Spokane Marathon this weekend | Community Spirit

Runners are hoping the rain holds off for the Spokane Marathon this weekend.  The Spokane area has had more than 50 straight days without rain, providing runners with great days for training.  Now the skies are threatening.

The marathon kicks off bright and early Sunday morning in downtown Spokane at 8:00 o’clock.  There is also a Half-Marathon that begins at 9:00 o’clock and a 10k that starts at 8:30.

The marathon and half-marathon courses are daunting compared to other area races.

“Spokane is a lot tougher,” said Veronica VanAuck  “This one is a lot hillier.”

VanAuck is a 2007 graduate of Mead High School where she ran cross-country.

“I started running half marathons after I graduated,” said VanAuckland.

The course begins on Spokane Falls Boulevard and Howard Street.  Runners wind their way through Browne’s Addition, out Government Way, and into Riverside State Park.

The Half-Marathoners turn around near the park entrance and head back towards River Front Park.

The Marathoners continue out Aubrey L. White Parkway to 7-Mile road before crossing the river and heading back into town.

“It’s a beautiful course,” said Greta Olson, spokesperson for the marathon.

Beautiful and daunting.

For more than 30 years, Pettit Drive, otherwise known as “Doomsday Hill,” has haunted Bloomsday runners.  During that annual run, the hill greets runners at the 4 to 5 mile mark.  On Sunday, Doomsday Hill will greet marathoners at the 22 mile mark.

“It’s hilly, so I think that scares a lot of people off,” said Olson.

There are just a few more than 200 people registered for the marathon.

Half-marathoners will also face Doomsday Hill at roughly the 9 mile mark.

More than 950 runners are registered for the half-marathon.

Now all organizers and runners need is a little cooperation from the sky.

“It’s been sunny the last couple of years so we hope to continue that,” said Olson.