Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon

Join us for one of the Pacific Northwest's most scenic Boston Qualifiers. Our marathon and half marathon point to point courses travel through the spectacular Yakima River Canyon on a USATF Certified course along paved Washington State Route 821 between Ellensburg and Selah, WA. 

Awards: We will offer overall and age-group awards this year. Awards will be distributed in real time at the finish line -- check for results at nsplit.com/results.  Details below.

Cutoff Times: We will enforce cut-off times this year. Those who feel that cannot complete the race comfortably in seven hours are urged to contact the race director and ask for the early start, which is two hours before the 8 a.m. regular start. We offer the early start for those anticipating they will be on the course for six-and-a-half hours or more, and the race director must approve your participation in the early start. Early starters are not eligible for age-group awards, which are handed out in real time at the finish line. Thank you for your understanding.

Price Increase: Marathon and Half Marathon prices increase by $10 on after Feb 27. Sign up early! Registration is online only, and there is no in person registration on race day or the day before.

Race Deferrals: If you decide to defer your entry to next year, the deadline for informing us is Feb. 27.

Half Marathon Limited to 200 Runners: As in past years, entries will be capped at 200 in the half-marathon due to logistics involving bus transportation. At this point, we have no limit on marathon participants.

RACE HEADQUARTERS: Selah Civic Center, 216 South First Street, Selah, Washington.

Entry Includes: The (Non-Refundable) Entry includes T-shirt, race-day transportation (if needed), finisher medal, and a finisher’s certificate.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

• FRIDAY, March 27th:
  • Packet pickup for the Marathon and Half-Marathon from 3-8 p.m. at the Selah Civic Center..
• SATURDAY, March 28th (Race Day):
  • Marathon packet pickup Saturday morning at the Ellensburg Days Inn, near the intersection of Berry Road and Canyon Road from 6-7:45 a.m.
  • Half-Marathon packet pickup Saturday morning at the Selah Civic Center from 6-7:45 a.m.

COURSE RECORDS, MAPS & DESCRIPTIONS:

• COURSE RECORDS (Marathon & Half Marathon) – Click Here
  MARATHON COURSE INFORMATION & MAPS
  START MAP – Click Here
  COURSE MAP – Click Here
  COURSE PROFILE – Click Here
  FINISH MAP – Click Here

 

MARATHON RACE START 
Use Exit 109 from I-90. Go south past the Buzz Inn and Flying J Truck Plaza. Take the first left onto Berry Road…to the race start headquarters at the Days Inn, 901 Berry Road. The starting line is on Canyon Road .2 mile south of the Berry Road intersection. (see map)  For safety reasons running in the right lane is recommended, but not mandatory.

 

MARATHON COURSE DESCRIPTION: This point-to-point Marathon course is exceptionally scenic as it offers spectacular views of the Yakima River Canyon. It starts on Canyon Road .2 mile south of the Berry Road intersection in Ellensburg, Washington. After two loops, it proceeds directly south to the canyon. There are two major hills and many curves as the course follows the Yakima River downstream on the asphalt surfaced highway. The long downhill just before the finish in rural Selah, Washington, near the canyon’s mouth contributes to the net elevation loss of a few hundred feet as it brings the runners to the Yakima Valley orchard and ranch country.

 

PERSONAL GEAR:
Drop bags to go to the Finish Area may be left at the designated vehicle in front of the Days Inn on race morning before 7:45 a.m. Do not place cash or expensive items in the bags. The bags will be supervised, but we will not be responsible for lost or stolen items.

 

COURSE SUPPORT:
Aid stations will be located every 2-3 miles to provide water, Powerade, and medical aid of band-aids and petroleum jelly. Medical personnel and restrooms will be available throughout the race.

 

RACE FINISH:
Use exit 26 from I-82. Take Highway 821 north about 3 miles. (see map)
There will be bus transportation from the finish area to the Selah Civic Center and to the Best Western Ahtanum Inn.

 

COURSE CLOSURE:
The course will be open for 7 hours. Runners and walkers who have not finished by 3:00 p.m. will be given rides to the finish area. Early starts are allowed only with special permission. Only official and local vehicles are allowed on the race course. Spectators may view the race at the start, finish, and Thrall Road intersection with Canyon Road. There are no accessible intersections in the canyon. No bicycles or baby joggers are allowed on the course.

 

HALF-MARATHON INFORMATION
START MAP – Click Here
COURSE MAP – Click Here
COURSE PROFILE – Click Here
FINISH MAP – Click Here

 

HALF MARATHON RACE START TIME & LOCATION:
The 9:30 a.m. start is at the 13.1 mile marker of the Marathon. All participants will be bused to the start. At 8:00 a.m. three buses will leave the Selah Civic Center, 216 South First Street, Selah, WA and one will leave from the Best Western Ahtanum Inn, 2408 Rudkin Road, Yakima, WA. There will be no early starts.

 

HALF MARATHON COURSE DESCRIPTION: This Half-Marathon course will start at the 13.1-Mile mark of the Marathon Course for a point-to-point. The course is exceptionally scenic as it offers spectacular views of the Yakima River Canyon. The Half Marathon Participants will be bused to the start (no need to reserve bus). Three buses will leave the Civic Center at 8:00 a.m. for the starting area, and one bus will leave the Best Western Ahtanum Inn (2408 Rudkin Road, Yakima) at 8:00 a.m.  SPECIAL NOTE:  NO EARLY START

 

Personal Gear to be taken to the Finish Area: 
Drop bags may be left on a designated bus at the start.

 

Course Closure:
The course will close at 3:00 p.m.

 

BUS SERVICE

• MARATHON – Buses will leave at 6:00 a.m. from the Selah Civic Center and the Best Western Ahtanum Inn to take participants to the Days Inn gathering area in Ellensburg.
• HALF MARATHON – Buses will leave at 8:00 a.m. from the Selah Civic Center and the Best Western Ahtanum Inn for the starting line at the 13.1 mile marker of the half marathon.

 
 
AWARDS & DIVISIONS:
Awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishers and to the first three finishers in the age divisions (male & female 19 and under, then five year increments to 85+). Awards will be distributed in real time at the finish line -- check for results at nsplit.com/results. All entrants will receive a T-shirt, and all finishers will receive a finishers medal.

 

LODGING, ACCOMMODATIONS & WEATHER:

YAKIMA, WA:
Best Western Ahtanum Inn, 2408 Rudkin Rd., 1-800-348-9701
*There will be race day bus service from the Best Western Ahtanum Inn to the starting areas and from the finish area
*Marathon Bus - 6:00a.m. Half Marathon Bus - 8:00a.m.

• ELLENBURG, WA: 
  Days Inn, 901 Berry Road, 1-888-889-9870
  Comfort Inn, 1722 Canyon Road, (509)925-7037
• OR CONTACT: 
  • Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau – 1-800-221-0751, (509)575-3010, or [email protected] 
  • Yakima Chamber of Commerce – (509)248-2021 or http://www.yakima.org 

 

WEATHER

The average low temperature this time of year is 29 degrees and the average high is 56 degrees.

 

ARCHIVED RESULTS

• CLICK HERE TO VIEW ARCHIVED RESULTS – YEARS 2001 – 2019
• 2022 – 2024 RACE RESULTS www.nsplit.com/results

THE GREAT RACE AND DEDICATED RACE DIRECTORS - RACE REVIEWS