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Marathon Details - Last Chance Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > WA > Bellingham > Last Chance Marathon

Last Chance Marathon

Last Chance Marathon & Half Marathon

Bellingham, WA USA

December 31, 2024

http://www.nwenduranceevents.com/events/lastchance

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By Year:

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Race Details

Rails to Trails double out and back

Contact Information

Name:	Terry Sentinella
Address:	P.O. Box 1562 Anacortes, WA 98221
Phone Number:	360-202-2801
Email:	Email the organizers

Race Organizer

Welcome to Last Chance Marathon (12/2/13)

Terry Sentinella

Last Chance Marathon & 1/2 Marathon is designed as a low key party like running experience, similiar to an ultra run without all the miles. I invite you to join us to run the last marathon of the year in beautiful Bellingham Washington. The course is a trail marathon with a few hills mixed in but mostly flat with an amazing canopy of tall trees covering the course!

Runner Reviews (6)

Course 4.3

Organization 5.0

Spectators 1.8

Write a review

Number of comments: 6

M. S. from Brier, WA, USA (1/15/2025) "More Of A Challenge Than It Seems" (about: 2024) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Last Chance Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my 2nd Last Chance & it didn't disappoint. For a small race, with a distinct 'Club Run' feel it's well organized & supported. The course has a lot of railway grade sections, but I find it slower than it'd seem. There's plenty of drops & climbs where bridges have been removed that test your heartt, lungs & legs.....AND your determination, especially as the course is an Out And Back Half Marathon that FULL Marathon runners have to complete TWICE. Time to dig deep. The weather is cold, so Hot Runners will enjoy the chance to push harder &, so far, I've not been subject to cold rain & snow, which is a risk at this time of year. The course does, however, deserve to be run in the Spring because of the views. As lovely as they are in the bare Winter this would be even better in the cool freshness of April or May. I'm looking forward to 2025.
M. S. from Washington (1/2/2024) "A Small Run That's Well Worth The Effort" (about: 2023) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This run lives up to its name, your last chance to get a marathon. The course is beautiful, with wooded sections & some grand vistas. Mostly run on old railway trails there is a surprising amount of up/down going through some sections & you get to do these 4 times for a full marathon & that really adds up. Support is spaced at just over 3 miles, which is a little far for what I was used to, normally every 2 miles, but not a big stretch. Food selection was good, the energy drink was somewhat weird, but nothing puke inducing. Overall I'm looking forward to Last Chance 2024 & I do hope this course is used during the summer as it is very beautiful.
Bennett & Laurie from LA, California (1/3/2015) "Nice way to end the year" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Looking for something different to do for New Year's, a race perhaps in a different climate and setting than our usual southern California oceanside (I know, boo hoo) and we came across this one and decided to do it. Glad we did. Now, no doubt it's a small crowd, no bands, no cheering fans, but that's what was so nice about it. Beautiful scenery, entirely manageable course. The one of us who did the full actually enjoyed having had the preview on the first out and back, and being able to enjoy it the second time (probably not something locals think about, but being out of towners and alone a lot on the course, it's nice to know where you're going). The organizers and volunteers at the aid stations and at the post-race feast were great, It was clearly a tight-knit community that put this on and largely made up the participants, but they were at the same time totally welcoming of visiting strangers. If we had to find anything to pick at, the medal could've used a ribbon. On the other hand, nothing a drill, a couple of spare links of chain and a shoe-lace didn't fix. All in all, an excellent race and, like we said, nice way to end the year!
N. S. from Bellingham, WA (12/31/2010) "Nice trail, challenging hills, great people" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is another race for those wanting something small and low-key. The course has some pretty challenging hills (out and back: 1 for half, 2 for full marathon, and even some 50K folks took off somewhere interesting) with an aid station and toilets at start/finish and turn-around, which was nice. It's mostly wide, rail-to-trail type stuff with a small section of actual roots and rocks trail, also hilly. The best parts are that it's well organized, well marked, and filled with people out to have a good time - not necessarily finish in a good time. (That's not a negative comment) There are close to zero spectators, but the out-and-back gave everybody the opportunity to greet and cheer on all of the other runners passing by on the path, which makes it that much more friendly. The finish-line spread was impressive, and included make-your-own burritos and loads of stuff people brought in to share. People were there for a friendly experience. It worked! One (very small) caveat: The trail has regular community folks walking on it with friends, dogs, kids, etc. All were friendly and we all shared well - even though it's a race, we can still be polite. Toward the end a couple horses were on the trail, but the riders were also friendly, polite and conscientious of the runners. It sounds idyllic, but it was a good day and a good race. Keep your expectations realistic (as with any race) and you just might enjoy yourself if you choose to run this. (No financial incentives for me for saying this!)
S. D. from Mount Vernon, WA (11/26/2007) "Double out-and-back on the Interurban" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Not much to say about this. It's a double out-and-back on the Interurban Trail in Bellingham (unless there is a landslide like in 2006) - 27-ish miles give or take a mile. If you want to go the wrong way like Stan, no problems! Bonus points if you do a cartwheel at the finish.



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M. S. from Brier, WA, USA (1/15/2025) "More Of A Challenge Than It Seems" (about: 2024) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Last Chance Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my 2nd Last Chance & it didn't disappoint. For a small race, with a distinct 'Club Run' feel it's well organized & supported. The course has a lot of railway grade sections, but I find it slower than it'd seem. There's plenty of drops & climbs where bridges have been removed that test your heartt, lungs & legs.....AND your determination, especially as the course is an Out And Back Half Marathon that FULL Marathon runners have to complete TWICE. Time to dig deep. The weather is cold, so Hot Runners will enjoy the chance to push harder &, so far, I've not been subject to cold rain & snow, which is a risk at this time of year. The course does, however, deserve to be run in the Spring because of the views. As lovely as they are in the bare Winter this would be even better in the cool freshness of April or May. I'm looking forward to 2025.
M. S. from Washington (1/2/2024) "A Small Run That's Well Worth The Effort" (about: 2023) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This run lives up to its name, your last chance to get a marathon. The course is beautiful, with wooded sections & some grand vistas. Mostly run on old railway trails there is a surprising amount of up/down going through some sections & you get to do these 4 times for a full marathon & that really adds up. Support is spaced at just over 3 miles, which is a little far for what I was used to, normally every 2 miles, but not a big stretch. Food selection was good, the energy drink was somewhat weird, but nothing puke inducing. Overall I'm looking forward to Last Chance 2024 & I do hope this course is used during the summer as it is very beautiful.
Bennett & Laurie from LA, California (1/3/2015) "Nice way to end the year" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Looking for something different to do for New Year's, a race perhaps in a different climate and setting than our usual southern California oceanside (I know, boo hoo) and we came across this one and decided to do it. Glad we did. Now, no doubt it's a small crowd, no bands, no cheering fans, but that's what was so nice about it. Beautiful scenery, entirely manageable course. The one of us who did the full actually enjoyed having had the preview on the first out and back, and being able to enjoy it the second time (probably not something locals think about, but being out of towners and alone a lot on the course, it's nice to know where you're going). The organizers and volunteers at the aid stations and at the post-race feast were great, It was clearly a tight-knit community that put this on and largely made up the participants, but they were at the same time totally welcoming of visiting strangers. If we had to find anything to pick at, the medal could've used a ribbon. On the other hand, nothing a drill, a couple of spare links of chain and a shoe-lace didn't fix. All in all, an excellent race and, like we said, nice way to end the year!
N. S. from Bellingham, WA (12/31/2010) "Nice trail, challenging hills, great people" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is another race for those wanting something small and low-key. The course has some pretty challenging hills (out and back: 1 for half, 2 for full marathon, and even some 50K folks took off somewhere interesting) with an aid station and toilets at start/finish and turn-around, which was nice. It's mostly wide, rail-to-trail type stuff with a small section of actual roots and rocks trail, also hilly. The best parts are that it's well organized, well marked, and filled with people out to have a good time - not necessarily finish in a good time. (That's not a negative comment) There are close to zero spectators, but the out-and-back gave everybody the opportunity to greet and cheer on all of the other runners passing by on the path, which makes it that much more friendly. The finish-line spread was impressive, and included make-your-own burritos and loads of stuff people brought in to share. People were there for a friendly experience. It worked! One (very small) caveat: The trail has regular community folks walking on it with friends, dogs, kids, etc. All were friendly and we all shared well - even though it's a race, we can still be polite. Toward the end a couple horses were on the trail, but the riders were also friendly, polite and conscientious of the runners. It sounds idyllic, but it was a good day and a good race. Keep your expectations realistic (as with any race) and you just might enjoy yourself if you choose to run this. (No financial incentives for me for saying this!)
S. D. from Mount Vernon, WA (11/26/2007) "Double out-and-back on the Interurban" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Not much to say about this. It's a double out-and-back on the Interurban Trail in Bellingham (unless there is a landslide like in 2006) - 27-ish miles give or take a mile. If you want to go the wrong way like Stan, no problems! Bonus points if you do a cartwheel at the finish.

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Marathon Details - Last Chance Marathon