Racing Hearts and Asphalt Crowns: Inside the Capital City Marathon
The tension and quiet anticipation build as the front pack, including notable local athlete Jesse Stevick, waits for the starting gun at the 2026 Capital City Marathon in Olympia, Washington.
Day One: Unpaced Chaos at Capitol Lake
The Capital City Marathon weekend kicks off with the Saturday run fair, but the real spectacle happens when the local youth take over Capitol Lake. The weather was a temperamental character of its own, oscillating between brilliant sunshine and a dark, moody gloom. Just as sponsors scrambled to protect their gear from sudden rain, the sun would break through, only to be chased by a biting wind.
Despite the elements, hundreds of kids gathered to burn off pre-race jitters. When officials warned the smaller children to move back to avoid being trampled, the young runners held their ground with hilarious defiance. The start of a kids’ race is pure, unadulterated energy. There is no concept of pacing; it is a full-throttle sprint from the gun until their legs physically give out. As I headed home to process the day's frames, I was struck by the passion of the next generation of Olympia runners.
Day Two: The 0530 Early Start
Sunday morning arrived with a cool stillness as the sun peeked over the horizon. While most of the city slept, the "Early Start" runners were already at the line. This 5:30 a.m. jump allows those who anticipate a longer course time to finish before the city streets reopen to traffic.
In my new role handling marathon photography, I made it a priority to be there for them. Often, these early athletes don't get the same "love" or coverage as the elite waves, yet they are on the course longer than anyone else—a massive feat of endurance. Watching volunteers unload U-Hauls in the dark to set up bib stations, I prepared my gear to capture the grit of these pre-dawn athletes.
The Atmosphere: Pre-Race Tension and Gritty Portraits
Looking completely relaxed amidst the pre-race energy, Jihan shares a smile in the starting corral of the 2026 Capital City Marathon in Olympia, Washington. She would later go on to secure the womens victory.
As the waves gathered—Early Start, Marathon, Half-Marathon, and the 5-Mile—the air grew thick with nervous energy. Walking through the pack with two camera bodies, I could feel a heavy tension I had never fully appreciated from behind the lens.
Initially, I looked for intense, gritty pre-race portraits, but the runners had a different idea. Most shied away from the glass or flashed a quick, nervous smile. I quickly learned to lean into that energy. If they wanted to show their nerves or their excitement through a pose, that was the story I was going to tell.
The Finish Line: Asphalt Crowns and Local Legends
I eventually moved to my "home base" for the day: the center of Capitol Boulevard, positioned perfectly beneath the Fleet Feet arch. From this vantage point, I could track runners coming down the final stretch with my 420mm lens.
The first major highlight was the arrival of the 5-mile overall winner. I had previously bet on Quin Zola, an Olympia High School freshman, during a chat with Race Director Sally. Zola, representing the Barron Park Striders, appeared on the boulevard completely alone, his "stripeys"—the iconic blue and white varsity shorts—marking him as a local standout. Seeing the freshman dominate the field was electric.
Olympia High School and Barron Park Striders athlete Quin Zola completely commands the final stretch of the Capital City 5-Mile in Olympia, Washington, hammering down the center of the road with perfect form.
But the magic didn't stop there. My friend Jihan, competing in her very first marathon, emerged from the crowded finishing stretch to take the crown. Watching her dart through the pack to claim victory on the asphalt was the highlight of the weekend. Thousands of finishers crossed the line that day, supported by a sea of friends and family, proving once again that the Olympia running community is something truly special.
