The inaugural Rock Solid Marathon (RSM) will take place on Saturday, March 1st at 9:00 am PST in Coupeville, Washington, located on Whidbey Island. This first running of the half marathon, full marathon and “Finishing 5K” are low key and informal - meaning we don’t have permits, and there are no course markings or road/trail closures. Instead, a small group of like-minded, positive and determined runners will blaze our path and set the pace for the years to come!
Your reward for participation is an unforgettably beautiful course of scenic trails and coastal roads. You’ll enjoy Fort Ebey State Park's breathtaking trail system, followed by the peaceful, meandering paved country roads of both the west and east sides of Whidbey Island. The marathon has 2,152 feet of gain through rolling climbs and descents that will propel you around the next turn. You’ll finish in the quaint town of Coupeville at its famous Front Street, where pub grub and beers await.
Timeline
Friday, February 28
12:00-2:00 pm PST: Cars depart Seattle for Whidbey Island
2:00-5:00 pm PST: Arrival at the Captain Whidbey
7:00 pm PST: Pre-race dinner at Goldie's Pizza
Saturday, March 1
8:30 am PST: Shuttles depart Captain Whidbey for start line
8:50 am PST: National anthem and pre-race announcements/commemoration
9:00 am PST: Half and full marathons begin
1:00 pm PST: Finishing 5K begins from Captain Whidbey
1-2 pm PST: Post-race food, drinks and celebration at Toby's Tavern on Front Street in Coupeville near the finish line
7:15 pm PST: Team dinner at The Restaurant at Captain Whidbey
Sunday, March 2
9:00 am PST: Cars depart for Seattle
3:00 pm PST: Cookout at Sabeen & Tim’s rooftop (weather permitting)
Lodging
The Captain Whidbey Inn will serve as headquarters for RSM attendees over the race weekend. Attendees are encouraged to make accommodations to stay at the Inn. It’s a wonderful old wooden lodge from 1907 just off the beaten path from Coupeville and Fort Ebey State Park, and directly on the race course (around mile 23.8) where the Finishing 5K will begin. The Inn has an impressive fireplace, as well as outdoor pits, a sauna and a restaurant and coffee shop. Please note that travelers with children need to make a reservation in the lagoon rooms or cabins, as the historic lodge is 21+. We’ve made reservations for several travelers already - if you’re not sure whether you’re accounted for, please reach out to the Race Directors (see below).
Driving Directions
The RSM and all pre and post race activities on Friday and Saturday take place in the town of Coupeville on Whidbey Island, Washington. Coupeville is approximately two hours from Seattle, regardless of whether you drive on to the Mukilteo ferry or drive all the way to the north end of the island that connects via bridge. Cars with enough space to accommodate all attendees will depart from Seattle around 1pm on Friday and will take the scenic ferry route to the island.
The RSM (half and full) start at the campground viewpoint near the gun battery in Fort Ebey State Park, which is only a 10 minute drive from the Captain Whidbey Inn. We will run shuttles from Captain Whidbey to the start line at 8:30 am on race morning. The race ends in Coupeville, which is just a 5 minute drive from Captain Whidbey.
Cars with enough space to accommodate all attendees will depart from Captain Whidbey around 9am on Sunday to return to Seattle and can drop travelers off at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport or other local destinations.
Course Details
The marathon will begin at the campground viewpoint near the gun battery in Fort Ebey State Park. The first half of the course (11.8 miles to be exact) will traverse the state park trails, rising and descending breathtaking coastal bluffs, twisting in and out of old growth forest. Around mile 8.8, runners will begin an epic 3-mile beach run on the Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail to finish the trail segment of RSM at mile 11.8. Half marathoners will finish here and marathoners will have an opportunity to change clothes and refill water bottles.
The remainder of the course (14.56 miles) will run mostly coastal, quiet country roads. The course heads northward up West Beach Road for about 1.5 miles, cuts east across the island for about 3 miles, and then moves southwest along Penn Cove for about 6.5 miles on the island’s east side. The final segment follows Madrona Way, passing the Captain Whidbey, where Finishing 5K runners will join the marathoners all the way to the finish in Coupeville.
The course map can be downloaded here. All runners and volunteers MUST download the map to their smart devices and keep on their person (we strongly encourage using the AllTrails app) to allow turn by turn directions along the course. Safety is our biggest priority and everyone having the GPX route and sharing your location will help ensure we can all look after each other.
Weather
As they say in Seattle, all four seasons in a day. The weather in the Pacific Northwest can vary greatly in the late winter/early spring season. Runners, volunteers and spectators should prepare by dressing in layers, with a waterproof or resistant shell strongly encouraged. The average high on March 1 is 48 degrees and the average low is 37 degrees, which can make for great running temperatures. Because so much of the race course takes place on coastal bluffs and roads, wind is to be expected.
Aid Stations and Drop Bags
There are no aid stations! The RSM is a largely self-supported event, so please make gear decisions accordingly and choose packs, vests or handhelds to carry any food, drink and clothing you’ll need for an endurance event. That said, the course is designed with plenty of opportunities for support. There is a state park bathroom at the start line, and runners will swing by that same location again around mile 8. At mile 11.8, where the course transitions from trails to paved roads, both half and full marathon runners will have an opportunity to access a drop bag. Half marathoners will end their run and can change into other clothes and catch a ride back to Captain Whidbey. Marathoners can make any gear changes needed for the rest of the race, including changing shoes if preferred. Around mile 16, runners will come into the town of Oak Harbor and will pass roadside gas stations and other establishments with bathrooms or to refuel as needed. At mile 23.8, runners will pass Captain Whidbey. Finally, runners can again access their drop bag at the finish line in Coupeville.
Race Directors
Tim Kozik (404-558-2248, timothykozik@gmail.com)
Roger Guererro (954-609-4481, guerrero6234@gmail.com)
Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions, concerns or feedback - before, during or after the race. We’re here to make this the best possible experience for you.
Volunteers
We’ll have several volunteers on race day to shuttle runners to the start, have drop bags accessible at the trail to road transition, and then again at the finish line. But we can always use more! Volunteering is a great way to be a part of the event if you are not running. Volunteer shifts range from just a couple hours in the morning to something at the finish area. If you are interested in volunteering for the race, please reach out to the Race Directors.
Awards and Swag
All runners and volunteers will receive a custom, high-quality long sleeve tech shirt with the race logo and date. Finishers will also receive custom race medals. In addition, awards will be given by the Race Directors for:
Most determined
Biggest mistake overcome
Furthest distance traveled
Donating to The Rock Solid Foundation
We couldn’t be more thankful for your participation in this inaugural version of the RSM and there is no registration fee for doing so. There’s also no pressure to donate to The Rock Solid Foundation, but if you’d like to, rest assured your funds will go to a good and worthy cause. Your donation is worth more now than ever as we get The Foundation off the ground in its first year. You can donate by scanning the QR code on this page or by sending to @TheRockSolidFoundation on Venmo. The Rock Solid Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.