Downtown Tacoma, WA

no, downtown tacoma bites. go to point deffiance, its like 10 minutes away. do it

Don't you go calling Tacoma a shithole now, Marijuologist!

Agree...I would run at either Point Defiane or Fort Steillacom (sp?). Both are pretty good places to run.

Hoovis

The inaugural Tacoma Marathon was held last month. If you go to marathonguide.com you can find the marathon's website and look over the course, which may give you some clues. But a simple trick is to get down to the waterfront from the end of downtown near Old City Hall, then run along the water as far as you like -- it should be on the marathon course map. At the end of the waterfront, claw your way up a hill and through a neighborhood a short distance into Pt Defiance. The "5 mile drive" around Pt D is wonderful -- if you can get out to Pt D by car, then just running however many laps of it you need for your long run will be a good run. If you run into local runners, they may show you the Pt D trails.

IF you have to stay near downtown, and it's not after dark, you could run the perimeter of Wright's Park, which is less than a mile from downtown. It is about 1 mile around and was commonly used for HS cross-country races.

why does it seem these threads only come up about washington cities? tacoma, bremerton, lakewood, etc. Am i just only noticing these ones because i'm from washington?

I enjoy running in the Hilltop. Very close to downtown.

a (not so) quick point. wrote:

why does it seem these threads only come up about washington cities? tacoma, bremerton, lakewood, etc. Am i just only noticing these ones because i'm from washington?

You know, I've had the same thought. This has to be the third or fourth thread started on the Tacoma area in just the last 6 months. But I'm also from Washington so I'm sure I have a bias in what I notice.

Spider wrote:

At the end of the waterfront, claw your way up a hill and through a neighborhood a short distance into Pt Defiance.

I've wondered what the best way is to get from Ruston Way to Pt. Def. Looking at a satellite image it looks like one would have to go through a tunnel where Ruston turns into Gallagher. Two questions: 1. Is this tunnel safe to run through? and 2. Is there a better way to get up the hill? (for instance taking N Waterview Street)

Thanks!

You essentially have to take the tunnel. Pedestrians are technically not allowed, but it is doable and is only about 50m long. You would be tacking on futile mileage to get to the Point by most any other route.

Best song about Tacoma: "Tacoma" by Neko Case

For some speedwork...errr bullet dodging...try hilltop.

Is there any flat old railroad running trails within say 30 mile radius of northern tacoma. i'm looking for a good flat route to do long tempo runs on.

Try out the upper part of the Cedar River Trail, it is probably a 30 mile drive though. It's a rails to trails project and you'll be running on a steady, gradual grade but the top 4.5-5 miles or so of it is unpaved and you can add on another 3+ unpaved miles or so by taking a left onto the Lake Wilderness Spur (or, if you don't mind the pavement, stay straight and you can go all the way to Lake Washington).

To get there, take I-5 N to Hwy 18 East

Hwy 18 East to the exit for 516 / Kent-Kangley Road in Covington

Go right on 516 / Kent Kangley, go for 4.5-5 miles

Just after you cross 169 / Maple Valley Hwy, turn left onto SE Summit Landsburg Rd

Follow the arterial and take a left at the stop sign onto SE Landsburg Rd

You'll cross the river right away, the parking lot is just on the far side of the river on the left.

There are bathrooms on the other side of the road in the park that goes along the river. If you want, bring sandals and a towel and you can use "nature's ice bath" when you finish, the river is plenty cold.