What Tacoma Needs: Tacoma Marathon

Early last week I had one of those perfect Pacific Northwest days.  I took a day off from work, grabbed the bicycle, and headed for Vashon Island.  As the ferry pulled away from Point Defiance a bald eagle flew across the bow of the boat and stopped at the top of a shoreline tree.  The day was beautiful. 

As I looked back toward shore I had the thought – Tacoma needs a marathon.  The Spokane Marathon is coming up in mid-October.  The Portland Marathon was last week.  The “Seattle Marathon” is always at the end of November.  If Spokane can have a marathon, why can’t we? 

Imagine an event that can start at our brand new convention center, head down Pacific toward the Tacoma Art Museum and Union Station,  and cross the bridge to the Museum of Glass.  The run could then turn down dock street toward Schuster Parkway, Ruston Way and Point Defiance.  A lap of the Point Defiance 5-mile drive, then the run could head back through some of our great neighborhoods.  Finish by heading up Tacoma Ave. or Yakima Ave. and back down through downtown to the convention center.  A few twists and turns would be needed to get the perfect number of miles, but the route would definitely be interesting and the hills would be memorable.

Maybe next year some of us should go for a little run and see how we feel about it.  I think a Tacoma Marathon is a perfect next step for our city. 

By the way, I will admit that the Spokane half-marathon is a great run and one of my favorites.  Even after we have our marathon I will continue to go over the mountains for this one.

Update:  I forgot to include the Capital City Marathon in Olympia.  I realize we have a great 12k, but it’s time to step it up!