Seattle Marathon

Location: Seattle, Washington

Country:  United States
Website:  https://www.seattlemarathon.org/marathon-and-half-marathon
2025 Marathon Date:  30/11/2025
2026 Marathon Date:  29/11/2026
Winning Time 2025: 2:17:09

% Sub-3s:  2-5%
# Sub-3s:  50-99
Total Runners: 1-3k

The Seattle Marathon, founded in 1970 and now the Pacific Northwest’s oldest annual marathon, offers a distinctly urban–natural running experience shaped by Seattle’s hills, waterways and neighbourhood character. Traditionally held on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, the event has evolved through numerous course adjustments over the decades, with the 2025 edition introducing a new start–finish pairing that places runners at Seattle Center for the opening mile and delivers a waterfront finish at Pier 66. The course highlights the city’s blend of engineering, parkland and iconic scenery while retaining the rolling elevation profile that has long defined the race.

The full marathon begins at Fifth and Harrison near the Seattle Center campus, with early miles heading into Capitol Hill. These opening kilometres are among the race’s most demanding, featuring sustained climbs on Capitol Hill and Lakeview Boulevard East before the terrain gradually settles. Once past these initial elevations, the course transitions into flatter, more rhythmic running through the central city and around Lake Union. Scenic stretches include portions through the University of Washington area, the Washington Park Arboretum, Interlaken Park, Gas Works Park and Green Lake. Several landmark bridge crossings — including the Ship Canal Bridge and the Aurora Bridge — add to the variety, offering expansive views across Seattle’s water corridors.

The course is run primarily on paved roads and is designed to showcase both the city’s built environment and its extensive green spaces. The finish on the waterfront marks a significant update to the event’s structure, replacing the long-standing Memorial Stadium finish. The shift to Pier 66 provides a dramatic final approach, with Elliott Bay setting the backdrop for the closing stretch. Beginning in 2026, the final two miles will move from Elliott Avenue to Seattle’s new waterfront trail, making the finish even more pedestrian-friendly and scenic.

Organised by the Seattle Marathon Association, the event has maintained its community roots while growing into a major regional race. Before the pandemic, it delivered an estimated $2 million annual economic benefit to the city. Although known for its rolling terrain rather than flat speed, the Seattle Marathon rewards patient pacing, strong climbing and an appreciation for the city’s varied topography and distinctive urban outlook.