Sunflower Relay, Half Marathon and Marathon
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Sunflower Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay
The Sunflower event is an annual trail running competition held in the Methow Valley. The course begins at an elevation of 2,180 feet in Mazama and travels through a variety of terrain, including single track trails, well-marked deer trails, and gravel roads. Participants pass through flower-carpeted meadows and fields with views of the Methow River, the North Cascades, and the Chelan Sawtooths.
The route is unique as it traverses private property that owners allow access to for only one day per year. Because of these access restrictions, detailed maps are not provided in advance, and pre-running the course is not permitted. The course includes two climbs to 2,600 feet before arriving at the finish line in Twisp, which sits at approximately 1,600 feet.
Available distances and categories:
- Marathon: A 26.8-mile course with an elevation gain of 2,520 feet and loss of 2,350 feet.
- Half Marathon: A course of approximately 13.1 miles starting from the Chickadee Trailhead.
- Team Relay: A distance covering the full marathon course split into five distinct legs.
The relay option is open to teams of two to five people. The legs vary in difficulty and distance, ranging from a 2.2-mile easy section to a 6.6-mile difficult section requiring a strong runner. Shuttles are provided on the morning of the event to transport marathon and half-marathon participants from the finish line in Twisp to their respective starting points.
Included in the entry fee are a race bib, custom apparel, a post-race lunch, and raffle prizes. Safety and logistics requirements include a seven-hour cut-off for the marathon and a five-hour cut-off for the half marathon. No dogs are permitted on the course or at the finish line venue. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
