- Weather
- 48°Ftypical startModelled estimate
- Field size
- ~1,500 runners
- Course
- Net downhill
- Elevation
- 50 ft gain · -2,000 ft net
High BQ rate along Cascade rail-trail
PR10Weather9Experience7
Mid-September · West Coast · Point-to-Point
Cascade Express Marathon & Half Marathon
North Bend, WA · Saturday, September 12, 2026
Event: Cascade Express Marathon
- Best for PR
- Boston Qualifier
- Scenic
Registration opens on the organizer's site
Typical start
44°
Cooler than 72% of U.S. marathons
Modeled historical conditions
Elevation gain
50ft
Flatter than 89% of races
Estimated total climb
Field size
800
Larger than 31% of races
Estimated field
PR potential
9.5/10
Top 7%
Almanac model
Percentiles compare this race against all 224 U.S. marathons in the Almanac.
Course profile
50 ft gain · -2,000 ft net
Net downhill course, point-to-point.
0510152026.2
Race-day weather
Modeled from location, month and coastal proximity, not verified race history.
6 AM
36°
Start
44°
Midday
51°
ExcellentGoodWarmHeat risk
Typical start sits at 44°F, excellent marathon conditions.
Typical dew point 32°F, 16% chance of precipitation, wind around 7 mph. All modeled.
The bottom line
This is a course built to give time back.
Cascade Express Marathon & Half Marathon is a strong choice for a fast time on tired legs, and the route gives back elevation for most of the 26.2 miles. The tradeoff is atmosphere: expect long quiet stretches and few spectators.
Why runners choose this race
A point-to-point course around North Bend, WA, that gives back elevation for most of the race.
The case for it
- PR attempts
- Boston qualification
- Runners who care about scenery
- Runners who want a low-key start
The tradeoffs
- You want crowds and on-course energy
Course and logistics
- Course type
- Point-to-Point
- Surface
- Road
- Profile
- Net downhill
- Total gain
- 50 ft(estimated)
- Total loss
- 2,050 ft(estimated)
- Net elevation
- -2,000 ft(estimated)
- Field size
- ~800 runners(estimated)
- Crowd support
- Quiet, low-key
- Entry
- Easy
- Entry fee
- $149(most recent listed price)
- Day of week
- Saturday
- Start / finish
- Start and finish in different locations
Race details
- Typical timing
- Mid-September
- Next confirmed date
- Saturday, September 12, 2026
- Registration
- Open now
- Region
- West Coast
- Editorial tier
- Recommended
- Data last reviewed
- 2026-08-26
- Best for PR
- Boston Qualifier
- Scenic
- Point-to-point
- Net downhill
- Easy entry
Similar races
Races with a comparable profile.
- Weather
- 47°Ftypical startModelled estimate
- Field size
- ~2,500 runners
- Course
- Net downhill
- Elevation
- 300 ft gain · -250 ft net
Runs along the scenic Silverado Trail
PR10Weather9Experience8
- Weather
- 52°Ftypical startModelled estimate
- Field size
- ~1,500 runners
- Course
- Net downhill
- Elevation
- 100 ft gain · -1,000 ft net
Fast downhill coastal route
PR10Weather9Experience7