Marathons, Music and Beer!

2009 Bellingham Bay Marathoners!

On September 26th, at 7:30 am, thousands will take off on a race around Bellingham.  The Bellingham Bay Marathon is an annual race that highlights the natural beauty of Bellingham Bay, San Juan Islands and the Interurban trail in Bellingham, WA.  It’s been called “the most beautiful marathon in the Pacific Northwest”…and that’s not just because the finish line is right at Boundary Bay Brewery!

The marathon course treats the runners to views of Lummi Island, Portage Channel, Portage Bay, Portage Island, Bellingham Bay, Mount Baker, Nooksack River, Squalicum Creek Park, Squalicum Harbor, Downtown Bellingham, South Bay Trail, Boulevard Park, Taylor Street Dock, San Juan Islands, Fairhaven,  and Bellingham’s Interurban Trail.

This marathon raises funds to support non-profit Whatcom county youth organizations. Net proceeds will benefit the Bellingham Bay Swim Team and the WFC Rangers soccer club. Both are not-for-profit organizations. The Bellingham Bay Swim Team is a year-round, non-profit club comprised of over 100 swimmers of all ages, abilities, and commitment levels. The team offers something for everyone, from beginning swimmers to highly skilled swimmers competing at the national level. Whatcom Football Club (WFC) Rangers is the select soccer program in Whatcom County, situated in District One of the Washington State Youth Soccer Association. Club membership is made up of 450 boy and girl soccer plays, playing on 28 teams in several leagues.

We’ll be celebrating at Boundary Bay Brewery on race day and you should come join us!  Give your congratulations to the athletes and thank everyone involved for helping to support local nonprofits.  Our Beer Garden will be open during the day starting at noon for spectators and racers. All ages are welcome and there’s no cover! Around 1pm, there will be an awards presentation for the top finishers in the marathon and then live music by Cabin Fever!  Bring the whole family and come enjoy BBQ, hand crafted beer and sunshine in the Beer Garden.

Oh, and if you long to be a part of the Bellingham Bay Marathon, but don’t really feel up to running, consider volunteering! Experience the excitement of the Bellingham Bay Marathon. Help athletes, from all over the US and Canada, have the best possible race experience and feel at home. Volunteer today by completing the online volunteer form!

Running to Boundary Bay Brewery

The Bellingham Bay Marathon is happening right outside our doors this Sunday! We’ll have the beer garden open during the day and our BBQ fired up for spectators and race participants. All ages are welcome. No cover.

The Bellingham Bay Marathon is a great way to experience the natural beauty of Bellingham Bay, San Juan Islands and the Interurban trail in Bellingham, WA. Enjoy what many runners have commented is “the most beautiful marathon in the Pacific Northwest.  Want to participate?  You’ve still got time to register! Online registration ends at 11:59 pm on Friday, September 25, 2009. You may register at packet pickup on Saturday, September 26, 2009 (Fox Hall 3985 Bennett Drive, Bellingham WA 98225.  11 am to 7 pm).

The full and half marathons start together on Railroad Ave in front of Market Depot in downtown Bellingham. The course runs through Bellingham, makes its way through neighborhoods and then along the waterfront.  Participants get to experience the South Bay Trail, Boulevard Park, panoramic views of Bellingham Bay and beautifully tree covered sections of the Interurban Trail. (click here for full course description and to download a pdf of the full course)

Awards are given to the overall top male and top female place in the Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K. In addition, the top male and top female in each 5-year age category in the Marathon and Half Marathon receives an award. Awards will be presented at the Boundary Bay Brewery – garden level, adjacent to the Start/Finish line, on Race Day.  5K and Half Marathon Awards at 2 pm, Marathon Awards at 3 pm and then live music by Cabin Fever band at 3:45 – 5:30.

The Boundary Bay Brewery garden level will be open during the day for spectators and race finishers. All ages are welcome. No cover. We’ll be serving up Salmon Burgers, Organic Beef Burgers, Veggie Burgers and Brats (all with fries) and our usual array of hand crafted beers!

Net proceeds from the marathon will benefit the Bellingham Bay Swim Team and the WFC Rangers soccer club. The Bellingham Bay Swim Team is a year-round, non-profit club that was founded in the fall of 1995.  This parent board-run club offers swimmers from all skill levels, novice to elite, the opportunity to improve themselves and their swimming through the continued development of advanced swimming technique and conditioning in the sport. Bellingham Bay Swim Team (BBST) is comprised of over 100 swimmers of all ages, abilities, and commitment levels. The team offers something for everyone, from beginning swimmers to highly skilled swimmers competing at the national level.  Whatcom Football Club (WFC) Rangers is the select soccer program in Whatcom County, situated in District One of the Washington State Youth Soccer Association.  WFC Rangers is a not for profit 501(3)c corporation governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who oversee a coaching and development staff of 50+ soccer professionals. Club membership is made up of 450 boy and girl soccer plays, playing on 28 teams in several leagues.

Marathons…and beer bellies

Janet Lightner, the manager of Boundary Bay Brewery, is gearing up to run the Bellingham Bay Marathon on September 28th.  Janet turned to Bellingham Fit to get her motivated and committed to the training program to prepare her for the marathon.  At the peak of her training, she was running four days a weeek and one of those days involved a long run of up to 22 miles.  Now, as the marathon draws near, the long runs are tapering down in length, but she is still running at least four days a week.  She jokes that she’s doing it to allow herself to continue enjoying all the great beer that surrounds her daily without having to give in to a beer belly.  However, in the Spring issue of Beer Northwest magazine, Lucy Burningham writes: “The idea of the beer gut has resulted from a hapless combination of fact and fiction.  Think about it: anyone who gains weight suffers from an unfortunate mixture of bad diet, lack of excercise, and in some cases, an obscene amount of beer drinking.  I propose a new and more accurate term for large bellies – ‘greasy food guts’.”  In an article about the growing trend of combining beer and running, Burningham reported that a 2007 study in Spain conducted research to see how the human body responded to drinking beer after strenuous excercise.  Students who participated excercised in extrememly hot conditions and then drank either a pint of water or a pint of beer afterwards.  Surprisingly, the study found that the students who drank beer hydrated “slightly better” than the water drinkers.  Now, we’re not saying that Janet is going to be drinking beer during her training or her marathon, but we are suggesting you broaden your horizons and start seeing all the wonderful applications for beer in every day life!  =)  And come out and root for your fellow Bellinghamsters September 28th as they complete the Bellingham Bay Marathon…maybe even offer them a cold brew when they finally cross that finish line!