Windermere Marathon and Half Marathon

This race works well for trail runners who are comfortable on uneven terrain and want something less punishing than a mountain marathon. The modest elevation gain means you won't spend the whole day grinding uphill, but the trail surface demands respect. It suits runners who've done a decent amount of trail running before and don't mind picking their feet up for 26 miles. Spring in Spokane offers decent weather prospects too, which helps. If you're road-focused or prefer smooth predictable footing, this isn't your race. On the course itself, you'll deal with the constant small adjustments required by trail running. Even though the elevation profile looks gentle on paper, trail surfaces are slower and more technical than asphalt. The rolling terrain means you never get a sustained downhill to recover on, and your quads will feel it differently than they would on roads. Spokane's landscape is semi-arid, so expect exposed sections without much shade depending on the exact route. The biggest challenge is probably pacing yourself properly. It's tempting to run trail marathons too hard early on because the elevation gain seems tame, then suffer badly in the final miles when your legs are already trashed from the technical footwork. You'll need more time than a road marathon at similar distance, so adjust your expectations accordingly.