Seattle Half Marathon Race Report – Candice C

In this race report, runner Candice C. reviews the Seattle Half Marathon, including what you should train for and what you should know about the aid stations.

Race: Seattle Half Marathon 2018

Runner: Candice C

Race Date: 11/25/2018

Location: Seattle, WA

Results: 02:14:09

half marathon near seattle

3 Bests – What aspects of the Seattle Half Marathon did you like the most?

  • Large and well supported/organized, from the expo (perfect excuse to visit Downtown after Thanksgiving) to the recovery area (I liked the hot chicken broth with rice)
  • It’s a nice Seattle race in the winter when there aren’t that many
  • Get to run through the City

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

  • For the most part, I just let go and didn’t check my Garmin all the time.
  • There was a segment where I was actually able to pass people 😉
  • Spot on 10:00/min average pace

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the Seattle Half Marathon to help the next runner

  • Study and think about the hills in advance
  • Given the high # of runners, it can be inconvenient to use the aid stations for liquids
  • If you’re more serious about hitting a fast time, be aware that traffic incidents (there was an intersection at Mercer where the cops actually let a bus through, while runners had to stop) can occur.  In Fremont, the cops pushed people aside with sirens to let what I’m guessing a marathon winner to get by.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

  • Even if you don’t take a race super seriously, be sure you are properly hydrated during the days leading up to it

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the Seattle Half Marathon?

  • The hills can be a killer!

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

  • It is scenic if you like cityscapes

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

  • It’s a fair course, on the whole pretty comparable to the Seattle Rock n Roll Half Marathon

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

  • Very well run

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the Seattle Half Marathon happen.

  • Easy logistics.  Entrance fee is steep but you’d expect that for something like this.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

  • See “lessons for others above.”  If I could do it again, I’d bring a small water bottle which might have helped me.  I was lazy and didn’t consume my GU – I wonder if I had whether I’d done better.

Weather and typical race conditions

  • Perfect day.  No rain or wind.  

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

  • Seemed friendly

How’s the Swag?

  • The technical tee is nice, the finishers medal could use some graphic design if that’s something one cares about 😉

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give the Seattle Half Marathon, and do you recommend that others run it?

  • It all depends on what you like/are looking for.  I personally thought this was 9 stars out of 10.

Trying to decide which race is best for you? Check out our coaches’ advice for choosing the right races!