There is a marathon in North Bend, Washington where nearly one in three finishers qualifies for Boston. It is also the #1 ranked marathon in the state of Washington and an Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group Qualifier. That combination does not happen by accident.

Jack and Jills Downhill Marathon carries a 32.2% BQ rate — one of the highest in our entire directory — and a PR Score of 103.38. Both numbers trace back to a course deliberately engineered for fast times, not just labeled "downhill" and left to chance.

The design philosophy: flat early miles to establish pace and cadence, then a gentle downhill finish through the second half. This is how negative split racing is meant to work — the course rewards discipline in the first half and amplifies it in the second. That architecture is the same thinking behind Cascade Express being ranked among the fastest BQ courses in the country, and it shows in the qualifying rate here.

The race runs as a two-day event — July 25 & 26, 2026 — in North Bend, WA. It starts at approximately 2,500 feet, not the 8,000–10,000 foot starts that make some downhill courses inaccessible to altitude-sensitive runners. The upper miles deliver genuinely scenic running: a lake, waterfalls, and Cascade mountain views before the grade tips downward. The field gets live GPS tracking, detailed mile splits, and large visible mile markers — operational infrastructure that mirrors the experience at world marathon majors.

Course strategy matters here more than on flat courses. The flat opening exists to help you find your pace — use it. Runners who mistake early flat miles for an invitation to bank time pay for it at mile 18. Run controlled, lock in your goal pace, and let the second half work in your favor. July in North Bend runs warm (65–80°F), so heat preparation is not optional.

Registration is open at jackjillmarathon.com. With an Abbott Age Group Qualifier designation, a state-ranked course, and a 32% BQ rate, this race earns its reputation on results.