VIDEO: Running along West Seattle shore in 2021 Orca Half, day 1

Just before the thunderstorms arrived, the first of two days for this year’s Orca Half half-marathon in West Seattle wrapped up. The early-morning rain had stopped by the time runners got going early this morning, leaving in waves from the starting line at Lincoln Park.

At mid-morning, sunbreaks greeted finishers at the west end of Don Armeni Boat Ramp.

Organizers expected about 600 runners today – and 350 tomorrow. Some traveled a long way to run along the scenic West Seattle shore – while at the finish line, we heard names called out with hometowns including Moses Lake and Lacey. (Some from even further away – the oldest finisher today was 73-year-old Ann Fowble from Grove City, Ohio!)

Full results are here; Rachel Brown was first to finish, in 1:21:28. The first Orca Half was in 2016.

P.S. Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail tells WSB that it continues to be a beneficiary of the Orca Half:

The Whale Trail has been a beneficiary of the Orca Half since it was first held in 2016. This year other beneficiaries include Long Live the Kings and United Indians of All Tribes.

One key feature of the race is that participants run for individual orcas, whose lD number and life history is printed on their race bibs. It’s been a wonderful way to connect people to J, K and L pods and the issues they face. This year for the first time, more orcas were added to the list of orcas than were removed from it.

4 Replies to "VIDEO: Running along West Seattle shore in 2021 Orca Half, day 1"

  • StopCuttingDownTrees September 18, 2021 (6:38 pm)

    That certainly didn’t look like 600 runners in the video. Were they released in waves with different starting times?

    • WSB September 18, 2021 (7:09 pm)

      That’s what I wrote in the story, yes. They started in waves.

  • Karen September 18, 2021 (7:31 pm)

    Good job, nice event 👏👏 congratulations to all runners🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

  • For orca mammas September 18, 2021 (10:52 pm)

    Orcas need our support, thanks runners! 🐳

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