Yakima River Canyon Marathon
Link to Web Site: www.ontherunevents.com/yrcm
Rating: 
Date of Run: 31 Mar 2007
Reviewed By: Foo
Comments: I thought this would be a good marathon, but it was better than I expected. With over 500 runners this year, it increased in size by more than 20% from last year. This marathon is growing and I think it will soon pop. The course it beautiful. The highway down the canyon from Ellensburg to Yakima is closed for the run. Only escorted fisherman are allowed on the road. You can see pictures on the marathon web site above, but the scenery is outstanding. It's a high-walled winding canyon (little wind can get into the canyon) with the river always near. The route descends gently at something less than 1/2% grade. But don't let this deceive -- the hill at mile 15 rises back to start elevation (150 or 200 ft), and then drops back down to the river. Then again at mile 22 another hill rises 300 ft back to start elevation again. That one's the killer. 4% grade for a mile+. The course again drops back down to the river, but my calves and quads were cramping from the uphill so that it took me a while to speed up again on the down.
But really, the best thing about this race is the people. The runners are all so friendly, and they come from all over. I met folks from Portland, New Jersey, Coquille Oregon, Virginia and the UK -- all of them happy to have a chat with a schmuck from Idaho. Remember that woman dressed as a reindeer we got a picture with at Vegas? She was here dressed as a bunny.
The only problem is that this race always falls on the Saturday prior to the WSU 100k relay, which is why I haven't run it until now. Well, sometime you'll have to make the sacrifice. It's a great marathon.