Race Info
Why should you run in the Orca Half? Here are six seven reasons:
- Stupendous view of downtown Seattle, Blake Island, Vashon Island and Puget Sound!
- It’s pretty darned flat.
- People love the race! Read our reviews on RaceRaves.
- It’s part of the high-quality, locally-owned, runner-oriented family of Orca Running events.
- As with all Orca Running events, it benefits a local non-profit: The Whale Trail
- You might even see a pod of Orcas while running!
- The race is USATF Certified!
Register by August 20th to guarantee your shirt size!
Registration
If not already sold out online registration will close on September 15th, 2020 at 11:59pm. Register by August 20th, 2019 to guarantee your shirt size.
Registration Prices:
October: $72
November – December: $77
January – March: $82
April – June: $87
July – September: – $92
In person at packet pick-up or on race day: $100
Interested in signing up for more than one 2020 Orca Running race? Check out the 2020 Bundle and Save.
Be sure to review all of our registration policies by clicking here.
Course
proudly serving Nuun on course
See below for an online course map!
Click here for a PDF map.
The Orca Half is USATF certified! Certification number WA20004RMB
The race starts at Lincoln Park, which is located at: 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, Seattle, WA 98136
The course finishes at Don Armeni Boat Launch, located at: 1222 Harbor Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
The water taxi will have an early sailing specifically for the race departing downtown Seattle at 7:30am. You can see the rest of the schedule here.
Shuttles will take participants from the finish area to the start area before the race. There will be no shuttles after the race.
The start line is about a 1/2 mile hike (mostly downhill) from the shuttle drop off zone down to the waterfront.
The course is point to point, with two small out and back sections in the beginning and a 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!
There will be 6 aid stations approximately 2 miles apart. Aid stations will have water, Nuun electrolyte drink mix, Clif gels and….possibly…orcas!
To download a GPX file of the course, click here.
Swag
All participants will receive a t-shirt and a finisher medal.
2020 Shirt designed by Tlingit artist Alison Bremner Marks
Packet Pickup
Come to one of the two pre-race packet pick-ups, it’ll make for a much easier race morning!
Date: Thursday, September 17th
Location: West Seattle Runner
Time: 2:00pm-6:00pm
or
Date: Friday, September 18th
Location: Road Runner Sports Green Lake
Time: 12:00pm-6:00pm
You can also pick up your packet at the FINISH LINE before you take a shuttle to the start line between 6:30am- 8:30am. You cannot pick up your packet at the start line.
Results and Photos
2016 Photos:
http://www.gameface.photos/events?event_id=3064
https://woodinvillebicycle.smugmug.com/…/Orca-Half-Marathon/
Directions and Parking
Carpool! We really really encourage you to carpool. This is Seattle, after all. All participants must park near the finish line at the Don Armeni Boat Ramp as participants will be shuttled to the start. There is no parking at the start line at Lincoln Park as the shuttles will only run before the race, not afterwards.
There is plenty of on-street parking in and around Alki and West Seattle. Remember that the later you arrive, the greater the chance that you will need to walk a little ways to get to the start line. So plan ahead!
Shuttles
Shuttles ONLY run before the race. Participants will be shuttled from the finish line at the Don Armeni Boat Ramp to the start line at Lincoln Park. Shuttles will leave every 10-15 minutes starting at 6:30am.
The shuttle from the finish line to the start line is approximately 15 minutes so please plan accordingly to arrive at the start on time. There is also a 10-15 minute walk from the shuttle drop off zone down to the start line on the waterfront.
Schedule
Pre-race packet pickup is from 6:15am-8:30am.
Shuttles from the finish area to Lincoln Park (starting line area) will start at 6:30am and will run until 8:30am.
DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS WE HAVE NEW PHYSICAL DISTANCING MEASURES IN PLACE.
- The time printed on your bib is the time you should board the shuttle from the Don Armeni Boat Ramp
- The start line will be an open start line. This means you can start your race when you are ready.
- There will not be a typical mass start with announcements, all pre-race announcements will be in your pre-race email.
Wave 1: 7:20am (only corral eligible for overall awards)
Wave 2: 7:30am
Wave 3: 7:45am
Wave 4: 8:00am
Wave 5: 8:15am
Wave 6: 8:30am
Wave 7: 8:45am
Wave 8: 9:00am
Course closes: 1:00pm. Participants still out on the course after 1:00pm will not be removed from the course, but may continue with the understanding that the finish line area and aid stations will be removed at 1:00pm.
Charity Race Partner
The Orca Half is happy to announce that we are working with The Whale Trail, a West Seattle-based non-profit dedicated to inspiring appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment. A portion of every race entry will go to The Whale Trail. Look for their booth and volunteers on race day!
About Orcas
Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family. Also known as killer whales, they are one of the most widely distributed marine mammals, found in every ocean. Orcas are the top predator in the sea, and work together to hunt their prey.
Puget Sound is home to three pods of resident orcas: J, K and L pods. Together, they are known as the Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) population.
- K pod is the smallest SRKW pod, with 18 members.
- J-pod consists of 27 individuals, including the oldest whale and matriarch Granny.
- L pod is the largest group, with 33 individuals. L-pod sometimes travels as far south as Monterey Bay, and as far north as upper Vancouver Island.
Identification. We can tell orcas apart by their saddle patches, their dorsal fins, and their calls.
- Saddle-patches are unique to every individual, like fingerprints on humans.
- The shape of their dorsal fin is also unique. Male dorsal fins can be up to 6 feet high, while females are between 2 to 3 ft.
- Each pod has a unique call, and some calls are shared between pods.
Matriarchal. Resident orcas stay with their mothers their whole lives. Generations of whales from the same family travel together.
Diet. Some orcas eat marine mammals such as seals or whales. Others eat fish.
- What they eat, and how they hunt, is taught to them by their families.
- The SRKW are fish-eaters, preferring chinook salmon above all others.
Range. The southern resident range is around the southern end of Vancouver Island and along the Pacific Coast, as far south as Monterey.
- The SRKW return to the central Sound each fall, following salmon runs.
- The best time to see them near Seattle is October through February.
Capture Era. Between 1965 and 1976, more than 50 resident orcas were captured and removed from the northwest for display in aquariums. Of those, only 2 are still alive.
Endangered. After increasing steadily through the 1990s, the SRKW numbers sharply declined. In 2005, the population was listed as Endangered.
- If the current population trend continues or worsens, these beloved and iconic whales could go extinct within 100 years.
Three main factors are contributing to their decline: prey abundance (lack of salmon), toxin accumulations, and stress and noise from vessels. Not one of these things, but all.
You can help. Each one of us has a role to play in the recovery of the SRKW. Restore salmon, reduce toxin inputs into Puget Sound, and create quieter seas.
The Whale Trail was founded in 2008 to inspire appreciation of and stewardship for orcas, other marine mammals and their environment, and to promote shore-based whale-watching.
- From 16 inaugural sites there are now more than 80, from California to British Columbia, throughout SRKW range.
- Our vision is a fully recovered SRKW population, thriving in healthy seas.
- Join us! thewhaletrail.org.
Adopt an orca at www.whalemuseum.org. The Whale Museum is a core team member of The Whale Trail.
Learn More:
Gear Check
Due to Covid-19 concerns we will NOT offer gear check for the 2020 race. We recommend you wear an old shirt (that you’re happy to donate to Goodwill) and you can toss it at the start line just before you start.
Awards
Awards will be given to the top 3 male and female finishers. Only the 1st wave is eligible for overall awards. All waves are eligible for age group awards.
The top three males and females in each age group will receive an award!
17& under, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, ……, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, etc.
Due to Covid-19 concerns overall awards will be handed out at the race, all age group awards will be mailed out afterwards.
Orca Series Award
Those who complete any of our races (half marathon or longer) will be entered into our series standings. Points are calculated on a % of the winning time and numbers of races ran. Runners receive points based on their finishing time. Award prizes will given to the top 5 male and female finishers at the end of the year!
Host Hotel
We recommend staying at the Embassy Suites at Pioneer Square. Orca Half participants qualify for a special rate. To book, either use this link or call the hotel and mention that you are booking a room for the Orca Half. Reservations can be made by calling (206) 859-4400.
Embassy Suites is conveniently located in downtown Seattle and is a 15 minute drive to the race finish line. To view a map of the hotel’s location, please click here.
You can get a King suite for $239 a night. The king suite has a sleeper sofa in the living room. Maximum occupancy for the two queen suite is 6 people. There is a $20 charge per person for for more than double occupancy.
Rate includes complimentary, cooked-to- order breakfast. Evening Reception is 5:30pm – 7:30pm.
Race Policies
Orca Running Race Policies
Please visit the Orca Running policy page here.
Swag Pickup
If you are unable to attend a race, but would still like to get your shirt, we recommend that you send a friend or family member to the race to pick them up. We do not offer pickup services or delivery by mail of race swag.
Shirt Exchanges
We allow shirt exchanges at all of our races, after the race. There are no shirt exchanges prior to the race. If you’d like to exchange your shirt, don’t run in it, and bring it to the big blue Orca Running tent, where we can exchange it for your desired size. We cannot guarantee that we will have the desired size but generally we have extra shirts.
Earn Unique Swag with Referrals
You can get a refund of $25 by referring 5 friends to sign up for the race. It’s simple! Invite your friends to join you by using the special referral link that you will find in your registration follow-up email. When 5 people register using your link, you will receive a refund of $25.00 automatically.
When 10 people sign up using your referral link, you will receive our custom Orca Running Tech hoodie, pictured above.
Running is great. Running with friends is even better. So invite your friends to join you at the Orca Half!
Sponsors
We want to send a huge thank you to our sponsors!
