Sunday August 5th
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This race will be an informal event this year. This will be a preview of the 1st annual race scheduled for August 4th 2008. If you’d like to see the preview, come on out and run the course that will be one of the flattest in the northwest.
This year there will be limited aid and no t-shirts, but will have finisher medals and plenty of miles to run.
If you plan on running, I’ll need you to email me so I can get you
on the list. This will also help estimate numbers for the proper amount of aid
needed. Chris@marathonmaniacs.com
This is a MARATHON ONLY, no relays, and no ½ marathons, only 26.2!
Parking & getting to the start
This is a point-to-point course, so please make arrangements to be dropped off at the start or have a ride back from the finish. Transportation will not be provided this year. There are parking lots at both the start and finish lines and vehicles will be safe to leave there. As always, please don’t leave valuables in your vehicle. The starting line is in Ravensdale @ the Landsberg Trail Head. Take Highway 169 from Renton towards Maple Valley, turn left on SE Kent Kangley RD, left on Landsburg RD SE, cross over the Cedar River and the trail head is on the left.
Directions to the Finish: http://rentonwa.gov/living/default.aspx?id=74
From I-405 North:
Take Exit 5 and head
west on NE Park Drive. Go to the bottom of the hill and turn right on Lake
Washington Boulevard, proceeding north. The park entrance is approximately 1/4
mile on the left.
From I-405 South:
Take Exit 5 and head
west on NE Park Drive. Go to the bottom of the hill and turn right on Lake
Washington Boulevard, proceeding north. The park entrance is approximately 1/4
mile on the left.
Please park in the
General Parking stalls on the south end of the park. http://rentonwa.gov/uploadedFiles/Living/CS/REC/Coulon%20Map.PDF
Course
The first 11 miles are on hard packed gravel railroad grade, the rest of the course is paved.
The race will start on SE 253rd street near the Cedar River Trail at Landsberg Trail Head Park In Ravensdale. The course will follow the Cedar River Trail for about 5 miles until it intersects with the Lake Wilderness trail. Runners will make a sharp left hand turn and follow the Lake Wilderness Trail for 3 miles to the turn around point at mile 7.7. This section is a gradual uphill portion, which climbs slightly over the 3 miles. The course then heads back down to the Cedar River Trail (downhill portion) where all runners will continue heading west towards Renton. I will have a volunteer at this intersection to direct runners in the right direction. Near mile 22 the course crosses a pedestrian bridge over the river (near Renton Community Center) then across Houser Way (busy road). Connecting again with the trail at Liberty Park. Just past Mile 23 runners will leave the trail by taking a right hand turn on N 6th St. and ½ mile later turn left on Garden Ave N. Right on N 8th St to Houser Way H, across Lake Washington BLVD and into Gene Coulon Memorial Park for the last 1.5 miles which will consist of a small out and back along the nature trail (sorry, you will actually pass the finish line at mile 24.5. The race will end on the floating dock. I plan to have markers and chalk lines on the course for all tricky intersections and turns to prevent runners from getting lost. I will have mile markers for all 26 miles including the ½ point on the course. The course is relatively flat the entire route except the slight uphill grade between mile 5 and 7.7. The Course is a Boston Qualifier. USAT&F Map
A basic map of the course can be found here GPS
MAP
Times
Race will start promptly at 7 AM. Early start is discouraged due to the small size of this first year race. Next year it will be offered.
Finish Line
The finish line is adjacent to an Ivars and Kid Valley restaurant so bring some money to grab a bite to eat. The park offers restrooms and covered picnic areas as well as floating picnic tables on the dock. If you park at the finish, your car will be very close to the finish line. Please don’t park in the 2-hour limit stalls. You may have to park near the tennis courts located south of the finish line (See map link above).
Refreshment Stations (formerly known as aid
stations)
We will have 3 refreshment stations along the course. There will be Sport drink (most likely Gu-2-0 provided by Road Runner Sports) and water for you to fill your water bottles up with. We will not supply cups this year, so please bring your own bottle. We also plan to have some snack items (pretzels, licorice, etc.).
Station 1 and 2 will be at mile markers 5 and 11 (same location) on the out and back section.
Station 3 will be at mile 16
Station 4 will be at mile 22
Cost
We are charging $10.00 for the race to cover the cost of items provided at the refreshment stations and finisher medals. Please pay your entry fee the morning of the race at Landsberg Park (cash or check only).
Any questions, email chris@marathonmaniacs.com
See you on Sunday August 5th.