Set for Sunday, September 29, we’re almost a week out from Bellingham’s most beautiful race – the Bellingham Bay Marathon! With views of Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades, it’s not only Bellingham’s most beautiful, but the PNW’s most beautiful. With your choice of the 5k, 10k, Half, Full or Relay, there’s not a race distance missing, not a person left out – AND – there’s spots still available! Sign up today to guarantee entry; if space is available, registration will be offered at the Expo on Saturday, September 28. Our team has the fortune of being a part of this wonderful race, in working the expo, in pacing (which we absolutely love to do), and in racing.

“The Bellingham Bay Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k and full marathon relay (for groups of 2-5) is a group of races designed by runners for runners and walkers. Founded in 2007 by the Bellingham Bay Swim Team, BBM delivers a fun, highly personal, authentic race experience. 100% of net proceeds benefit Whatcom County youth non-profit organizations.”

Bellingham Bay Marathon Relay!

It’s a little known fact that BBM began offering the Marathon Relay just last year. And for many of us who couldn’t commit to the Marathon, Half or other distances for whatever reason, we’re super excited about it! An opportunity to run with our teammates and friends and finish the length of a marathon, TOGETHER – we’re down! BDP will be racing the Marathon Relay, which involves 2-5 runners on the point-to-point marathon course (5 legs = average of 5.24 miles per leg), starting on Lummi Nation and finishing in downtown Bellingham. Each team member receives a long sleeve tech shirt, and all members of finishing teams receive a commemorative medal. For Individual Relay Legs and the Race Map see HERE! *Transportation instructions will be emailed to team captains, and posted on the website on Friday, September 20.

Check Us Out at the Expo!

BDP will be at the Expo on Saturday, September 28 from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The expo is free, open to the public and includes onsite registration, packet pickup, pre-purchased merch & apparel pickup, merch, race & tourist info, along with sponsor and vendor booths. BDP will be at the Pacer Booth, with pace bands (sugg. donation), providing any info you might have regarding pacing and pacers. Please see below for more information regarding pacing.

PACERS

In 2019 BDP & BBM will be offering the following pacers for the Bellingham Bay Marathon –

• 3:20 (7:37’s) *BQ M45-49
• 3:25 (7:49’s) *BQ M50-54
• 3:35 (8:12’s) *BQ M55-59 & W35-39
• 3:50 (8:46’s) *BQ M60-64 & W45-49
• 4:00 (9:09’s)
• 4:15 (9:43’s)
• 4:30 (10:17’s)

For the Bellingham Bay Half Marathon, we will be offering the following paces –

• 1:35 (7:14’s)
• 1:45 (8:00’s)
• 2:00 (9:09’s)
• 2:15 (10:17’s)
• 2:30 (11:26’s)

For all qualifying standards for the 2020 Boston Marathon, we suggest you check out this QUALIFYING STANDARDS LIST. Please note that the qualifying times went up about 5 minutes from last years’ qualifying standards. For several years the race turned away applicants who had met the qualifying time. In 2019, you had to be about 4m52s faster than the qualifier to make it in, hence the change to 5 minutes faster across the board for 2020.

Our pacers will be wearing neon shirts and will carry a pacing stick with the pace they’re running. You can find them at the start line of the Half and Marathon; they will be able to help you with any questions or concerns you might have.

We can’t wait to run, race and celebrate with all of you next weekend! If you haven’t signed up, or if you have some friends you can wrangle for the Marathon Relay, sign up today! Should you have any questions regarding the race, pacing, etc. please feel free to email us at bellinghamdistanceproject@gmail.com!