Defiance 50K – Tacoma City Marathon Association

DEFIANCE 50K, 30K & 15K

Saturday, October 11, 2025

The Defiance 50K, 30K & 15K

The Defiance 50K, 30K, 15K & 3-Person 50K Relay is a scenic race that takes runners through the beautiful trails of Point Defiance, with over 700 acres of old growth forests and panoramic views of the Puget Sound.

The course is approximately a 9.75 mi / 15.7 km loop through old growth forest. Runners of the 15K and each team member of the 3-Person 50K Relay will complete this loop once, 30K runners will run the loop twice and 50K runners will run the loop three times. Each loop will take you through the Start/Finish area at Owen Beach.

On the course, you will see sweeping views of the Puget Sound, run on soft trails beneath 500-year-old giant cedars and firs in one of the top 20 urban parks in the United States.

The course is mostly single track and typically dry mid-October. Train for some hills but the course is 95% run-able.

COURSE INFO & MAPS

REGISTRATION

FLEET FEET TRAINING

MEDALS/SWAG

PACKET PICKUP

DAY OF RACE SCHEDULE & DETAILS

RESULTS & PHOTOS

AWARDS

VOLUNTEER

FAQs

50K / 30K / 15K

Start Time: 8:00 am
Start/Finish Location: Owen Beach

50K: 3 Loops
30K: 2 Loops
15K: 1 Loop
50K Relay: 3 Runners x 1 Loop Each

>> COURSE MAP HERE <<

Download the course to your Garmin!
Watch a short how to tutorial >>HERE<<

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Registration Information

Registration includes:

Defiance 50K, 30K, 15K, or 50K Relay Medal
Tech Shirt – Order by 9/14 to guarantee a shirt and size
Collective Bib
Optional Adult Hoodie for Purchase

Late registration will be available online during packet pickup & on day of race. Online registration closes 15 min prior to race start.

50K
June 1 - 2: $75 (2-Day Opening Special! On sale at 10:00 am.)
June 3: $80
June 20: $85
July 20: $90
August 20: $95
September 20: $100
October 11 - 12: $105
*See Registration for Relay Pricing
REGISTER NOW

30K
June 1 - 2: $65 (2-Day Opening Special! On sale at 10:00 am.)
June 3: $70
June 20: $75
July 20: $80
August 20: $85
September 20: $90
October 11- 12: $95
REGISTER NOW

15K
June 1 - 2: $55 (2-Day Opening Special! On sale at 10:00 am.)
June 3: $60
June 20: $65
July 20: $70
August 20: $75
September 20: $80
October 11 - 12: $85
REGISTER NOW

A portion of proceeds goes toward the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County. Additional donations can be made during registration.

CONFIRM REGISTRATION >> HERE <<

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A small transaction fee is assessed when registering online. Price increases occur at midnight.

*Please Read! TCMA Policies* All entry fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. Sorry, no transfers to another individual, and no roll-overs to the following year. All participants under the age of 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian in order to participate. Sorry, no exceptions.

TCMA reserves the right to alter or change race course(s) of events, without warning, based on the needs of the event, municipality requirements and/or other factors that may be out of the control of TCMA. While we do our very best to keep our courses consistent, year after year for their respective events, circumstances may arise that require TCMA to alter or change a course. As an organization that utilizes city streets, parks, and other such pathways for our events, we work very closely with the local municipalities, police departments and fire departments to ensure the safety of our participants, volunteers and staff. While we don’t like to have to change a familiar course, there are instances where we are required to do so in order to be granted permission to host the event. We appreciate your understanding as we work hard to keep the events safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.

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Hosted by:

Medical Services. & Hydration Therapy On-the-Go Provided by:

A portion of proceeds goes toward the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County. Additional donations can be made during registration.

Train with Fleet Feet

Are you interested in training for your first distance race but don’t know where to start? Join the Fleet Feet Tacoma 30K Trail Training Group and train for the Defiance 30K! This 13-week program kicks off on Wednesday, July 20th. Sign-up will be open through the second week of the program (August 1st). The group will meet at various locations around Tacoma and University Place on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Already registered for a different fall race but want to train with the group? Not a problem! The coaches at Fleet Feet are happy to help adjust your plan so you can meet your goals, too. Check out Fleet Feet Training for more information on these groups and other training programs that Fleet Feet has to offer.

LEARN MORE

Defiance 50K / 30K / 15K / Relay Medals

Celebrate your accomplishment and add some more bling to your collection! All runners will receive their hard earned commemorative finisher medal as you come across the finish line.

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Race Swag

Race swag will be available for pick up during packet pickup or at the finish line on race day. Unclaimed swag cannot be mailed out after the race, so don’t forget to grab yours before you leave!

50K, 30K, 15K, and 50K Relay Runners receive a longsleeve shirt (guaranteed shirt & size cutoff is 9/14*).

*We do our best to estimate numbers to account for registrations after the shirt cutoff date but to help ensure that as many runners are able to get a shirt as possible, we cannot do size exchanges until the end of the day on race day.

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Packet Pickup Information

Your packet will contain:

Race bib with timing chip attached to back and safety pins
Gear check tear tag attached to bottom of bib – please fix this to your gear bag if you are checking one on race day

We highly recommend you pick up your packet prior to race day to avoid long lines on race morning. You may also pick up a packet for a friend/family member, if you do so, please make sure they know you will be picking up their packet.

Pre-Race Pickup

Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Packet Pickup Location:
Central Co-Op
4502 North Pearl Street

Tacoma, WA 98407

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Day-of-race packet pickup will be available from 6:30 am – 7:45 am.

*Please Note* Packets will not be available for pickup before stated times. Please do not call the pick-up location with packet pickup questions. If you have a question, please email us at info@tcmaevents.com.

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Day of Race Schedule

50K / 30K / 15K

Date: Saturday, October 12, 2024

Start/Finish Location: Owen Beach

6:30 am: Packet Pickup & Gear Check Start
7:45 am: Packet Pickup & Gear Check End
8:00 am: All Distances Start
4:00 pm: Course Closes

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Course Overview

Start – Finish – Owen Beach (Aid Station)
Mile 3.51- 500-year-old tree
Mile 3.96 – Gig Harbor viewpoint
Mile 5.22 – SW corner of Ft Nisqually (Aid Station)
Mile 7. Ft Nisqually Crossroad

Elevation Gain and Loss per loop are 1,306 feet.

Weather

It will be cold at the start but typically dry in mid-October. Take a look at the Average Weather in October for Tacoma, WA and be prepared for anything!

Parking

Limited Parking at Owen Beach, please carpool. Cars will be ticketed if they are not in the designated parking stalls.

Supplemental Anthony’s Parking (please do not park in other areas of the Marina Parking Lot): Location HERE

Spectators

Top of Owen Beach Hill Crosswalk

Mile 2 @ 47.309486,-122.531142 – Must leave right after the start to catch runners before they arrive

Fort Nisqually Mile 5 Aid Station @ 47.303757,-122.533247

Fort Nisqually Cutoff Intersection Crosswalk, Mile 7.7 @ 47.306737,-122.534328

Finish Line @ Owen Beach

All spectator locations are short walks on the road, Fort Nisqually is all uphill.

Gear Check

Gear check will be available until 15 min before the start of the race. Please plan to bring your own bag. You may claim your bag after you finish by providing your bib number. Tear your gear check tag off of your bib and attach to your gear check bag.

Please do not put valuables in your bag. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Course Support

Each loop comes through the Start/Finish, where aid will be available. An aid station is located at Ft. Nisqually approximately 5.3 miles into the 10.3-mile loop. We recommend carrying one bottle of water. Water, Electrolyte, food, and fixed bathrooms will be provided at water stations. Medical personnel will be at the start/finish area.

Time Limit

There is a time limit of 8 hours. To make sure all runners are within this time-limit, there is a cutoff time of 1:00 pm for the start of the third loop. We will close the course at 4:00 pm.

Finish Line Amenities

Once you cross the finish line, you will be greeted with a variety of food and beverages to aid in your recovery.

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Results & Photos

Timing provided by Ready, Set…Time! Photos & free downloads provided by CJ Photography.

Results will be posted online shortly after you come across the finish line. Photos will be posted online in the week following the race, you will receive an email when they’re available. Results & Photos from previous years are also archived below.

Results Archive

2024 Results
2023 Results
2022 Results
2021 Results
2019 Results
2018 Results
2017 Results
2016 Results
2015 Results
2014 Results
2013 Results
2012 Results
2011 Results
2010 Results

Photos Archive

2024 Photos
2023 Photos
2022 Photos
2021 Photos
2019 Photos

Course Records

50K

Andrew Henshaw: 3:36:41 – 2011
Chickie Megs Hall: 4:18:41 – 2012

50K Masters

Michael Lynes: 3:44:14 – 2010
Merita Trohimovich: 4:32:33 – 2010

30K

Theodore Devos: 2:27:38 – 2013
Amber Taylor: 2:57:41 – 2011

15K

Jonathan Phillips: 1:08:18 – 2010
Gretchen Van Dyke: 1:19:54 – 2013

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Awards & Rules

Age Group Ribbons

Awards for the top Overall Male & Female and age group ribbons will be available for pick up at your convenience at the results tent*. Age group ribbons will be given out to the top 5 finishers in the following age groups: 9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90+.

How to Claim Your Ribbon

After you have finished your race, check the results computers and get your print out. If your results are not yet posted please check back again in 10-15 minutes as they are updated often. If you are in the top 5 in your age group, proceed to the awards table to claim your ribbon. Congratulations!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & USATF RULES:
(1) If you win both an overall and age group spot you will be presented with both awards, overall winners ARE NOT knocked out of their respective age group.
(2) To be eligible for overall and age group awards or USATF submissions, you cannot be paced by or accept aid from a non-registered runner at any time during the event and you must complete the full course.
(3) Failure to complete the course in its entirety will result in disqualification.
(4) Use of personal music devices/headphones is discouraged for the safety and benefit of all participants. If you choose to wear them, please be safe and don’t turn them up so loud that you can’t hear volunteers or police. We recommend leaving one earbud out

*Please Note* Awards cannot be mailed out after the race, so please pick up your ribbon before leaving!

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Awards & Rules

Age Group Ribbons

How to Claim Your Ribbon

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & USATF RULES:
(1) If you win both an overall and age group spot you will be presented with both awards, overall winners ARE NOT knocked out of their respective age group.
(2) To be eligible for overall and age group awards or USATF submissions, you cannot be paced by or accept aid from a non-registered runner at any time during the event and you must complete the full course.
(3) Failure to complete the couse in its entirety may result in disqualification.
(4) Use of personal music devices/headphones is discouraged for the safety and benefit of all participants. If you choose to wear them, please be safe and don’t turn them up so loud that you can’t hear volunteers or police. We recommend leaving one earbud out.

*Please Note* Awards cannot be mailed out after the race, so please pick up your ribbon before leaving!

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HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Volunteer support means everything to us and our runners. We couldn’t do this without the hard work and efforts of dedicated volunteers who provide encouragement and a helping hand from getting our runners ready to hit the start line to fueling them through the finish.

(Volunteer Location Map)

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