2026 Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon - Jul 25

2026 Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon - Jul 25 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2026 Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon - Jul 25
CityNorth Bend
Date2026-07-25 at 06:00
Time Limit6 hours 30 min
Cutoff pace9:15/km
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Official SiteRun Super Series
RegistrationRegister · 171 USD

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature17.6°C / 64°F
Humidity78%
Wind7 km/h
Rain Chance15%
Typical ConditionsCool, dry late-July Cascade foothills morning — fast running weather with a chilly, shaded forest start

What to Prepare: Late July at Snoqualmie Pass starts cold — race-morning lows can sit near 48-52°F / 9-11°C at the high Hyak start, warming toward a high in the upper 60s°F / ~20°C by the North Bend finish. Inside the Snoqualmie Tunnel it is roughly 20°F colder than outside and damp, so a throwaway long-sleeve plus your headlamp for the first half is smart.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 7 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

Cooler Typical Warmer
Temperature 13.9°C 16.9°C 22.4°C
Dew point 10.6°C 12.9°C 15.5°C
Wet-day chance: 15% Runnability: 77/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course TypePoint-to-point (net downhill)
Elevation Gain120m
TerrainCrushed-gravel rail-trail (smooth, hard-packed; one 2.3-mile dark tunnel) — not paved road
ProfileOne of the fastest marathons in the country and a Boston-qualifier magnet. The course is a point-to-point on the crushed-gravel Palouse to Cascades (Iron Horse) rail-trail, dropping about 1,000 ft net from the Hyak Sno-Park start down to the finish in North Bend — split roughly into a flat first 13 miles and a sustained, gentle, runnable downhill second half. The signature feature comes around mile 13: the 2.3-mile (3.6 km) Snoqualmie Tunnel, an unlit former railroad tunnel that runs straight through the Cascade crest. It is pitch black, drips water, and sits about 20°F colder than the air outside, so a headlamp or flashlight is required (you can hand it to volunteers at the tunnel exit). Because the surface is smooth, hard-packed rail-trail gravel rather than road, footing is excellent but it is NOT a paved course — it is still USATF-certified and an official Boston qualifier, and because the net loss stays under Boston's 1,500-ft limit, times count toward BQ with no downhill adjustment. About 24% of finishers qualified for Boston in 2025 (24.5% in 2024) — one of the highest BQ rates of any US marathon. Note: storm damage to the trail means the 2026 edition may run on a re-permitted alternate route that keeps the same fast net-downhill character; confirm the final course on the official site before race day.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon - Jul 25

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Featured In

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon is on Saturday, July 25, 2026, with a 6:00 a.m. PDT rolling start at Hyak Sno-Park near Snoqualmie Pass, finishing in North Bend, WA. Because the field is small and the trail is narrow, the race also runs a second day on Sunday, July 26 — pick your day at registration.

How much does the Jack & Jill Marathon course drop, and is it a good Boston qualifier?

It is one of the best Boston qualifiers in the country. The point-to-point course drops about 1,000 ft net over 26.2 miles on the Palouse to Cascades rail-trail — a flat first half, then a steady, gentle downhill. It is USATF-certified, and because the net loss is well under Boston's 1,500-ft limit, your finish time counts toward BQ with no downhill adjustment. About 24% of finishers qualified for Boston in 2025 (24.5% in 2024). Check your target with our Boston qualifying calculator.

What is the Snoqualmie Tunnel and do I need a headlamp?

Yes — a headlamp or flashlight is required. Around mile 13 the course runs straight through the 2.3-mile (3.6 km) Snoqualmie Tunnel, an unlit former railroad tunnel under the Cascade crest. It is completely dark, drips water, and is roughly 20°F colder than the air outside, so most runners wear a throwaway long-sleeve. You can hand your light to volunteers at the tunnel exit and reclaim it after the race.

Is the Jack & Jill Marathon on a road or a trail?

It runs on a crushed-gravel rail-trail, not paved road. The surface is smooth and hard-packed, so footing is good and most road shoes work fine, but you should expect dirt/gravel rather than asphalt and a few damp, dark miles inside the tunnel. The trail grade is gentle and consistent, which is what makes it so fast. It is still a fully USATF-certified Boston qualifier.

What is the time limit for the Jack & Jill Marathon?

The marathon has a 6.5-hour time limit (the half marathon limit is 4 hours), which works out to roughly a 14:53 per mile average pace. With a net-downhill course most finishers run well inside the cutoff, but plan your splits with our pace calculator to stay ahead of it.

How do I register for the 2026 Jack & Jill Marathon?

Registration is handled through RunSignUp, with the full marathon recently priced around $171 (it rises as the field fills). The field is small and the race sells out most years, so register early. English-language online registration is straightforward for international runners.

Is the 2026 course the same as previous years?

Possibly not. Storm damage to the Palouse to Cascades Trail means the original course could not be used as-is, and the organizer is re-permitting a proposed alternate route that keeps the same fast, smooth, net-downhill character (about 1,000 ft of drop). The race is not cancelled. Confirm the final 2026 course — and whether it still passes through the Snoqualmie Tunnel — on the official site before you travel.

What should I wear and bring for the weather?

Late July at the high start is cool — race-morning lows near 48-52°F (9-11°C) climbing to the upper 60s°F (~20°C) at the North Bend finish, with low rain chances. The big extra is the tunnel: it is dark and about 20°F colder, so bring a headlamp and a throwaway long-sleeve you can shed after. A small light and gloves for the first half are the most common additions to a normal summer kit.

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