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Marathon Details - Yakima River Canyon Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > WA > Yakima > Yakima River Canyon Marathon

Yakima River Canyon Marathon

Yakima River Canyon Marathon & Half Marathon

Yakima, WA USA

April 6, 2024

http://www.databarevents.com/yakimarivercanyon

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Race Details

This point-to-point marathon course is exceptionally scenic as it offers spectacular views of the Yakima River Canyon. It starts on Canyon Road .2 mile south of the Berry Road intersection in Ellensburg, Washington. After two loops, it proceeds directly south to the canyon. There are two major hills and many curves as the course follows the Yakima River downstream on the asphalt surfaced highway. The long downhill just before the finish in rural Selah, Washington, near the canyons mouth contributes to the net elevation loss of a few hundred feet as it brings the runners to the Yakima Valley orchard and ranch country.

Contact Information

Name:	Lenore and Bob Dolphin
Address:	Hard Core Runner's Club 310 S 50th Ave Yakima, WA 98908
Phone Number:	509-966-0188
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (74)

Course 4.8

Organization 4.8

Spectators 3.1

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Number of comments: 74 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > ]

O. P. from Sammamish, WA (3/24/2015) "A runner's marathon" (about: 2014) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you run for the joy of the sport, this is the race for you. If you think 'boooring' when other races boast of a 'flat, fast course', this is the one you want. Spectacular scenery and a well organized no-frills crew. I ran by a coyote skeleton and the remains of an elk that had tumbled down the cliffs. Wow! Howling wind in your face through the gaps, and a long hill near the finish. 'Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.'
A. B. from Boston area, MA (4/22/2014) "Wonderful weekend of events" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I am pursuing the 50 states and chose this marathon for my WA race because of the wonderful things I'd heard about Bob and Lenore Dolphin. I was very happy with my choice. As recommended, I went to the Yakima area for the entire weekend so that I could experience everything: the pasta dinner Friday night, the post-race potato feed, and the breakfast Sunday morning. I recommend staying in or near Selah or Yakima so you are close to all of these activities. The race starts in Ellensburg and there is a hotel there, but everything else other than the race start is in the Yakima area. And the shuttle bus to the start from Selah works great. I opted to take the early start (with permission) because I am slow and while it made for a very early morning, it was a wonderful choice to start with other slow but fun people. Pros: -Organization is top-notch. Every little detail was taken care of (for example, they even put a label on your gear bag) -Course is gorgeous. -Good value (race fee includes pasta dinner and post-race potato feed) -They post articles and pictures from previous years on the wall at the pasta dinner which is really special -You can buy a photo of yourself at the finish area for $20.00. Pack a 20 dollar bill in your shorts! -Weather was great in 2014 (cool with little wind) -Dolphins treat everyone like family, and there are such friendly and seasoned participants -I like the baseball-style cotton shirt; different than the typical tech shirt we get -They put out clothes that were dumped at the previous year's race for us to use (and they were washed!) -Women got a rose at the finish line Cons: -Camber in the road was relentless. Towards the end of the marathon I was so sick of the slanted road. -First water stop was not until after mile 6 for the early start folks (I heard it was after mile 3 for the regular start folks) -More water stops needed -Pasta dinner went on way too long. I had to miss the speaker (Kathrine Switzer) because I needed to get to bed and she didn't start until 7:45. With a 4am wake-up call, I couldn't wait. Please note that all of the wonderful meals do go on for a long time because there are so many awards, prizes, speeches, etc. You might want to build this into your schedule. I had to leave the breakfast mid-way through because I didn't realize everyone would introduce themselves and stories would be told. I am so glad I did this marathon while the Dolphins were the race directors. This is the ideal race for slower participants who want to be treated fairly and honored. I stayed in Seattle for a couple of nights before and after the race as I had never been to the area, and I absolutely LOVED my visit there.
T. L. from Dallas, Texas (4/9/2014) "Beautiful course, but organization needs updating" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 This was my 36th different marathon. Pros: Beautiful courseworth the challenging hills and camber in road. No issues with buses at start or finish. We had an indoor facility to wait in at the start. Cons: The medal is beyond cheap. The worst medal I have ever receivedso disappointing! The woman sped up the singing of the National Anthem at the start to a point where people were laughing like it was a joke. If you don't have time to sing it then don't sing it. The first water stop wasn't until after 3 miles, and they were few and far between after that. They need more than 11 stops. The pasta dinner ran on too long with awards and memorials. At 7:45 Katherine Switzer had yet to take the stage, so we left and missed what we really came to hear. Their medical at the finish was a joke. They didn't even have Ibuprofin. My friend needed an IV, so they actually called an ambulance (even though there were 3 ambulances parked at the finish), and took her to the ER at a local hospital! Other things worth mentioning: Cotton finisher's shirt instead of tech top. No real food at the finishjust snacks. It's a no-frills finish. I bought a race photo at the finish ($20). There is not a lot to do in Selah or Yakima. I'd suggest staying in Seattle the night before, as you can pick up your packet race morning. Overall, it was one of the prettiest marathons I have ever run, but I think this race needs some updating!
Ruth Morley from Cincinnati, OH (4/9/2014) "An interlude in nature to cherish" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This ranked among the most beautiful marathons I've done. As a racewalker, I was alone the whole time, and cherished the opportunity to spend hours of solitude with the river, barren hillsides, cliffs, fishermen and the occasional cabins and wineries. The fact that this year's weather was reported to be the best of many years certainly didn't hurt! If you want hordes of cheering supporters, look elsewhere. But if you want an extremely supportive, 'down home' environment at the pre- and post-race dinners and with the volunteers at the aid stations, look no further. What a wonderful opportunity to soak up the beauty of this corner of the world, with friendly, helpful folks there for you every 2-3 miles. I can see why some people choose to do this marathon every year. I found myself extremely appreciative of the stark beauty of this canyon and the gift of my physical ability to traverse its length by foot.
F. B. from Seattle (4/5/2014) "How can you not just LOVE LOVE LOVE the Dolphins??" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Yakima River Canyon Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 No matter what the weather throws at you (my course PR was in the snow/sleet in 2012, and today with a beautiful day, the winds were brutal (for me) and I was slower than ever!) this is simply one of my favorite races. The Dolphin team are inspirational just plain and simple! It can be (and has been for me!) a PR course, but it's a real crap-shoot on the weather as to whether you'll PR or not. If you crave the big city races with lots of give-aways and people cheering every 100 yards, this isn't for you. If you want to feel like you're worth a million bucks as a runner, you want to have some peace and tranquility away from the commercial marathons, and want to be treated like a queen/king, then this is the race for you! There is simply nothing better than cheering Bob on on course and the Lenore hug at the end!
S. S. from Washington, USA (4/7/2013) "Holy Windy Course Batman!" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Beautiful marathon course! The wind whipping through the canyon was certainly a challenge that I was not prepared for. The hills were long (the hill that begins just before mile 22 is more than a mile long). Contrary to other reviews, the last 3 miles are not all downhill. Prepare yourself. Excellent volunteers at all the aid stations! Course was long (26.41) even with running the inside of all of the curves. As mentioned before by other reviewers the camber of the road can be hard on the legs. Interesting finisher shirt. Overall not a bad marathon for someone wanting to enjoy the scenery and not concerned with a PR.
P. F. from OR (4/3/2012) "The Best Marathon Event in the USA" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Yakima River Canyon Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Others have addressed the beautiful scenic course. Including the snow at the start the entire experience was memorable. The excellently organized event is hosted by RD's Bob & Lenore Dolphin. Beginning with the pre-race pasta dinner, all that makes a great Marathon happen and the post-race dinner/award event the entire weekend was a classic. The 2012 YRCM was Bob Dolphin's 500th. Marathon. It was a privilege to be a part of the festivities.
J. G. from Newmarket, NH (5/3/2011) "HIGHLY recommended, beautiful course!!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I give spectators 5 stars because the ones who were out there were awesome!! I regret missing the pasta party. I heard it was excellent... but I flew out the day before on the 6 a.m. flight from Boston, and we had a snowstorm, so I was delayed. At least made it the morning of the race! Loved getting a cotton t-shirt since I have so many tech shirts now! The race organizers and volunteers were excellent! Loved being able to buy my picture at the finish... and such a nice presentation with the course and rose! Runners were very friendly. I'll never forget the course views... I ran with my camera and have a great slide show! What a great West Coast marathon - sweet memories!!
J. R. from Calgary Alberta (4/8/2011) "serene and beautiful" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race had majestic views that created a mood of serenity. This was one race where I didn't care that there were not a lot of fans because the scenery was all you needed. It even distracted me from a couple of pretty wicked hills. The lone ghetto blaster placed in a rock at the top of the hill playing "Highway to Hell" was classic. I would definitely tell friends about this one!
j. m. from Mill Creek, Wa (4/7/2011) "My favorite race" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 4-5 Yakima River Canyon Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a race that is designed for runners and not as a backdrop for corporate logos. Heck, the shirt has no sponsor logos. Plus the competitors seem to be the friendliest of any race that I've done. The race is a pure point-to-point, with no backtracking. The race loses about 300' over the 26 miles, but there are hills at 14, 18 and 23 miles (mile 23 is the high point so the last 3 miles lose 100' apiece - it's nice to have gravity's assistance when you need it most). The course is on a state highway, so it is fairly wide, and the hills are not steep. The first 5 miles are OK scenery-wise, but the last 21 are about as good as it gets. Aside from the 3 hills where the course pulls away from the river, the river is your companion. The walls of the canyon shoot up at about 45 degrees about 1,500' above the river. There are portions where you will be running along the base of 200' cliffs. This is a desert canyon. There was a small rockslide caused by some bighorn sheep above us. Due to clouds in the distance we were not treated to a view of Mt. Adams at the 25 mile mark. It seemed that there were 2 or 3 times as many cars on the road this year. There had been heavy rains the previous days, so instead of the clear Yakima River, the river looked like chocolate milk, with a few logs and branches along for the ride (unlike in previous years, the river was traveling faster than runners were). The course is closed, so aside from the aid stations (as always staffed by wonderful people), their are no spectators - only the other runners.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > ]



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O. P. from Sammamish, WA (3/24/2015) "A runner's marathon" (about: 2014) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you run for the joy of the sport, this is the race for you. If you think 'boooring' when other races boast of a 'flat, fast course', this is the one you want. Spectacular scenery and a well organized no-frills crew. I ran by a coyote skeleton and the remains of an elk that had tumbled down the cliffs. Wow! Howling wind in your face through the gaps, and a long hill near the finish. 'Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.'
A. B. from Boston area, MA (4/22/2014) "Wonderful weekend of events" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I am pursuing the 50 states and chose this marathon for my WA race because of the wonderful things I'd heard about Bob and Lenore Dolphin. I was very happy with my choice. As recommended, I went to the Yakima area for the entire weekend so that I could experience everything: the pasta dinner Friday night, the post-race potato feed, and the breakfast Sunday morning. I recommend staying in or near Selah or Yakima so you are close to all of these activities. The race starts in Ellensburg and there is a hotel there, but everything else other than the race start is in the Yakima area. And the shuttle bus to the start from Selah works great. I opted to take the early start (with permission) because I am slow and while it made for a very early morning, it was a wonderful choice to start with other slow but fun people. Pros: -Organization is top-notch. Every little detail was taken care of (for example, they even put a label on your gear bag) -Course is gorgeous. -Good value (race fee includes pasta dinner and post-race potato feed) -They post articles and pictures from previous years on the wall at the pasta dinner which is really special -You can buy a photo of yourself at the finish area for $20.00. Pack a 20 dollar bill in your shorts! -Weather was great in 2014 (cool with little wind) -Dolphins treat everyone like family, and there are such friendly and seasoned participants -I like the baseball-style cotton shirt; different than the typical tech shirt we get -They put out clothes that were dumped at the previous year's race for us to use (and they were washed!) -Women got a rose at the finish line Cons: -Camber in the road was relentless. Towards the end of the marathon I was so sick of the slanted road. -First water stop was not until after mile 6 for the early start folks (I heard it was after mile 3 for the regular start folks) -More water stops needed -Pasta dinner went on way too long. I had to miss the speaker (Kathrine Switzer) because I needed to get to bed and she didn't start until 7:45. With a 4am wake-up call, I couldn't wait. Please note that all of the wonderful meals do go on for a long time because there are so many awards, prizes, speeches, etc. You might want to build this into your schedule. I had to leave the breakfast mid-way through because I didn't realize everyone would introduce themselves and stories would be told. I am so glad I did this marathon while the Dolphins were the race directors. This is the ideal race for slower participants who want to be treated fairly and honored. I stayed in Seattle for a couple of nights before and after the race as I had never been to the area, and I absolutely LOVED my visit there.
T. L. from Dallas, Texas (4/9/2014) "Beautiful course, but organization needs updating" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 This was my 36th different marathon. Pros: Beautiful courseworth the challenging hills and camber in road. No issues with buses at start or finish. We had an indoor facility to wait in at the start. Cons: The medal is beyond cheap. The worst medal I have ever receivedso disappointing! The woman sped up the singing of the National Anthem at the start to a point where people were laughing like it was a joke. If you don't have time to sing it then don't sing it. The first water stop wasn't until after 3 miles, and they were few and far between after that. They need more than 11 stops. The pasta dinner ran on too long with awards and memorials. At 7:45 Katherine Switzer had yet to take the stage, so we left and missed what we really came to hear. Their medical at the finish was a joke. They didn't even have Ibuprofin. My friend needed an IV, so they actually called an ambulance (even though there were 3 ambulances parked at the finish), and took her to the ER at a local hospital! Other things worth mentioning: Cotton finisher's shirt instead of tech top. No real food at the finishjust snacks. It's a no-frills finish. I bought a race photo at the finish ($20). There is not a lot to do in Selah or Yakima. I'd suggest staying in Seattle the night before, as you can pick up your packet race morning. Overall, it was one of the prettiest marathons I have ever run, but I think this race needs some updating!
Ruth Morley from Cincinnati, OH (4/9/2014) "An interlude in nature to cherish" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This ranked among the most beautiful marathons I've done. As a racewalker, I was alone the whole time, and cherished the opportunity to spend hours of solitude with the river, barren hillsides, cliffs, fishermen and the occasional cabins and wineries. The fact that this year's weather was reported to be the best of many years certainly didn't hurt! If you want hordes of cheering supporters, look elsewhere. But if you want an extremely supportive, 'down home' environment at the pre- and post-race dinners and with the volunteers at the aid stations, look no further. What a wonderful opportunity to soak up the beauty of this corner of the world, with friendly, helpful folks there for you every 2-3 miles. I can see why some people choose to do this marathon every year. I found myself extremely appreciative of the stark beauty of this canyon and the gift of my physical ability to traverse its length by foot.
F. B. from Seattle (4/5/2014) "How can you not just LOVE LOVE LOVE the Dolphins??" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Yakima River Canyon Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 No matter what the weather throws at you (my course PR was in the snow/sleet in 2012, and today with a beautiful day, the winds were brutal (for me) and I was slower than ever!) this is simply one of my favorite races. The Dolphin team are inspirational just plain and simple! It can be (and has been for me!) a PR course, but it's a real crap-shoot on the weather as to whether you'll PR or not. If you crave the big city races with lots of give-aways and people cheering every 100 yards, this isn't for you. If you want to feel like you're worth a million bucks as a runner, you want to have some peace and tranquility away from the commercial marathons, and want to be treated like a queen/king, then this is the race for you! There is simply nothing better than cheering Bob on on course and the Lenore hug at the end!
S. S. from Washington, USA (4/7/2013) "Holy Windy Course Batman!" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Beautiful marathon course! The wind whipping through the canyon was certainly a challenge that I was not prepared for. The hills were long (the hill that begins just before mile 22 is more than a mile long). Contrary to other reviews, the last 3 miles are not all downhill. Prepare yourself. Excellent volunteers at all the aid stations! Course was long (26.41) even with running the inside of all of the curves. As mentioned before by other reviewers the camber of the road can be hard on the legs. Interesting finisher shirt. Overall not a bad marathon for someone wanting to enjoy the scenery and not concerned with a PR.
P. F. from OR (4/3/2012) "The Best Marathon Event in the USA" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Yakima River Canyon Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Others have addressed the beautiful scenic course. Including the snow at the start the entire experience was memorable. The excellently organized event is hosted by RD's Bob & Lenore Dolphin. Beginning with the pre-race pasta dinner, all that makes a great Marathon happen and the post-race dinner/award event the entire weekend was a classic. The 2012 YRCM was Bob Dolphin's 500th. Marathon. It was a privilege to be a part of the festivities.
J. G. from Newmarket, NH (5/3/2011) "HIGHLY recommended, beautiful course!!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I give spectators 5 stars because the ones who were out there were awesome!! I regret missing the pasta party. I heard it was excellent... but I flew out the day before on the 6 a.m. flight from Boston, and we had a snowstorm, so I was delayed. At least made it the morning of the race! Loved getting a cotton t-shirt since I have so many tech shirts now! The race organizers and volunteers were excellent! Loved being able to buy my picture at the finish... and such a nice presentation with the course and rose! Runners were very friendly. I'll never forget the course views... I ran with my camera and have a great slide show! What a great West Coast marathon - sweet memories!!
J. R. from Calgary Alberta (4/8/2011) "serene and beautiful" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Yakima River Canyon Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race had majestic views that created a mood of serenity. This was one race where I didn't care that there were not a lot of fans because the scenery was all you needed. It even distracted me from a couple of pretty wicked hills. The lone ghetto blaster placed in a rock at the top of the hill playing "Highway to Hell" was classic. I would definitely tell friends about this one!
j. m. from Mill Creek, Wa (4/7/2011) "My favorite race" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 4-5 Yakima River Canyon Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a race that is designed for runners and not as a backdrop for corporate logos. Heck, the shirt has no sponsor logos. Plus the competitors seem to be the friendliest of any race that I've done. The race is a pure point-to-point, with no backtracking. The race loses about 300' over the 26 miles, but there are hills at 14, 18 and 23 miles (mile 23 is the high point so the last 3 miles lose 100' apiece - it's nice to have gravity's assistance when you need it most). The course is on a state highway, so it is fairly wide, and the hills are not steep. The first 5 miles are OK scenery-wise, but the last 21 are about as good as it gets. Aside from the 3 hills where the course pulls away from the river, the river is your companion. The walls of the canyon shoot up at about 45 degrees about 1,500' above the river. There are portions where you will be running along the base of 200' cliffs. This is a desert canyon. There was a small rockslide caused by some bighorn sheep above us. Due to clouds in the distance we were not treated to a view of Mt. Adams at the 25 mile mark. It seemed that there were 2 or 3 times as many cars on the road this year. There had been heavy rains the previous days, so instead of the clear Yakima River, the river looked like chocolate milk, with a few logs and branches along for the ride (unlike in previous years, the river was traveling faster than runners were). The course is closed, so aside from the aid stations (as always staffed by wonderful people), their are no spectators - only the other runners.

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Marathon Details - Yakima River Canyon Marathon