Galloping Gertie Half Marathon
Galloping Gertie Half Marathon race day weather
Mild temps, strategic pacing needed
Runners will face a temperature that starts at 60°F and rises to 63°F by race's end. With an average humidity of 70%, pacing adjustments will be crucial, especially on the rolling terrain. A headwind in Mile 1 will challenge runners, while a tailwind from Miles 4-5 offers a brief relief. Overall, a conservative start and hydration strategy will be essential for success.
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Galloping Gertie Half Marathon route and elevation
The Galloping Gertie Half Marathon course has about 671 ft (205 m) of climbing and 683 ft (208 m) of descent, a net drop of about 12 ft (4 m). It is hillier than 90% of the half marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. The hardest mile is mile 4, with 144 ft (44 m) of climbing and a 1.8% average grade.
Biggest climbs
- Miles 1.1 to 1.5: climbs about 65 ft (20 m).
- Miles 3.2 to 3.8: climbs about 130 ft (40 m).
- Miles 10.7 to 12.6: climbs about 145 ft (45 m).
What the hills cost
- 1:45 on a flat course is about 1:46 here (1 minute slower).
- 2:00 on a flat course is about 2:02 here (2 minutes slower).
- 2:15 on a flat course is about 2:17 here (2 minutes slower).
Hills only, priced mile by mile on the course map. The pace calculator above adds the race-day weather.
Even-effort splits for a 1:45, 2:00 or 2:15 finish
| Mile | Climb | Descent | 1:45 | 2:00 | 2:15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 ft | 145 ft | 7:29 | 8:33 | 9:37 |
| 2 | 106 ft | 58 ft | 8:17 | 9:28 | 10:40 |
| 3 | 83 ft | 111 ft | 7:48 | 8:55 | 10:01 |
| 4 | 144 ft | 48 ft | 8:43 | 9:57 | 11:12 |
| 5 | 83 ft | 102 ft | 7:49 | 8:57 | 10:04 |
| 6 | 51 ft | 0 ft | 8:19 | 9:30 | 10:41 |
| 7 | 21 ft | 26 ft | 7:53 | 9:00 | 10:08 |
| 8 | 12 ft | 20 ft | 7:52 | 9:00 | 10:07 |
| 9 | 0 ft | 39 ft | 7:44 | 8:51 | 9:57 |
| 10 | 39 ft | 120 ft | 7:36 | 8:41 | 9:47 |
| 11 | 12 ft | 39 ft | 7:48 | 8:54 | 10:01 |
| 12 | 57 ft | 11 ft | 8:17 | 9:28 | 10:39 |
| 13 | 113 ft | 45 ft | 8:28 | 9:41 | 10:53 |
| Last 0.1 | 8 ft | 0 ft | 0:57 | 1:05 | 1:13 |
Explore the Galloping Gertie Half Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
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About the Galloping Gertie Half Marathon
The Galloping Gertie Half Marathon starts and finishes at Tacoma Narrows Airport in Gig Harbor, Washington, with a 10K and 5K held the same morning. The course runs north on the Cushman Trail before an out-and-back across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, with the turnaround near mile 10.7. The race takes its name from the original 1940 Narrows bridge, nicknamed Galloping Gertie, which collapsed months after opening. The bridge crossing looks out over Puget Sound toward Point Defiance, Vashon Island, Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains.
