Leavenworth Marathon

Leavenworth is one of the coolest cities in the US, so I was really excited they had a marathon there during Oktoberfest! It was an easy sell to my husband, and we made a really fun race-cation out of it. The first 10 miles are a long, gradual downhill (that had my quads crying by mile 20), and the views were just stunning. We met up with the half marathoners (who start 2 hours after the marathoners) at the fish hatchery, so depending on your pace, it's possible to get caught in a swarm of them. The 2nd half had a different feel, but it was equally fun! It seemed like there were a lot of 1st time marathoners, and, with how the race is broken out, it feels like it would be a great race for that! The finish line festivities were great, and all of the volunteers were AMAZING! I kind of wish the shirt was included with registration (it's really nice quality), but I didn't mind paying a little more for it. Overall incredible race and weekend!

I hadn't done a marathon in 2 years and had been looking into doing something fun. I decided on this one because Leavenworth is a beautiful area. The parking was a bit halphazard, but checking in was a breeze. There were more runners than I expected, but still a smaller crowd (which was nice!) The gorgeous course alternated between light trail, a couple quick peeks into the friendly town and rural road with not much rise or fall (& so fairly fast) in a very nice setting as expected. There were small and enthusiastic bands of locals throughout the course, one of which offered me a beer, which I of course graciously accepted! Water and sports drinks were well distributed in 2 mile increments with one stop that had GU gel. Start and finish were well controlled and provided a very positive running experience. The Ted Driven organization has done a great job making this and the Wenatchee marathons into an exceptional running experience!

Pros: wonderful course, great support, Oktoberfest in Leavenworth is a BLAST, finishers metal is a bottle opener, many post race food options, massage offered, good parking. Cons: expensive entry and would expect a nicer finishers shirt. Organizers should add one more water/aid station This is a small town, so don't expect a lot of spectators. The volunteers and police manned intersections were plentiful at necessary points and cheerful. Expect a few miles on trail and the rest asphalt.