills, but there are several scenic sections to enjoy. If you're a fan of rhododendrons, this is the race to run. They were in full bloom throughout the course. Race day organization was good. Water stations were located every two miles and were well staffed. There were even a few fans along the way. The finish area had great food. Nice swag (Stuff We All Get). The backpack, race jacket and coaster are a keeper.

I ran this one as the fifth of a string of spring marathons, and it was easily the most challenging - even more so than Big Sur with its infamous Hurricane Point climb. The hills go on relentlessly! But I appreciated the challenge and the race organizers made everything else easy. Very easy trek to the start - a one-minute trip down the host hotel elevator and then across the street :-); plentiful aid stations and porta-potties; and there were massages at the finish. GREAT race jackets in lieu of the standard shirt. Definitely recommended.

This was my first time running this marathon and it was an excellent experience. I was very impressed with the string backpacks and jackets as well. Great swag. This is a runner's race. The "expo" is minimal. Folks participating were there to run rather than shop. The course moves quickly out of town and into rolling countryside. The hills are definitely challenging but the community really seemed to enjoy sitting at the end of their long country driveways cheering us on. The aid stations were well manned and the volunteers were terrific. Don't miss touring the legislative building at the capitol while you're in town! It's really impressive.

This small field marathon is very well organized. Nice country-view course. However, it's challenging, with rolling hills and one big, mile-long hill at mile 24. Embedded chip on the bib!!! Best goodies: nice jacket, and a ceramic coaster. The half-marathon and 5-mile also offer a nice technical shirt. Note: there's not much spectator support on the course and a pretty lean expo.

This is my hometown marathon, so I may be somewhat biased. I've waited to post this until I ran Boston in 2010 (which I qualified for here), so I'd have something to compare it to. I first ran this race in 2003, before they changed the course. It is much more hilly now. There are rolling hills throughout the majority of the course, with several big dips at about miles 9, 11.5, and 14, which are steeper and shorter than the Newton hills, and one final big climb starting at 22 that is similar to Heartbreak but longer. Crowd support is just like Boston's, except for a thousand times fewer people. :) Actually it's not too bad, at least at the start and finish. There are only 4 recommended viewing sites listed by the organization, the 1st at mile 15, so it's not the greatest course for spectators. With a little planning and a map, though, friends could easily see you at multiple locations. Much of the course is along tree-lined rural roads, with the 1st mile through downtown, and the last 5 mostly through residential neighborhoods before returning downtown. There are a few areas that are quite scenic. Along East Bay Drive from mile 1 to 3 there is a good view of the marina (and the Olympic Mountains on a clear day). Around mile 11, on Zangle Road before the right turn onto 81st, look left through the trees for a nice view of Puget Sound. The Woodard Bay crossing at mile 14.5 is interesting at low tide and quite pretty at high tide. Look left a half-mile from the finish to see the capitol building. At about mile 18, the course meets up with the half-marathon loop, so it becomes much more congested, and you'll be passing a lot of people. There's really plenty of room, though, so it's not that much of a problem. Post-race food is fantastic, about a thousand times better than Boston. If you're a faster runner, you may have to wait a while for the pizza to get there, but it's well worth it!

Overall this marathon has an appealing, small-town charm in the capital of Washington state. It has the beautiful scenery and the rolling hills that one would expect for this part of the country. There were sufficient water/Gatorade stops throughout the race, but the second gel station at the three-hour mark was already depleted by the half marathoners. Support was sporadic, but very encouraging when it was there. The rolling hills during the first half of the race are pretty easy, and you'll appreciate the long downhill section the last mile and a half of the race. They tried to do something different by ordering a rain jacket as the "shirt," but unfortunately they did not order enough extra-larges, so I did not get a jacket, nor an email response from the race director after the race. If you are able pick up your shirt/bib the day before and not race day, do so and you might avoid this difficulty. All things considered, a very good race that I would recommend.

Positive: The race committee and volunteers were great. They were working early morning and after the runners had left the scene. The jacket - or I would call it a shirt with zipper front - was top-class. Post-race food was good. At least pizza was saved for marathon runners. Negative: I was disappointed in the low-functioning air conditioning at the host hotel. My room was in the 80s the evening before and the day and evening after the marathon. I feel that my time would have been much better if I had been able to sleep. The air conditioning issue has been a long-time problem at the hotel. I wish we had been told about this before traveling all the way across the country. Some people who were running the marathon for the first time may have been disappointed that medals were not given. You would think that after running more than 50 marathons that I would skip the pasta dinner the evening before the race. I wish I had.... If I had the opportunity, I would run the marathon again; however, I would not trust the host hotel.

First, positive comments: * The host hotel was just in front of the start/finish line. * The course was between trees, which helped with the heat. * Getting my number (etc.) was fast. Great jacket. * Fans were scarce during the race, but the ones that were there were great. Thanks to the family at mile 20 for the wonderful oranges. Things to improve: * It looked like the course had more hills than advertised. * After I finished the race, I did not know where to go to get some food. It would be helpful to have better communication. * Finally, you always deal with weather, hills, and fans, but at the end, you can always looked forward to the medal. You work hard to earn it. I praise the organizers for trying to improve, but not having medals just is not the way to get more runners. I drove 7 hours to get there and drove back after the race. I told my family members and friends about the race, and they were willing to go next year, but as soon as I told them about the medals, they changed their minds. If I would have known about the lack of medals, I would not have raced this one. For those who are thinking about next year, train hard on hills and train with temps over 60's. Over all, it has the potential to be a nice race, though.

What a top-notch small marathon experience! Rolling hills throughout make this a tough one, but bee-u-ti-ful! WONDERFUL organization in every way and the BEST post-race I have EVER experienced! FREE MASSAGES AND PIZZA FOR ALL! And they didn't give away shirts. We got Asics warm-up pants and really cool mesh bags too! I have done many races, but this one was a feel-good experience from beginning to end.

As a local resident, scenic beauty in races is expected. However, this course exceeds most other Pacific Northwest races. Maybe it was the unseasonably warm, sunny weather, but I thoroughly enjoyed the sights and sounds of this race. This race is very well organized, with aid stations and porta-potties every two miles. Volunteers were cheerful and helpful. Spectators during the residential last-half of the run were great with the water hoses (and two little girls with squirt guns!). The food at the end was fantastic! Besides the usual bananas and bagels, there were mini-donuts, danish pastries, PB&J sandwiches, and other non-race type food. Best of all was the pizza (for marathon runners only). I had a great time, and will do it again next year. I don't expect that it will be warm and sunny, though.

Difficult course with numerous rolling hills and a late climb at mile 23. The organization was flawless. Spectators were sparse in the early stages but those out were enthusiastic. Later in the race, more spectators were there when you needed them most. A big shout out to the folks with sprinklers and hoses in the last few miles... I was cooking in the abnormally warm weather and needed the dousing. Not the fastest marathon out there but one of the most satisfying and fun. Plus, the pizza afterwards was fantastic!

I started running this marathon 3 years ago when they changed the course. It quickly became one of my favorites. This year, however, they went a step beyond. Instead of race shirts they gave us running pants. I was skeptical at first, but they are really nice. We also got backpacks for our packets and nice water bottles at the finish. The spectators really helped with water hoses and a little music. This really is the best small marathon out there.

I live in Washington, so the scenic part of the course is natural to me, but I very much enjoy the residential neighborhoods, as crowd participation is great! I had ladies spraying me with water hoses, as it was a bit warm towards the end. I liked their 2002 flat course a bit more, but most would enjoy this course, as it is a good mix of city and scenic, and a challenging course. Their medals change year to year, and this one was o.k., but I liked the 2007 medal better. Overall, though, a great, well-run marathon you will enjoy - but be trained!!

The 2008 Capital City Marathon is one of the best marathons I've run in 10 years! A beautiful run through urban and rural areas that was heighten by gorgeous weather. Top-notch organization. Fantastic course support for a small marathon. Friendly spectators when they appeared. The finish area was just great. I wanted to linger around, eat and savor the day. I've been running marathons for almost 20 years. I'll remember Capital City for a long, long time.

The course is wonderfully scenic, the aid stations were well provisioned with fluids and energy gels, and at the end, you even got as much fresh baked pizza as you could eat. This is simply AMAZING, and I don't know why other races can't be this well organized (Bellevue "Seafair Marathon," please take note). The final stretch past the capital city buildings was superb; there's not one ugly section of this course. Spectators were a little thin on the ground, but this isn't a real problem. I'll definitely do this run again.

In preparing for my first marathon, I was not sure what to expect. One of my worries concerned the logistics pre- and post-race. In restrospect, I should have worried about pacing, nutrition, etc. as that proved to have been the most difficult obstacle for me that day. But despite struggling mightily during most of the last 12 miles, I did finish and the experience as a whole could not have been more positive. There were no hordes of cheering fans, but the locals were out all along the course, all tremendously supportive. What really made a difference was the enthusiasm and organization of the volunteers. The water stops were all well stocked and well staffed. (I later felt really dumb for not having taken a much needed energy gel at the mile 18 station.) The finish area was more of the same; well-organized, friendly, and efficient. The post-race food and free massages provided for a great finish to a tough morning. The course is scenic, if a little monotonous at times. It was drizzling on and off for the entire time I was out on the course, and one can't help but wonder what it would have been like if the sun had been out. The latter is not terribly likely during this time of year in this area, however. In all, this is a great race to run, whether you are a local or live on the opposite coast like the author of this review.

This was my first time running Cap Cities. What a neat marathon! Nice finishers shirt and medal. Even though there were 300+ marathoners, the on-course support was great. How nice it was not to have to wait to use the porta-potty! Hilly course, for sure. It was a nice mix of rural and urban scenery. Hardly any fans on the course, but those who were there made you feel welcome. Yes, the weather was drizzly, but it was still good running weather. Before I forget, hot pizza at the finish!! Thanks to the volunteers who make this a top-notch marathon. The word should go out about Cap Cities - it is good one.

Where do I start? The marathon was very well organized and the organizers were very helpful! The weather was cool and drizzling, so not too bad. This was my fifth marathon and it certainly wasn't the easiest. There were rollling hills throughout the course, but not overwhelming. There is a longer hill several miles before the finish, which was tough, especially after having run 23 miles. It really hampered my overall pace but managed to get through it. The finish was the reward, as there was a half-mile down slope to the finish line. I thought the fans were great (the ones that were out) and the scenery was great as well. I was running by myself for most of the course and it had a peaceful feeling to it (not something that I am that used to - especially training in the city). Overall, I would highly recommend this marathon but if you want to run a fast, flat course, this might not be the best one. There are rolling hills throughout and I started dreading going down the hill as I realized this meant having to climb the hill just a little later. The course is not boring and was a pleasure to run - if you want to get out of the city and experience peace and some nice countryside. At the finish there were a great welcoming crowd, tons of food, and helpful people. GREAT MARATHON a,nd I will try to run it again next year!!!!

I only did the half and was very impressed with the organization and volunteers. Plenty of water stops and mile markers at each mile (I did Georgia and really learned to appreciate the basics - this group had them covered!). They also allowed bib pickup the morning of the race - really nice for us since we had a late arrival Sat. Pickup was quick and also well organized, though there were no goody bags left. It was small enough to be able to park within 3 blocks and to use the Starbuck's restrooms instead of a port-a-potty, but big enough never to be alone. The course was hillier than I expected with lots of rolling hills, but only one hill at mile 9 was significant. It finished with a nice long decline - great way to end a race. It went through town and rural residential areas and there were a lot of flowers trees in bloom along the way. So it was quite a nice course, just not exceptional. It was run on the side of roads and I found the traffic a little disconcerting a couple times, but not a significant problem and the policemen/volunteers were directing traffic efficiently so we never had to slow for it. Light rain and cool temps. Not a lot of spectators, but the ones there were nice. Nice tech shirt and plenty of food at the end. I probably won't do it again only because there are so many races and so little time. If I lived there, I'd probably do it yearly. Well done, Olympia!

I love the new course! The dry-release shirt I received is one of the best I have, sure beats the 2005 shirt with finisher on the back. Some people thought my last name was "finisher"! I now keep it in my closet with my non-running cotton shirts. I have run 8 marathons so far and have two favorite marathons: this one in 2006,and the one in Seattle in 2004. The course could use more people cheering, but other than that, I can't see where I would change anything. I'll be there in 2007 as I have in 2005/2006. I hope the 2006 course won't be changed any time soon, because it's hard to get a P.R in Olympia if you can't run the same route you did last year (like with me, I always try to beat my time from last year and I did, but it won't really count if the course keeps changing). For all who were involved in making 2006 happen, GOOD JOB.

This is my second CCM. I enjoyed the easygoing and friendly community of Olympia runners, particularly the Sound Sound Running staff. The volunteers are amazing. The spectators are enthusiastics with many encouraging signs and cheers. Will try to run every year.

This is my second CCM, and third overall. Weather is perfect with no rain and cool temps. Great spectators along the way and friendly atmosphere. Will run again.

A pleasant combination of city, seaside, forest, and farmland. A beautiful town. Well organized. Enthusiastic crew and spectators.

This was my third Capital City Marathon. And though the course was beautiful, I found it to be very hilly. I like the old course better. The volunteers were very nice and supportive. There were a few spectators spaced along the course who seemed very excited to have us out there. The race organizers did a great job!

Last year's course went through busy streets where you had to breathe automobile exhaust and sometimes wait for the light to change because no one was there to stop the traffic. This year's course was through some very green and beautiful rural area, and was well marked and monitored. I never had to stop for traffic. You definitely didn't have to bring a map either. I was a little disappointed the half marathoners didn't get a medal (or the pizza the full marathoners got) but I got over it.

This was my 2nd Marathon. I previously ran in the Honolulu Marathon and was blown away at how small Olympia had compared. They made a new course, some small hills, most of the course was winding through beautiful country road, you had alot of time to yourself because not very many people were there. Weather was perfec, cool. Not many spectators. End of Race had great food and love the free massages. Well organized and can't wait to do it again!

Last year's rain storm was the first time I ran a marathon wet. It didn't seem to affect anyone, including me. It was a good experience! I am happy that you all decided to change the marathon course. That is the reason I decided to run it again this year. Last year's course (in my opinion) wasn't that great and I thought after the race, "Man, they have to change this course before I ever run it again." Happy to know that has happened. I predict this year that more people will be out along the course, because the rain won't be.