Skagit Flats Marathon | Half Marathon

Our marathon course is the flattest Boston qualifier in all of Washington state. Registration is limited to 1000, so be sure to register soon for one of the best small town marathons in the state!

Course:
Flat and fast rural course through the Skagit Valley. The marathon is a Boston qualifier with a certification course number of USATF # WA08030MW. The half marathon is also certified with a course number of USATF # WA08029MW. Race start is on Victoria Street on the south side of Burlington Edison High School. The marathon and 1/2 marathon are run on rural roads through the Skagit Valley farmlands to the entrance of Samish Island (see course map for exact route) and finishes on the Burlington-Edison High School track. The course will be clearly marked and monitors will be at all intersections. Due to course restrictions, participants must finish within 6 hours. The course closes at 2:00 pm.

Course Narrative:
Start on Victoria Street just west of the gym and make a left on Norris street. Continue under I-5. At the stop sign take a right and then in about 1 mile take a right on Pulver. Go straight through the next stop sign at Josh Wilson and then make a left on Maiben. Right on Avon-Allen, then a left on Benson. The turn around for the half marathon is about 2 miles down Benson. The marathon continues towards Samish Island via T-Loop Road, D’Arcy Road and Bay View-Edison Road. The turn around for the marathon is on Samish Island Road. After you turn around you will follow the course back the way you came. When you get back to the starting line, you will make a left and run between the gym and track and onto the track.

Course Maps:
Certification map
Map from USATF web site
Another map from gmap-pedometer.com including an elevation profile

Course Closure:
The course will be open for 6 hours. All participants must finish the race in 6 hours. Runners and walkers who have not finished by 2:00 pm will be responsible for their own saftey. Early starts are not allowed. Participants receiving support from bicyclists, unregistered runners or unofficial vehicles will be disqualified.

Aid Stations:
There will be 8 manned water stations, with 7 of them serving runners out and back (for a total of 15 stops for the entire marathon course). There will be an extra aid station near the end of the marathon course at mile 25.5 that will only be open on the return for marathoners. The stations will be manned by local cross country teams. Water, Gu Brew, pretzels, oranges, kettle chips, watermelon and Succeed S-Caps will be available at all stations. Gu Energy Gel will be available at aid stations 4 and 6 (marathon mile markers 6, 9.75, 16.25 and 20).

The approximate positions of the aid stations for the marathon course are as follows: 1.5 miles, 2.25 miles, 3.75 miles, 6 miles (Gu gel available), 8.25 miles, 9.75 miles (Gu gel available), 11.75 miles, 14.25 miles, 16.25 miles (Gu gel available), 17.75 miles, 20 miles (Gu gel available), 22.25 miles, 23.75 miles, 24.5 miles, 25.5 miles.

Porta Potties:
We will have a porta potty at all 7 aid stations, except for the extra aid station at mile 25.5.

Medical:
Two EMTs and ten volunteers with blister kits will be riding the course with cell phones. Cell phones will be located at every water station.

Chip Timing: All registrants will receive an IPICO timing chip that must be worn in order to be timed. NO CHIP NO TIME! The timing chip must be properly secured to either shoe. If the runner carries the timing chip in his/her hand, fanny pack, etc. the timing chip will not record a time. Fasten the timing chip with the tie-wrap provided securely to the shoe. Timing chips are non-transferable and must be worn only by the participant to whom it is assigned. Do not cross the finish line more than once. Do not lose your timing chip. Return the timing chip at the finish line. If you are not going to run the race and just pick up your packet, give the timing chip to the registration volunteers. A $30 replacement fee will be charged to participants who fail to return their timing chips. For pictures that demonstrate attaching a timing chip to your shoe, refer to our chip timing system instructions. Also, make sure that your bib number is visible at the start and finish lines (so wear it in the front). Our backup timing system this year will use a camera to record the start and finish, so we will need to be able to see your bib number in case we need to go to the backup system for a finish time.

Personal Gear: We recommend that any personal items be stored in your vehicle. If you do not have a vehicle to store your personal items, contact a race volunteer. We will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items.

Weather: The temperature on race day is usually mild. The average low is 48 degrees Fahrenheit, the average high is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. We had rain and cool temperatures in 2010 and hot temperatures in 2011 so the weather can vary at this time of year.

Race Results: Results will be placed near the finish line as soon as they are available. Complete results will be posted online at marathonguide.com and skagitrunners.org.

Post Race: Water will be available at the finish line along with lots of food for ALL finishers. The high school locker rooms will be open for showers and changing.

Where The Money Goes: Some of the proceeds of this event benefit local high school sports programs and Skagit Search and Rescue.

Changing Races: Race switches from the full marathon to the half marathon must be completed before the end of Saturday packet pickup at the latest. If you cannot make it to Saturday packet pickup, email us before Friday so that we can make a new bib number and assign a new chip. Switches from the half marathon to the full marathon will need to be made at Saturday packet pickup since the difference in race fees will need to be paid. Race switches of any kind ARE NOT ALLOWED the morning of the race and will result in a disqualification. If you know you are going to need to switch races, please let us know as soon as possible to reduce the amount of work needed to prepare race packets.

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