Seattle, WA
Seattle's most scenic half marathon.
A flat half marathon with stupendous views of downtown Seattle, Blake Island, Vashon Island and Puget Sound.
About the race
Two days of racing — run both in the Blowhole Challenge!
The Orca Half is a flat, USATF certified half marathon along the West Seattle waterfront, with stupendous views of downtown Seattle, Blake Island, Vashon Island and Puget Sound. It starts at Lincoln Park and finishes at the Don Armeni Boat Launch, and if the day is kind to you, you might even see a pod of orcas while you run.
Race weekend is two days, September 19th and 20th, 2026. The half marathon runs both days, and the Orca 8-Miler joins on Sunday. Run the half on both days and you have taken on the Blowhole Challenge.
It is part of the high-quality, locally-owned, runner-oriented family of Orca Running events, and as with all of them, it benefits a local non-profit — this year, Whale Scout.
The Course
A USATF certified 13.1 miles, point to point, with a small out-and-back section at the beginning. From Lincoln Park you run north along the West Seattle shoreline to the Don Armeni Boat Launch, with views of downtown Seattle, Blake Island, Vashon Island and Puget Sound the whole way. It is pretty darned flat.
Roads are not closed to traffic, but the parking lane is cleared of cars — runners will be in the parking lane, on sidewalks and on the Alki Trail. Because the route is narrow in places, pre-assigned waves of 150 participants or fewer start every 10 minutes.
The start line is about a 1/2 mile hike (mostly downhill) from the shuttle drop off zone down to the waterfront.
Both courses are point to point, with a small out and back section in the beginning. Half marathon participants will do another short out and back starting around mile 2.25 then another longer one towards the end. Runners will be in the parking lane, sidewalks, and on the Alki Trail. Roads will not be closed to traffic, but the parking lane will be clear of cars. Please do not run in the road!
Pacers are available for 1:45, 2:00 and 2:15 finish times.
Eight miles on the same flat, scenic West Seattle waterfront, finishing at the Don Armeni Boat Launch. It runs on Sunday only, starting at 8:15am after the half marathon waves have gone out. From Lincoln Park you run north along the West Seattle shoreline to the Don Armeni Boat Launch, with views of downtown Seattle, Blake Island, Vashon Island and Puget Sound the whole way. It is pretty darned flat.
Roads are not closed to traffic, but the parking lane is cleared of cars — runners will be in the parking lane, on sidewalks and on the Alki Trail. Because the route is narrow in places, pre-assigned waves of 150 participants or fewer start every 10 minutes.
The start line is about a 1/2 mile hike (mostly downhill) from the shuttle drop off zone down to the waterfront.
Both courses are point to point, with a small out and back section in the beginning. Runners will be in the parking lane, sidewalks, and on the Alki Trail. Roads will not be closed to traffic, but the parking lane will be clear of cars. Please do not run in the road!
All Orca races are cupless — bring a handheld or grab a small reusable folding cup at the start.
Entry
Bib mailed to you ($4.25) — Select the option during registration
Race morning — expect long lines — Shuttle pick-up area
Thursday, September 17th, 11:00am – 6:00pm — REI Seattle, 222 Yale Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Aid stations are located every 2–3 miles and are stocked with water, Tailwind Electrolytes and GU gels. This is a cupless race, so please bring a handheld bottle or a hydration pack, or buy a small re-usable cup that folds easily into your waistband.
We offer free gear check at the starting line, and we will transport your bag to the finish line. In an effort to reduce waste we do not provide drop bags, so please bring your own. We will have identification tags for you to use.
Overall awards go to the top 3 male, female and non-binary runners based on gun time rather than chip time, so start near the front of the pack for your distance. Age group awards are given in 5-year increments — be sure to check your results at the Orca Running tent. We do not mail out awards after the race; they must be picked up on the day.
The course closes at 1:00pm on Saturday and 12:00pm on Sunday. Participants still out on the course after that will not be removed, but may continue with the understanding that the finish line area and the aid stations will have been taken down.
The King County Water Taxi runs between downtown Seattle and West Seattle every 30 minutes or so and costs $5.75. Unfortunately, due to King County budget issues, the Water Taxi is not able to provide the early sailing for our runners this year, so if you are coming from downtown in the morning, plan on driving or a ride-share. The Water Taxi is a lovely way to get home afterwards.
Shuttles only run before the race. Participants are shuttled from the finish line at the Don Armeni Boat Ramp to the start line at Lincoln Park, leaving every 10–15 minutes starting at 6:30am. The ride is about 15 minutes, and there is a further 10–15 minute walk from the shuttle drop-off zone down to the start line on the waterfront, so plan accordingly to arrive at the start on time. There are no shuttles after the race.
Carpool! We really, really encourage you to carpool. All participants should park near the finish line at the Don Armeni Boat Ramp and take a shuttle to the start — there is plenty of on-street parking in and around Alki and West Seattle. Remember that shuttles only run before the race, not after, so leave your car where you will finish.
We recommend the Embassy Suites at Pioneer Square, about a 15 minute drive from the race finish line.
Can't make it in person?
The Orca Half has a virtual option. Run and log your race any time after your swag arrives. Virtual participants receive a shirt, medal and bib in the mail, shipped the week after the in-person race. Limited to 100 participants, and it counts towards your R-Pod medal.
Where your entry goes
Whale Scout leads the public in land-based whale watching experiences. We channel people's interest and passion about whales into on-the-ground salmon habitat restoration projects, protecting the primary food source of struggling orcas in Puget Sound.
Courthouse Dogs Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the use of expertly trained facility dogs to provide comfort and emotional support to vulnerable individuals navigating the legal system. By working alongside prosecutors, advocates and law enforcement, these dogs help reduce trauma for victims and witnesses during what can be some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Your donation helps expand this life-changing work, bringing calm, dignity and strength to those who need it most.
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Good to Know
The fine print
We have a clear set of policies that we uniformly follow for all races. Entries are not refundable, but you can defer your entry, transfer it to another race, or transfer it to another participant. You can review our full set of policies here.
There are no higher stakes than being kind to the earth; we care deeply about keeping our planet viable for the next generation. To that end, we organize our events with an eye towards minimizing our impact on the planet. Read more here.
Orca Running want to make sure that everyone feels welcome and safe at our running events and in our community. We have a non-binary registration option and a non-binary category for overall awards. If you have a suggestion or idea for how we can improve our events in this regard, please let us know!
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