If you plan on running in this years Seafair Marathon on June 29, don’t forget sunscreen, good running shoes, and perhaps a life jacket.
Participants in this years installment of the Seafair Marathon will receive a rare treat — a chance to cross the 520 floating bridge on foot, something that hasn’t been done in a race since 1984.
Just one of the many changes in this years point-to-point marathon, the SeaFair team hopes the new changes draw more participants, and interest, in the yearly event.
“Running has become more of a hobby for folks, an adventure,” said Dan Wartelle, Seafair Public Relations Director. “When people are doing these events, they want to see things along the route. We want to keep the casual runner interested for 26.2 miles.”
Along with the trip over the bridge, the biggest change for the marathon is the new point-to-point course.
The event begins at Husky Stadium in Montlake, crosses the 520 bridge, continues along Lake Washington in Medina, runs through Bellevue and across 405, and heads north to Kirkland before turning back around along the lake towards a finish at the Bellevue downtown park.
“It’s 12 miles of waterfront,” Wartelle said. “One of our goals was to truly make the marathon a landmark stop for people looking to travel. We wanted to incorporate all of the natural beauty around the Northwest.”
Besides the main marathon, there will be a half-marathon as well as a relay and a run-walk.
A portion of each registration fee will benefit the Floyd and Dolores Jones Cancer Institute at Virginia Mason Medical Center.
Last year’s event raised $15,943 in proceeds.
“That’s a big deal for us,” Wartelle said. “The charity aspect is huge.”
Wartelle encouraged runners and non-runners alike to come out to the event, calling the new course “one of the most scenic in the area.”
“This is going to be one of the few marathons across the country offered during the summer season,” Wartelle said. “Also, it’s a chance to cross the floating bridge, and it’s probably faster on foot anyway.”
For more information on Seafair, visit the marathon Web site at www.seafairmarathon.org.
Joel Willits can be reached at 425-453-4270 ext. 5060 or at jwillits@reporternewspapers.com.
