Jack and Jill's Downhill Marathon - Race Reviews

This course has so much potential, but it is loaded with gravel and stones that pose a hazard for running. I was determined not to get hurt, but turned my ankle. Worse yet, bicycles are freely allowed up the course to block runners as if the race weren't happening. Most of the bikes took the inside part of the path, sending runners to the slower outside. It happened continuously. This is an egregious violation of rights and etiquette. Beware runners: If you don't pick up your flashlight or headlight, the race director will NOT under any circumstances ship it back to you. One wonders if they would return anything. You will also NOT receive any refund whatsoever of any fees you pay and do not use. This is one of the poorest races for communications (many not answered) and conduct.

Ran the race in 2022. The course itself was beautiful and fast, but the course support left a lot to be desired. I had expected a hard-packed gravel, but it was not 'fine gravel', but more large, rocky gravel. By mile 10 my feet were feeling it (and I was running in cushioned shoes). It's not a closed course, so having to dodge mountain bikers going in the opposite direction was a challenge. 2022 was a hot-weather year, with temps reaching the low-80s by 8:45 a.m. Not enough aid stations, no cool water at the aid stations. No one handing out gel, but you had to look for them on the tables (in a box). I only saw one medic on the course. Given the hot weather, I would have expected more. Also, at the end of the race the drinks were not cool and there was only one medic in-sight.

This was my first marathon and now I am a marathoner! I can't wait to sign up for more races including this one next year. I was very nervous going in but the clear communication, support and organization really helped ease my mind. The scenery made me love every step and helped me reach my dream of qualifying for Boston!

I travelled to this race across the country to attempt to qualify for Boston. I wasn't expecting such beautiful scenery and the course was amazing, trail and woods and bridges. The organizers kept runners well informed on race events and changes and transportation to start Provided and no stress. Limited spectators but those who traveled into course were inspiring. Best pacing provided the best pacers. Finish good perfect and iced clothes was finishing touch! And yes, I qualified !!!! I'll be back with friends.

To the amazing race director! I also organize a race up in Kelowna British Columbia and your event is one that I strive to be like. Everything was well organized from the communication to the race pick up to the course. The water stations were plentiful and the course marking was perfect. There were more portipotties than promised and every aid station had fantastic enthusiastic volunteers. The course was fun and easy to follow and our times (although nowhere near BQ) brought us joy and much pride. Thank you for organizing such a great event. It was my husband's first (but not last) marathon and I wouldn't have chosen any other course or event.

My best friend and I came all the way from New Orleans and Salt Lake City because we wanted to meet up at a beautiful course to run together. I first came up with the idea to run this race after training for Boston, but doing poorly on race day. I was looking to use all that training elsewhere, but it is hard to find good summer race weather! This is the perfect location for good weather, and race day was as beautiful as we expected - cool throughout the race, but sunny by the end with a warm day to follow. When Jess and I decided to sign up for Jack and Jill, we agreed that we would both try to PR at the race. While I knew a PR was in reach, never did I expect the results that I got. I jumped from a pretty consistent PR of 3:28:30 after doing 14 marathons to a new PR and an improved BQ of 3:17:01. Jess was also able to achieve her half marathon PR after many halves over the past year. This was really an awesome race full of wonderful volunteers, beautiful scenery, lovely weather, and a truly fun group of runners. Good luck to those running next year, and I'll see some of you at Boston!

Summary: Normally a big race guy, but I loved this smaller race. Course is super fast and beautiful, well organized race, good, communication, etc. Super happy I made this my WA race. If I was local, I would do this one many times. I could even travel back for this one. Pros: - Course is incredible. It is really fast as it is slight downhill for the whole way. There was literally one incline about 20 feet long. It isn't downhill like having to break. It is a not quite flat downhill. Described well by someone who said it is like having a tail wind. Tree lined, waterfalls, bridges withe beautiful views, etc. - They mail bibs in advance if you pay a small fee! Takes pressure off if flights are delayed. - Significant number of people who traveled here which makes bus and time waiting at start interesting. - Bus service from finish area parking to start smooth. Was on 4:05 bus and could pick from lighted bathrooms in building or line of porta's with no waiting. Closer towards race start lines formed. - Course was gravel for 95% of course so saved pounding pavement, but footing wasn't a problem. - Took less than a minute for guy at finish to find my headlamp bag. - Buses are waiting at finish to take back to parking so weather wouldn't be a factor as can wait on bus till ready to leave. - I thought decent food after for this size race. - Seattle - took red eye home after race so had all day to see Seattle. Cons: - Weather is variable in WA in July. 80+ degrees the year before. My race was perfect - cool with misty rain. Sunday race the next day was 75 and sunny. Tree lined path would help mitigate some weather. - Register early if you can or you can get stuck with 4:05 bus like I did for 6:30 start. Had to wait 1.5 hours and nothing at start to keep entertained. Limited shelter in start area so if going to be there (early bus) then bring layers as it is cooler at elevation than in town. - Need headlamp for tunnel, but they had bags to label and was easy to drop after tunnel. You could get away without it if you run by someone else as footing wasn't a problem. - No expo, but pickup at Nike outlet so could get stuff if needed. - Minimal spectators. A point to point race on a mountain so hard to get to. Got more as you got close to finish. I tend to like big races, but I would say at this one I didn't miss the spectators as the course was so beautiful I think they would have detracted actually. Better to be in nature. - Limited lodging options close to start-finish. I got an Air BNB that was right in town 1 mile from bus. That was perfect. Apartment with full kitchen for less than closest hotel. Saved valuable minutes sleeping and no traffic concerns.

Wonderful course. Fast, downhill, scenic. Tunnel was fun. Easy to get to start and finish. Like small size. Definitely recommend this marathon.

What a great race!.....the only bad thing I can say about it Is me not being in shape to truly take advantage of the fast, amazing course in terms of time. -Packet pickup, easy at a Nike store in North Bend -Easy parking, easy peasy w buses to start - great organization in nearly every way (maybe a little better food at finish, and had to wait a few min for bus back to start to car, and maybe a couple more spots to sit w shade at finish; but I feel petty making those small complaints - the course....WOW!!!!! A truly comfortable downhill, the WHOLE way, on crushed gravel rail trail so easier on joints! Amazing scenery, little waterfalls, glorious mountain vista views w huge pines, I passed by scads wild raspberry bushes w gigantic red raspberries on them... Running that that long old train tunnel....so cool and unique!!!! Out of 49 marathons for me; this is definitely a top 3 (maybe higher) course w races I've done. - interesting swag, and I really liked the medal w the little hanging train track, nice touch. - it was 85-90 degrees when I finished; but the course organizers were truthful in saying this course, on top of being downhill, also is about 80% shaded, so the heat, sun weren't that bad. -at the end....in the heat, they didn't just give finishers lukewarm water bottles, they had ICE COLD wet towels and ICE COLD bottles of water in ice for you. Way to go!!!! Also, the bus driver didn't just drive us back to he parking lot after finishing, he literally drove us all the way back right next to our cars! Bravo! I can now see why this race, although new, is so highly regarded! I would like to come back and do it again and be in shape to take advantage of the amazing course!!!!

This race is exactly as it is advertised, and in many ways, even better. As promised, the gentle downhill is imperceptible for the most part -- you just notice you're cruising at your goal pace with much less effort than usual. It is without a doubt a great PR and BQ course. As proof, I managed to do both (my BQ was by more that five minutes, too!) despite life getting in the way of my normal level of marathon training. I'm really curious now to know how well I'd do with more ideal preparation. Furthermore, the level of production, logistics, and support are top-notch for a race of this size. Here's a good example of this: With unusually warm conditions threatening, the race director sent an email to all participants documenting the actual temperatures and conditions experienced on the course when one of the staff ran the course the day prior to the event. This account gave me the confidence to still go for it. Without it, I might have had lingering apprehensions about starting at PR pace. Another nice touch were the fresh-from-an-ice-bucket hand-towels at the finish line that were likely added to the support plan after the weather forecast solidified. While the tunnel certainly does get a lot of discussion in the published race info, I'm not sure that it quite captures just what a surreal, cool (literally and figuratively!), and unique thing it is to have in a race. The tentativeness required by running in absolute pitch-black darkness (other than your headlamp beam) has the added benefit of preventing you from going out too fast in the first three miles, too. As I said before, I was underprepared for this race, yet was utterly surprised and extatic that the course, race production, and support enabled me to PR and BQ with a comfortable margin. If these are your goals, I highly recommend this race.

I live in Miami and registered for the marathon because we were looking for a cooler place to run and somewhere to vacation at the same time. I've seen the pictures on the website and videos but I was not expecting such a beautiful scenery throughout the whole route. There was not a minute of the marathon that I was not enjoying while and where I was running. The downhill part was also a big part of my decision because this was my first marathon and I wanted to do well. The trail was perfectly downhill and it really helped me get the 3:21 I made on my first marathon. I was short 6 mins to qualify for Boston but hey there is always next year. Thank you very much for a great and well organized even!

I had such a fantastic time running the 2018 Jack and Jill Downhill half marathon with my friend Jen Johnson from Blaine, WA. I first heard of the race two years ago, and now I know why the race sells out as fast as lightning. What an amazing experience it is! I traveled from Tampa, Florida specifically to run this race. My brother, who lives in Seattle, decided he would like to do the race with me when I came out. Since the half marathon was sold out, he decided on a whim to try the full marathon. We both had amazing experiences and I really hope to be able to come out and run again in 2019. I was mesmerized by the scenery and the downhill is truly the perfect grade for running with ease. Very well run event, and wonderful, courteous runners as well. Brooke Sheridan

I have completed 80+ marathons and this is certainly a very memorable one! The course is absolutely beautiful and unique -- starting with a 2 mile run through a tunnel, followed by 24 miles of gradual downhill amongst towering trees, bridges and amazing scenery. The event is extremely well organized and communications pre/post-event were excellent. This is not the type of course where you will encounter spectators, which is exactly the point -- enjoy the nature surrounding you! Finish line festival was terrific and that is where you will have great crowd support (hence the 4 stars in the 'spectator' section).

This was the first time I have done this event. I travelled from Victoria,BC. I signed up based on reviews I read online. I had a great time and enjoyed the course. The grade was a gentle downhill that I did not feel this through the course. Even though the temperatures were forecast to be in the mid 70's to 80's the shade made the entire race comfortable. Views and scenery along the course were amazing. I qualified for Boston and came close to getting a new PB. I would highly recommend this marathon both for course and organization.Thanks to all the volunteers and organizers who made this a wonderful event.

This year I was hesitant to show up to the race. I was feeling underprepared and nervous. All my reservations were squashed as soon as I began the 26.2 experience by entering a dark, cold, tunnel that welcomed me with wonder. Passing through that tunnel made the best introduction to a good long run. When I emerged to begin the trail I was pleasantly greeted with the wonderful support staff to collect my headlamp, which was safely returned at the finish. Thank you! The trail was comfortable to run in its entirety and with water supplied every 2 miles I was not dehydrated at all on what was one of the hottest days of the year. At mile 21 I was greeted by a lovely volunteer with fresh strawberries! Get out! That was so perfect in timing! Yum. Cruising to the finish I felt better than I've ever felt in a full marathon and found myself actually skipping to the finish line! Bonus, I earned my PR!! Wonderful job and thank you, to all who came together to make The Jack n Jill so enjoyable.

Not having run a marathon in 28 years, I had no idea what to expect when participating in Jack and Jill's Downhill marathon this year. Waiting at the start, I met people from all over the United States, Canada and beyond who came to experience a beautiful downhill course and run through the Snoqualmie Tunnel. We watched the moon and stars fade and the sun rise behind the mountains as we waited at Hyak. It was gorgeous. I won't forget the echo of runners making their way through the cool, dark tunnel and seeing the light off in the distance. Wildflowers and trees lined the course with spectacular views. A man told me he'd run 27 different marathon courses and this was the most beautiful of all. Before running this race, I had vowed to never run another marathon. This course made me want to go back on my word...just kidding. In summary, with a gentle net 2,000 feet of descent, Jack and Jill's is a great choice for a course whether or not you want to try to qualify for Boston.

To start, I would like to say thank you to the race staff and volunteers that made this day so special for everyone! I appreciated the enthusiasm and encouraging words shared at the frequent water / gatorade stations. Additionally, I found all of the emails the week prior to the race extremely helpful. The 2018 Jack and Jill Downhill was by far, my favorite race I have ever competed in. The views were spectacular, the tunnel was spooky and thrilling, and crossing the finish line with a PR time was just an added bonus that made this day so wonderful! I would definitely do this race again, and would recommend this run to others.

This was my first time running Jack & Jill (and visiting Washington), and all I can say is "Wow!". This is, by far, the most beautiful, scenic course I have run on (and I've run a marathon in the Rocky Mountains!). The course was such a gradual downhill, you barely noticed the ease your legs were moving down the hill, and you were constantly distracted by the beauty surrounding you on the John Wayne Trail. I came here with a plan to try and BQ, and crushed not only my qualifying time, but also my old PR! On the logistics side, pre-race communication was great, the expo was well organized, aid stations were well stocked (and NEEDED during the warm race), and the spectators, while sparse, clapped and cheered for every runner passing by! There is no doubt I will be back to run this course again

Jack & Jill Downhill Marathon was a dream come true. I knew I needed a race for me and only me and had to escape the massive marathon scene. Coming off of 2 years of not breaking 4 hours, I was able to smash my goal of 3:47 (previous PR) to a 3:28:55. A 19 minute, 41 second PR and a BQ time! But the real beauty of this race is not the time you walk away with but the beauty of Washington. Traveling from NYC, I knew I needed a race away from the empire state of mind and one more in touch with mother nature. Jack & Jill felt more like a Saturday morning trail adventure with all the accompaniment of a marathon. Not every day do you run through a tunnel, see waterfalls, run through moss covered forests and run over bridges hundreds of feet in the sky and added bonus have well maintained water stations along the way. This marathon course was fairy tale like and the fast time led to the happily ever after ending.

I've run the Jack and Jill Marathon twice, for the inaugural event and in 2018. I've also run the course in a different race. Does it make a difference which race you choose? Yes it does. Jack and Jill is friendly, well-organized, professional, but still more relaxed and fun! Not only does the course trend downhill all the way to a sweet finish, but it's absolutely gorgeous. Aid stations are reliably placed about every two miles, so you don't have to carry fluids unless you have your own special blend. And having a good chance of a BQ is always a great perk. Go J&J!

This was my second year running Jack and Jill's Downhill Marathon and it just gets better. The day and course were both beautiful. The forecast called for it to be hot, but the course was so shaded that weather was never a concern. The race organizers ran the course the day before and really gave us runners a feeling of calm going into the race to not worry about the heat. Being on such a quiet and remote course, the race support was amazing. Water stations were perfectly spaced out, the after race food, water, and "cold towels" were so much appreciated. I've been trying to qualify for Boston for many years and this is the race to do it. I lowered my PR (my former was at this race last year) by 7:00 minutes and came in 7:27 under my BQ time standard. If you want to run fast and want a beautiful well run course to do it on, then Jack & Jill Downhill Marathon must be on your race schedule.

The scenery was breath-taking and even worth slowing down or stopping for a photo or two. Waterfalls, canyons, thick trees, shade - just gorgeous. At the finish it was exciting to hear the announcer tell spectators how much time was left for each division to BQ and to congratulate runners who made the cut. I love the Northwest-y swag - the tanks, buffs and medal will serve as memories of a fun run through the woods and be especially meaningful to the many runners who traveled from around the country to participate!

This course was everything I anticipated it to be and more... a complete 26.2 gradual downhill, gorgeous scenery, cool & dry conditions. Plus LOTS of water/Gatorade stations... mile markers with time duration checkpoints throughout. Pacing tattoos were available and very useful on this course and helping me to qualify. This was only 2nd full marathon, not only did I BQ but shaved off 35 minutes from my first. The downhill is no joke, I was flying=M<û=M<û. Additionally, due to low impact terrain I was not all that sore in the days following. Thanks to the organization of the race, everything was made very easy from email notifications the week of, to bib pickup, and shuttles to the race start. Another great feature of the course was the ability of my family to bike out and cheer me on as I ran. It has been almost 7 years since I ran a full, wasn't sure I was a marathoner. However, thanks to my great experience with the Jack & Jill I look forward to running more marathons in the future.

Jack and Jill is officially my favorite race course I have ever run, period. Where else can you run through a dark & mysterious tunnel, past waterfalls, over old train track bridges, through a whispering Washington Forrest of trees? Runners are also extra encouraging of each other - all that mountain air brings out the best in everyone! PRs are reached thanks to a gradual downhill course that saves your legs from the pounding of other downhill courses but is just gradual enough to also push you to your best speeds! The course and race event is extremely well organized and executed! Kudos to USA Endurance Events! I will be back in 2018!!!!

This was my 23rd marathon and one of the prettiest. Advice: if you can get a ride to the start, take it! There was one shuttle bus that arrived 5 minutes before the start of the race! It was very chilly at the start (48F) and we were shivering! There weren't enough bathrooms or port-a-potties but it's not an issue if you don't mind going in the bushes! There was a bit of a wave-start which meant no congestion. The tunnel is narrow and WET; I was focussed on avoiding the puddles that were right in the middle. Most people wore a headlamp, but I held a small flashlight that I discarded at the end of the tunnel, (they were on sale for $5 at the expo) and it worked great. My Garmin actually kept my pace in the tunnel, but after we got out, the mileage was messed up. Another runner told me it's better to start your watch AFTER the tunnel. Although there was a lot of shade and it was a cool morning, there weren't nearly enough water stations, but most people carried their own. This course is VERY FAST, especially if you can get through the tunnel without slowing down, because it is all downhill and very gradual. Also, I am 100% road runner, but I found these trails very easy to run on. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. I envied the runners who had their phones and were taking selfies on the course. Other than a handful of spectators at the half point, there really weren't any, but the course was so pretty, it didn't matter! I loved the race shirt and medal. I don't usually like to do the same marathon twice, but this one: DEFINITELY!

FAST!!! FAST,!!! FAST!!! This race was obviously set up by a devout runner:-) It felt like a running vacation:-) Best organized event I've ever ran:-) Mountain scenery was breath taking:-) The cool temps resulted in a FAST pace:-) No waiting at the porta potties:-) An absolute must attend course for your calendar:-)

I had an awesome time with this marathon. The course was breathtaking with a start up in the mountains. The course was slightly downhill for the entire 26.2 miles. The scenery was spectacular! I highly recommend this race.

The course is spectacular! Gorgeous scenery every step of the way! I was initially quite intimidated by the tunnel (a wee bit claustrophobic) but once I got in there, I loved it!! It's plenty big and very cool. I stayed in the middle and chatted with other runners to keep my head from wandering into a panic. The downhill is very unnoticeable and given that it is on loose gravel, for me any speed benefit from the down hill was negated by the constant awareness of footing due to the gravel. The fresh air and shady course were simply delightful. I found the small field of runners a perfect size for the course. I hope they cap it at 500. The organization could use a bump up. Prior to the race, I emailed the race directors a few times before I got a reply - and even then the reply was dismissive and didn't really answer my questions. Their Facebook Page was a ghost town. The 45 minute wait to get a race packet was ridiculous. There could have been at least 4 more water stops. An earlier start time would also have been helpful. But in the grand scheme of races, these were all fairly minor complains and I suspect that as the race grows so will the organization. I'll do it again next year but will definitely wear trails shoes over my road shoes. Loved the medal!!

Pros: 1) Beautiful, scenic course 2) Great weather Cons: 1) Tunnel slowed me down 2) Not enough aid stations 3) Cups at the aid stations were too small and only 1/4 to 1/2 full 4) Packet pickup was slow and disorganized 5) New gravel on the last miles of the course wasn't packed down and felt like running on sand (hard to push off)

I came out from Indiana in hopes of a BQ. My chip never registered, my husband thought I got hurt bc he didn't see my half split and I have no official time. I am borderline for my BQ, the 2 pacers I was to run near were not at the race and my watch stopped working before leaving the tunnel. I ran solo for 26.2 miles with nothing but the actual time of day to go by. The man who helped me guesstimated my start time after I argued my photo finish time was not accurate as I started in a later wave than the first one. His given 'official time' has me missing my goal by 1 minute. I'm confused as to how he came up with that time and I am forced to accept it. I've compared other racers chip vs clock times of those that started near me and the difference in times aren't the same as my difference. To say I'm frustrated and disappointed is an understatement and not hopeful anything can be done. This was my last chance marathon and because of this giant snafu, I am forced to accept I'll never run Boston. I recommend a timer at the 13.1 mark, a camera at the start and a backup to make sure all chips are working since this a BQ race.