Marathons are the worst.
But after a seven-year hiatus from marathon running, I decided it was time to make one more attempt at qualifying for the Boston Marathon. My last try in 2017 was a disaster, but after some successful half-marathons, the benefit of getting older, and a slightly slower qualifying time, I decided it was time to chase that BQ dream once more.
My first step was looking for a fast course. I’d read about people doing CIM or other “downhill” courses, but I wanted something I could drive to from Portland, ideally towards the end of summer 2024. I was in great shape and wanted to give myself every opportunity for success. Because of this, I found myself drawn to the Light at the Tunnel Marathon series. Recommended by friends for its net downhill course and beautiful scenery, it seemed like the ideal choice.
There are three races on this course, with almost identical names: one in June, one in August (the one I did), and one in September. The only thing different about them is the date.
Getting There
The night before, I drove up from Portland and stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn just outside Seattle in Issaquah. The race website provided several lodging options, all with discounts. This was about a 40-minute drive from the starting line at the Hyak Sno-Park, but it was the closest option I could find. I used the drive to digest my morning carbs and listen to my race pump-up jams.
We arrived at Hyak Sno-Park about an hour early, got in line for the porta-potties, and waited for the race to begin. It was very easy. Bring your own water and make sure you pay attention to the time. After zoning out for an hour, we almost missed the starting line and made a quick, final emergency pee in the woods.
There were indeed many runners from the Pacific Northwest, but I spent my time in the porta-line chatting with people from all over the world. I met folks from Texas, Amsterdam, Japan, and Minnesota who flew out to do this race specifically because it was touted as being fast.
Well, we’ll see about that!
The Course
The race gets its name because the first 2.5ish miles are run through an old railroad tunnel. This is weird, and people either like it or not. I’m 50/50 about it. The tunnel was cold and wet, and running with a headlamp was required. I sometimes felt disoriented and had to stare straight down at the ground to ensure I wasn’t stepping into a pothole or puddle.
Thankfully, they had mile markers in the tunnel, as my watch was utterly useless. The tunnel portion went by remarkably quickly, and we were out on the open course. So maybe I do like it – it caused me to slow down (I always go out too fast), and because it was so different, the first 20 minutes or so went by in a blink.
After dumping our headlamps in bins at the end of the tunnel, we were treated to some stunning views and a gentle 2% decline. This was amazing! Imagine running down a very gentle downhill. It doesn’t feel like you’re running downhill in the sense that your legs get pounded to a pulp, but it just seems a bit easier than perhaps it should. The temptation here would be to speed up and blow up your entire race. Thankfully, I didn’t and flew through the race’s first half perfectly on pace with a BQ in sight…
The scenery was beautiful, although cloudy weather obscured most of the day’s views. There were a couple of bridges and plenty of shaded areas along the way, which made for a pleasant run. The aid stations were also well placed. I carried my own fuel and a handheld bottle because I’m a control freak, but you wouldn’t need to unless you wanted more control. The aid stations seemed more or less the same as any of the other nine “big city” marathons I’ve done. Porta potties along the way did seem more sparse, but there were LOTS of people coming out of the woods doing their business. So there’s that.
Another unique aspect of this race was the small, supportive community. All races have that to a degree, but knowing that almost everyone was there with a BQ in mind, it felt like we were all pursuing something bigger than an “I just want to finish” goal. From chatting with fellow runners at the hotel before the race to the enthusiastic support at aid stations, it felt like a close-knit event.
There were always a couple of other people to run with, which helped me in the final eight or so miles. This is the place during a marathon when my wheels start to fall off. I don’t know if it was because of the downhill or the support of everyone around me, but the wheels stayed on, and I eeked out a BQ with literally 0 seconds to spare!
The Finish
The finish line was small but festive, with plenty of food, water, and a “cold plunge” tub to soothe those aching muscles. It wasn’t cold by the time I hobbled over, but my legs were so trashed after a hard effort and the mild downhill that I couldn’t have stepped into the tub if I’d wanted. We snapped some pics and then got on the bus, which took us back to a school parking lot where my buddy’s wife had parked. There was another shuttle to take runners back to the starting parking lot, which was another 30-minute or so drive. If you can, I highly recommend having a friend or family member meet you at the finish line to get you home!
If you’re looking for a small, fast marathon, I can’t recommend the Tunnel Series enough. The race logistics were well-organized, making it easy to get to the starting line and back to the car after finishing. While the downhill course left my legs in more pain than I’ve ever felt from running, I did achieve my Boston qualifying time! I would consider doing this race again—it truly was a fantastic experience.
