Annual Race to Bring Focus on Running, Music and Community with Distances for Everyone
TAMPA, Fla./SEATTLE, Wash. (March 29, 2019) – The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series® has announced brand-new courses for the 2019 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll® Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, taking place Friday, June 7 through Sunday, June 9. This year’s brand-new course – which both starts and ends at Seattle Center – will feature some of Seattle’s most beautiful vistas, including Downtown Seattle, Fremont, Queen Anne Hill, Kerry Park, Woodland Park, and Green Lake.
“This year’s St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon weekend is going to provide runners with a picturesque environment as the newly updated course takes them through some of the Emerald City’s most prominent neighborhoods and shows off its best features,” said Dave Christen, Northwest Regional Director for Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. “From gorgeous views of the Seattle skyline, to waterfront running and mountain backdrops, this course features something for everyone. We are excited for people from all over to experience not only the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, but also the magic of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series.”
Participants of both the marathon and half marathon will embark on the new course from Seattle Center beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 9. Following their departure from the home of the Space Needle, runners will experience great runner support and community engagement as they move along to the music with live on-course bands, all while taking in some of the best scenery the Emerald City has to offer.
The updated course leads runners through downtown Seattle on 5th Avenue before turning and heading up north on Interstate 5 and crossing the Ship Canal Bridge. Runners will then continue on a beautiful stretch of the course that features waterfront views along Lake Union. While running along the water, athletes will pass by Brooks Trailhead – the one and only retail store of Brooks Running Shoes, the Official Footwear & Apparel of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series.
Athletes will then continue along Lake Union and through the Fremont Google Campus before heading back down south as the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon and 1/2 Marathon will become the first running event to cross the Ballard Bridge. Participants will pass through the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood and pass right by the famous Grey’s Anatomy intern house. Just around the corner, participants will be treated to views of the Seattle skyline as they pass by Kerry Park as they make their way back to the Seattle Center.
Marathoners will continue up Aurora Avenue and over Lake Union via the Aurora Bridge. After looping around the glistening waters of Green Lake, runners will head south through Woodland Park before heading back to Seattle Center where their finish line will greet them at the Museum of Pop Culture.
Event week for the 2019 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon kicks off with a free and open to the public Health & Fitness Expo in the West Hall at the CenturyLink Field Event Center on Friday, June 7 from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 8 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. All race participants must visit the expo to pick up their race numbers and can browse the displays and vendors featuring free samples, the latest in running gear and sports apparel, as well as a series of interactive clinics.
On Saturday, June 8, the 5K presented by Brooks takes off in Tukwila starting and finishing at the Museum of Flight just south of Seattle. Runners will get to experience a unique route that winds through the Aviation Pavilion and onto E Marginal Way running alongside Boeing Field. Following the event, runners and their families will be welcomed into the Museum of Flight. All 5K presented by Brooks participants get to enter the museum for free on Saturday and get to experience the Museum of Flight’s “Summer of Space” which includes Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission open from April 13 to September 2.