Fooled ya! Were not going to recommend you run the Seattle Marathon, because if youre reading this now, thats not enough time to train for the annual event. But it has a companion 5K held a short distance away from the marathons traffic-snarled start/finish at Seattle Center. Thus, you can run the flat, out-and-back waterfront route, put on some sweats, enjoy the Olympic Sculpture Garden for a while, then walk up to the Center and cheer the finishers of the 26.2-mile race. Sure, youll only have covered about one-fifth the distance, but that also leaves time to get coffee and snacks. (Beforehand, theres some kind of marathon expo at the Westin, Friday and Saturday, where you can pick up your race packet and shop for goodies.) And the best part? For the week after Sunday, while the marathoners hobble like old men and complain their quads wont let them use the stairs, youll be walking normally. Which then gives you 51 weeks to start training for the real thing next year. Myrtle Edwards Park, 3130 Alaskan Way W., www.seattlemarathon.org. $25-$30. 9 a.m. BRIAN MILLER
Sat., Nov. 29, 9 a.m., 2008
