The 43rd Annual Tri-Cities Marathon & Relay will be held Sunday, October 25, 2026!

 

Remembering Richard "Keith" Fuller. 1957-2025

 

Join us at the Riverfront Hotel in Richland to run 13.1 or 26.2! Don't feel like going that far? You can also form a relay team of up to four for the marathon.

 

Improvements for 2026 are already taking shape! We cannot wait to announce them!

 

Registration:

Super Early Bird (November 1 - December 31): $70 Marathon / $55 Half Marathon / $140 Relay Team

Early Bird (January 1 - April 30): $80 Marathon / $65 Half Marathon / $160 Relay Team

Standard (May 1 - October 9): $90 Marathon / $75 Half Marathon / $180 Relay Team

Late (October 10 and after): $100 Marathon / $85 Half Marathon / $200 Relay Team

 

No paper registrations outside of packet pickup and race morning.

 

Each entry fee covers: Full course support with aid stations every 2 miles, free event t-shirt, finisher's medal, fully automatic chip timing and more. Relay fee is fixed regardless of how many runners are on your team.

 

Schedule:

 

Packet Pickup & Late Registration:

Friday 4-6pm at Fleet Feet Tri-Cities, with shakeout run and Q&A with Director.

Saturday TBD

Sunday 6am at Riverfront Hotel south parking lot. Last minute registration ends 30 minutes before the gun. Number pickup ends 15 minutes before the gun.

 

Race Day:

Early Start Option: 7:00AM

Pre-Race Ceremony: 7:55AM

Marathon & Marathon Relay Start: 8:00AM. Wheelchair start 1 minute before runners.

Half Marathon Start: 9:00AM

Course Closes: 2:00PM

Awards Podium: 5 minutes after 3rd place finishes. Age group winners claim awards immediately on finish, once your placing is confirmed.

 

Future Editions:

The Tri-Cities Marathon has historically been held on the last Sunday of October, and going forward it will not change without plenty of advance notice. You can expect it to be held on the following dates:

October 31, 2027

October 29, 2028

October 28, 2029

October 27, 2030

 

Course:

 

AllTrails Map Link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-august-10-2024-4afe044

PlotARoute Map Link: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2773091

 

The Half Marathon course is 6.55 miles out-and-back into Pasco, turning around on the trail just before the Road 54 boat launch. This is a USATF certified course through 2027.

 

The Marathon course is planned to be the same as 2024, again following the Pasco river trail past the Cable Bridge before crossing it into Kennewick. From there, the course is a mix of trail and bike lane going west on Columbia Park Trail. Turn north on the 240 side path and west towards Chamna Park, turning around about 1/3 of the way up the I-182 bridge. Follow the 240 trail back into Richland and to the Riverfront Hotel. USATF Certification for this course is in progress.

 

Relay Exchange 1 is at the Road 54 parking area in Pasco. Exchange 2 is at the turn into Columbia Park in Kennewick (just before the skate park). Exchange 3 is at the east end of Carrier Road in Richland. If your team does not have all 4 members, you may allocate the relay legs however you wish. Parking is generous at all 3 exchange points. You are responsible for arranging for transport to/from these points.

 

Both courses are mostly flat apart from the bridges. The final 8 miles of the Marathon course are slightly rolling. Elevation gain for the Marathon is about 400ft.

 

Every turn will be clearly marked with spray chalk, cones, signs, etc. and a friendly marshal if enough volunteer. (Yes, we need VOLUNTEERS!)  We will also have markers at every mile and 5km intervals. A comprehensive guide to the course can be found in the Athlete's Guide.

 

 

Aid Stations:

 

Aid Stations are approximately every 2 miles, and the pinpoint locations can be found on the AllTrails course map, along with the aid station document attached. You will get about 12 stations for the Marathon, 6 for the Half Marathon, and 2-3 for each relay leg. These stations will be stocked with water, electrolytes, energy gels, and other snacks. Info on each aid station will be posted in the Athlete's Guide and FAQ.

Let us know how we can improve our aid stations! They are a key component to a quality marathon experience, and being a small event means we are able to take a more individualized approach to them. What are some of your favorite things to take at aid stations? We are all ears to that!

Restrooms are located at the start/finish area, Mile 4 at Chiawana Park Road 88, Mile 7 at Wade Park Road 54, Mile 9 at Riverview Park 17th Avenue, Mile 13 at Columbia Park East Boat Launch, Mile 18 at Wade Park, and Mile 22 at Chamna Park. Some are portables, some are permanent. Some may be closed, we will check them before the race. Some are located right on the course path, others are a short ways off. If you leave the course, you should return at the spot where you left.

 

Awards:

Custom Finisher's medal for everyone who completes the distance (they're a lot nicer this year!) 

Special medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) for Top 3 men's and women's in both full and half distances.

Custom printed pint glasses for age group winners. 19U, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+, men's and women's. Also awarded to each member of the 2nd and 3rd place relay teams.

Custom plaque board for 1st place relay team.

The Director's Award is a small gift pack from our sponsors, Fleet Feet Tri-Cities. It is presented to the individual/team with the best display of athleticism, sportsmanship, spirit, perseverance, grit, etc. on race day. Anyone can win this award - local elites, casual joggers, walkers, even volunteers and spectators! The recipient will be announced after the race.

 

TCM Officials:

Referee: Sun-Yu Au

Timekeeper: Eric Ewing

 

Training:

 

"It's not about the destination, it's about the journey there" could not be more true for long distance events, and you never have to tackle this by yourself. The Tri-Cities has several great running coaches and groups.

Fleet Feet Richland is hosting a training program for the Half Marathon. Long Runs are 8AM Saturdays and Workouts are 6PM Wednesdays at their Richland location. Click the following link for more info. https://www.fleetfeet.com/s/tricities/training/fall-distance-training

The Richland RunFest also hosts a long run group. They currently meet Sundays at 7AM at the Wake Up Call Coffee near Howard Amon Park. Facebook Group Link: https://www.facebook.com/richlandrunfest

Both of these groups, as with most others in the area, welcome all paces and abilities. 

Other training groups may pop up here and there, and we will announce as many as we can on our web pages. If you prefer to train by yourself, there are many free training programs and pace calculators on the internet. Take full advantage of the resources around you!

 

 

Weather:

 

The weather in late October can vary greatly. In 2023, the start temperature was 25F with minimal wind. In 2024, the start temperature was in the 40s but with extreme winds up to 20mph. The average conditions are low 30s with a slight wind blowing east. Please plan for any conditions! The race will be held regardless of conditions as long as it is safe.

 

 

Volunteers!!!

 

No organized running event would be possible without the help of volunteers. Between aid stations, course marshals, event setup, etc., we will need about 70-90 volunteers to make this event the best it can be, and of course any extra help we can get is greatly appreciated. Have family/friends not doing anything on a Sunday morning? Bring them out with you to help you and fellow runners on your way! (Did I mention fresh air is good for everyone?)

 

 

Records:

 

Men's Marathon: Michael Brady - 2:22:51 (1983)

Women's Marathon: Kari Hamilton - 2:54:06 (2023)

Men's Marathon, 2005 Course: Michael Williams - 2:30:25 (2023)

2024 Course: Miguel Ramirez - 2:46:22; Kari Hamilton - 2:56:17

 

Most Wins:

Men: Ian Sharman - 5 (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2024)

Women: Kari Hamilton - 3 (2019, 2023, 2025)

 

Men's Half Marathon: Steve Dion - 1:14:10 (2024)

Women's Half Marathon: Audra McPartland - 1:21:37 (2023)

 

 

 

Check back for more info as race day approaches! We can't wait to see you at the start line!