Half Marathon
1 loop · 13.1 mi
One loop with all the trimmings. Fast for a PR.
Start 8:00 AM
41st Annual · Runs along Lake Washington
Seattle GhostMarathon A race like no other.
See the course
Race Restrictions: No dogs, strollers or wheelchairs due to the course width, mainly on sidewalks
Ferdinand Street Boat Launch, 5018 Lake Washington Blvd. Seattle, WA 98118 GPS 47.55778, -122.26225 - (GOOGLE MAP LINK)
Partners: Green Lake Rowing, NWEE, Chronokeep Timing
Flat & fast
A course built for a PR
Run south from the start, clockwise around Seward Park, then north along Lake Washington Boulevard past Leschi to the N turnaround and back, with minimal elevation, late-season cool air.
Certified
USATF measured, BQ certified
A certified course and a Boston Marathon qualifier, timed and scored chip-accurate. Late November is prime weather for a fast finish.
Hang Out After
Runner-first support
Fully stocked aid stations, tents and heaters at the finish, hot food, and a party that doesn't pack up early.
Pick your distance
Three races,
one lake.
Every event shares the same flat course along Lake Washington Boulevard with a loop around Seward Park. Choose the race distance that suits you.
Marathon
2 loops · 26.2 mi
Two loops. Certified, BQ course and famously flat.
Start 7:00 AM · early option 6:00 AM
50K
SEWARD PARK + 0.52 MI OUT AND BACK + 2 LOOPS - 31 MI
Run a lap of Seward Park plus a mile, then run the marathon.
Start 6:00 AM
Race day schedule
From dark
to daylight
Start early enough to finish by 1pm so you can have food and see your friends before the course closes. Check-in opens early, so does the coffee.
Drop off runners at the park entrance, then park in the neighborhood above.
-
5:00
Check-in opens
Packet pickup and bib collection for all runners. Arrive early to park and warm up.
-
5-8:00
Start early enough to finish by 1:00
Check in with the timer by the start finish line and start early enough to finish before 1:00.
-
6:00
50K & early marathon start
The 50K and the early-start marathon head out under headlamp, into the dark.
-
7:00
Marathon start
The main marathon field rolls out as the sky over the lake begins to lighten.
-
8:00
Half marathon start
The half launches into full morning, one loop of the boulevard ahead.
-
1:00
Runner finish time
Finish by 1pm so you can have food and see your friends before everything closes and we clean up.
-
2:00
Course, food and drink close and race cleanup begins
The course, aid stations, and finish recovery area close at 2:00 PM. Clean up begins so our volunteers who have been working since 4am can go home by 3pm.
Included
What's waiting
for you.
Your entry covers everything you will need to have a great race experience.
01
Stocked aid stations
Fully supplied stations around the loop. Fuel, fluids, and friendly faces when you need them.
02
Finisher hoodie
A warm finisher hoodie, not a flimsy tee. Earned, and built to actually wear.
03
Post-race meal
Hot food at the finish to put back what the lake took out of you.
04
Heaters & a party
Heaters at the finish and an atmosphere that sticks around for the back of the pack.
Runner guide
Get there,
park, run.
Everything you need to plan the morning. Have a question we didn't cover? It's probably in the FAQ below.
Parking
You can drop off on Lk WA Blvd at the Ferdinand Street Boat Launch Park but there is no parking in the race parking lot.
Free parking is available in the surrounding neighborhoods. No permit is required. Arrive early, give yourself a buffer, and respect the neighbors, this is a residential area.
Results
Live and final results are posted on ChronoKeep (LINK).
Good to know
- NOT ALLOWED: DOGS, STROLLERS, WHEEL CHAIRS. The race is run on sidewalks and does not have room to accommodate them.
- The course is a flat, fast out-and-back loop on Lake Washington Boulevard, clockwise around Seward Park.
- Half Marathon is one loop, Marathon is two loops, 50K adds an extra Seward Park +1 mile out and back after your first Seward Park loop.
- Aid stations are stocked and staffed every 3 miles.
- Finish by 1pm so you can have food and see your friends before everything closes and we clean up at 2:00.
- Want to help? We're always looking for volunteers, email us to join the crew.
Questions
FAQ
Is the course really flat and fast?
Yes. The course runs along Lake Washington Boulevard with looped sections around Seward Park, with minimal elevation change. It's USATF certified and a Boston Marathon qualifier.
What's the difference between the race distances?
The 13.1 mi half marathon is a single loop. The 26.2 mi marathon is two loops. The 50K is the marathon plus an additional loop of Seward Park and a half mile out and back at the start. All three share the same flat route.
When do I need to finish?
The course, aid stations, and finish recovery area all close at 2:00 PM. Check-in opens at 5:00 AM, and start times are staggered by distance, so plan your pace to finish by 1:00. If you need more time to please start early enough to do so.
Where do I park?
There is no parking in the start / finish park. Free parking is available in the surrounding neighborhoods with no permit required. Arrive early and be considerate of residents.
Can I have a drop bag?
Yes. We have a large drop bag area with tarps. It's best to bring a unique bag so it's easy to identify yours when looking through the sea of bags.
What's included with registration?
Fully stocked aid stations, a finisher medal and hoodie, a post-race meal, heaters at the finish, and a finish-line party. Registration is $150 plus fees (price to be confirmed for 2026) through RunSignUp.
Where do I see results?
Results are posted on ChronoKeep. The link will be shared here and on our social channels around race day.
Can I volunteer?
Absolutely. Volunteers make this race run. Email us to join the crew and we'll get you set up. We need people for registration, Leschi Aid Station, North Turnaround timing mat oversight, drop-off, a race announcer and others.
Why we run
The Seattle Ghost Marathon is run by NWUltras, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has no paid employees. Race proceeds fund K-12 digital access, programs and tools... for students in underserved communities, the tools and connectivity to learn.
Every entry puts a fast race on a beautiful course in front of you, and a laptop or a connection in front of a kid who didn't have one. That's the whole idea.