OUR
MISSION

WHO WE ARE

The Seattle Marathon Association (SMA) is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. It is proud of its commitment to providing a quality running event in the Pacific Northwest, providing our sponsors with maximum exposure in association with the event and making a positive social and economic impact on the city of Seattle. Using the Visitors and Convention Bureau Statistics, a conservative positive economic impact to the Seattle economy is two million dollars per year.

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HISTORY

The Seattle Marathon began modestly in 1970 when a group of friends from the University of Washington decided to hold their own running event. Fewer than 38 runners started the first annual event, with most of them completing the full 26.2 miles. From these modest beginnings, the Seattle Marathon Family of Events has risen to become one of the largest and most influential mass-participation runs in the Pacific Northwest, being ranked by RaceRaves as the Runner’s Choice Best Marathon in Washington State. In 1999, a Seattle Kids Marathon was added, which allows school-aged children to run a "full marathon" one mile at a time. The first year, 357 children participated. The event has grown over the years to include as many as 1,200 children. Through the years, Seattle Marathon runners have also donated their money to the marathon's designated charities.