The 2024 Seattle Marathon returns to Seattle Center this year, once again on the Sunday after Thanksgiving – Sunday, December 1, 2024. Franz Niedermeyer, N3HFS is coordinating ham volunteers. (Contact information below.)
The full marathon course this year runs exactly as it did last year – south through downtown streets to Columbia St., enters the the I-5 Express Lanes for a stretch to the north, then semi-circles the UW campus, continuing through Broadmoor, the Arboretum, and Interlaken Park before heading west to Gas Works Park and up Highway 99 to circle Green Lake before returning to Seattle Center.
The marathon will need automobile and bicycle hams on the course, and a number of pedestrian hams at a relatively few key locations on the course. They will also need pedestrian/seated-position hams at the Seattle Center complex for VRA (SAG vehicle reception) and start/finish/medical areas.
Hams that can operate at certain positions alongside their non-ham family or friends may also volunteer, since help that does not require radio operation may be wanted at the VRA and some on-course locations.
Please keep in mind that field operating positions at the Marathon are typically outdoors and therefore can be cold and/or wet, and may in a few cases require some hours without access to “personal relief” facilities. You can certainly bring a folding chair or other comforts, but it must be able to be carried to your location. You should be prepared to bring food and beverage for yourself as well. The full marathon starts at 7am, and the half-marathon at 7:30am, so positions at Seattle Center and earlier in the course will be staffed by 6am-7am. Some positions further along the course will need to be staffed beginning at 8-9am.
Franz is accepting volunteer sign-ups for the Seattle Marathon on the Sunday following Thanksgiving – December 1, 2024.
Volunteers may now sign up by contacting me at n3hfs@yahoo.com
Please send me the following information if you are ready to volunteer:
Full name (first and last; preferred nickname in quotes)
Ham radio call sign
Email address
Home address
Mobile (cell) telephone number to be used at the event
Emergency contact: name, relationship, and phone number
Any notes regarding position types you would like, or have experience with (SAG vehicle, pedestrian, VRA, etc.) or other information (physical limitations, etc.)
Email Franz with questions about assignments or volunteering, or whatever is on your mind regarding this event. n3hfs@yahoo.com 717-379-0892 cell/text
Sunday December 1, Seattle Marathon