
From the Organizer
November 28, 2026, will be the 41st running of the Seattle Ghost Marathon. It started in 1985 when the Seattle Marathon changed courses and moved from Saturday to Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend.
The course is a very flat and fast certified Boston Marathon qualifier. The marathon is comprised of two 13.1-mile loops run on streets and sidewalks along scenic Lake Washington in Seattle, WA.
The race start/finish is at the Ferdinand St Boat Launch (47.557338, -122.262188) 5018 Lake Washington Blvd. S, Seattle, WA 98118. It runs south with a clockwise loop of scenic Seward Park and back north to the start/finish area. It continues north along Lake Washington through Leschi. The north turnaround is just past the Madrona Drive intersection (47.613496, -122.281265) then you run south back to the start/finish. There are aid stations every 3.1 miles on each loop.
The race is managed and supported by the non-profit NW Ultras which has been the driving force behind the event since 2004. Green Lake Crew has supported the event since 2013. The race is limited to 450 total participants regardless of which event they run.
Packet pickup is on race day.
No dogs are strollers are permitted on the course due to the sidewalk sections.
See more details on www.nwultras.com
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
50°
Typical Low
38°
Chance of Rain
59%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Seattle Boeing Fld, 4 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
741,440
as of 2023
Elevation
40 ft
Nearest Airport
SEA
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport · 10 mi
Time Zone
Pacific Time
From Endurance Grid
A big city race. Expect multiple lodging options and plenty to do the day before.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at 2026 Seattle Ghost Marathon, Half & 50K, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
173
Days to train
Coming Up
5K Run & Walk: Roy Flores Scholarship Fund
Less than a mile away
Furry 5K Fun Run and Walk
Less than a mile away
Run & Walk with Pride
Less than a mile away
Run Juneteenth Day 5K/10K/13.1 SEATTLE
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
2026 Seattle Ghost Marathon, Half & 50K
Nov 28, 2026