Snohomish River Run Marathon
Snohomish, United States · October · Independent
Why people love it
- Flat and fast along the Snohomish River and farmland
- Race-day temperatures of 2 to 13 °C (36 to 55 °F) in two reported years
- Aid every 3 to 5 km (2 to 3 mi) plus pace groups
- Easy parking, plentiful toilets, packet pickup in Everett
- Small field of about 175 marathoners
Watch out for
- Turns near mile 9 and mile 16 (km 14 and 26) are easy to miss
- Gravel sections near the turnaround and mile 16 (km 26) in 2017
- Lonely stretches and few spectator spots
- All reports found date from 2017 to 2018
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Four runner reports from 2017 and 2018, all positive including a 5-star winner, plus one RaceRaves 4.0. Nothing newer found. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.3
Easy parking, plentiful toilets and regular aid, but runners report missable turns, thin volunteers and a failed timing update at mile 15 (km 24). · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
Flat and fast with aid every 3 to 5 km (2 to 3 mi), but missable turns and gravel suit experienced runners better. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.1
Reports say flat and fast. The 2017 winner ran 2:32:05 and a 2018 runner set a 3:26:57 PR in cool weather. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.6
Snohomish River, farmland and, in fall, Cascade views. An out-and-back layout was called less exciting than a loop. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points2.7
Two out-and-backs shared with 10K and half runners from mile 10 (km 16). Two runners took wrong turns where the races split. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed2.9
A mix of paved roads, trail and gravel. A 2017 runner met gravel near mile 16 (km 26) and at the turnaround. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
Reports conflict: one says the closed road made spectator access hard, others do not describe closures. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.6
Reporters call it completely flat or flat and fast, though one noted two steep hills in the first 2.5 miles (4 km). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Out-and-back loops from the start area, net zero. Boston status is unconfirmed. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.9
Easy parking near the start, packet pickup in Everett, plenty of toilets and staggered starts for the four distances. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.3
Pace groups were offered, unusual for a small race, but overlapping races confused them. A mile 15 (km 24) timing update failed. · Medium confidence
- Crowd supportSparse2.2
About 175 marathoners, so it can get lonely. Volunteers and spectators were friendly but few. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Stops every 3 to 5 km (2 to 3 mi) with water, Nuun and gels, plus plentiful toilets. One report found volunteers thin. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.8
Race days had little wind per a 2017 winner, who warns the open farm roads would be hard in wind. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
Race days ran 2 to 13 °C (36 to 55 °F), which runners called ideal. Mid-October history tops out near 18 °C (65 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Reporters give roughly even odds of rain in mid-October. There was fog at the 2018 start. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.4
Few viewing points on out-and-backs. A reporter suggests mile 9 (km 14). · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
River valley near sea level, about 10 m (33 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Snohomish and Everett have hotels, with Seattle-area supply nearby. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Everett is cheaper than Seattle. No price data checked. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Small town with a few hotels near the start. Most stay in Everett or drive. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.4
Paine Field is about 25 km (15 mi) away and Seattle-Tacoma about 70 km (43 mi). · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Packet pickup in Everett and easy parking. No start transport needed. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Snohomish has a historic downtown with antique shops and restaurants. The finish tent has food and drinks. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inOpen entry4.7
Open entry. A 2017 reporter signed up under two weeks out, and the field is under 200. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.6
About $90 in 2017. Medal, shirt and winners' hat, though late registrants missed a shirt. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Snohomish, Snohomish County, United States
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 17 October 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 175 athletes
- First held
- 2017
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- out-and-back
- Surface
- Paved country roads with some trail and gravel
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Entry fee
- About $90
- Air temperature
- 3–13 °C (37–55 °F)
- Humidity
- Damp, fog possible
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Paine Field (PAE), 25 km (16 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Everett, Downtown Snohomish
- Booking
- Packet pickup in Everett; stay in Everett or Snohomish.
What racers and reviewers say
- Team RunRun race report (2018)Raced 2018 · blog · Positive
Under 200 runners, flat and fast with a small hill near the finish, 3 to 13 °C (37 to 55 °F). Aid every 1 to 2 miles (2 to 3 km) but thin volunteers, inconsistent markers and a missable turn at mile 9 (km 14).
“The course is very forgiving, flat and fast”
- Team RunRun race report (2018)Raced 2018 · blog · Positive
PR of 3:26:57 in 2 to 11 °C (mid-30s to early 50s °F). Aid every 2 to 3 miles (3 to 5 km), friendly volunteers, surprise pacers, unclear signage in places; two steep hills in the first 2.5 miles (4 km).
- Team RunRun race report (2017)Raced 2017 · blog · Positive
About 175 marathoners, completely flat but less exciting than a loop; aid about every 2 miles (3 km), plenty of toilets, easy parking. Unclear cutoffs, a failed mile 15 (km 24) timing update and few spectator spots.
“completely flat”
- Team RunRun race report (2017)Raced 2017 · blog · Positive
Won in 2:32:05 and gave five stars. Flat and fast rollers, gravel near mile 16 (km 26), two wrong turns where marathon and half split, clear sunny 4 to 11 °C (40s to 50s °F), smooth inaugural event for about $90, limited swag.
- RaceRaves, Snohomish River RunRaced 2019 · aggregator · Positive
One rating, 4.0 of 5; difficulty 2, scenery 3, production 4, swag 4. Plenty of aid and awesome volunteers, huge medal, chilly start.
“Plenty of aid stations with awesome volunteers”
Show 1 more
- RaceMob, Snohomish River Runaggregator · neutral
Listing with start times but no reviews; not used for ratings.
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Sources
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