Overall Rating
Overall Rating (25 Reviews)
4.4
(25 Ratings)  (25 Reviews)
DIFFICULTY
2.4
SCENERY
3.9
PRODUCTION
4.6
SWAG
4.2
The Eugene Marathon is the Pacific Northwest’s largest marathon and takes place each spring on the last Sunday of April. The marathon and half marathon courses traverse through the communities of Eugene and Springfield, alongside the Willamette River, and on the same roads that the world’s best runners have competed … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Apr 27):
  2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
 
H (°F)  77  57  68  66  62
L (°F)  49  41  35  51  39
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Recent reviews

    grimesdee FIRST-TIMER '23

    The packet pick up was pretty easy. Parking can be tricky the morning of. Get there early so you can park on surrounding streets. We did find parking close to … MORE

    The packet pick up was pretty easy. Parking can be tricky the morning of. Get there early so you can park on surrounding streets. We did find parking close to the start/finish. The race itself winds through Eugene but you do run past the stadium between mile 9-10 which is better than some races where you run past the finish at the halfway point. The 2nd half was full of concrete wide paths. If you are from the midwest where our bike paths are blacktop this will begin to eventually hurt. I was in pretty rough shape going in so that did not help. The finish on the track was great. The only bad thing is that you have to walk up stairs to get to the food/drinks. Just what you want to do after running 26.2. I did like that because the finish was in the stadium there was plenty of space for me to wait for my fellow running friends.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    3

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    wcso5931 FIRST-TIMER '23

    Ok, so I am from Oregon and have done many races in Oregon. I have read MANY articles saying that the Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon is the one to … MORE

    Ok, so I am from Oregon and have done many races in Oregon. I have read MANY articles saying that the Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon is the one to do in Oregon. Spoiler……. It’s fine. Portland Marathon is better.

    The Expo/Packet Pick up was downtown at a Hotel. It was fairly well organized though they did run out of safety pins by the time I arrived at the pick up. The shirt was a lovely shade of green tech shirt. They had all of the usual stuff you would expect at a major race expo.

    Race morning I parked downtown and took the shuttles to the starting line at U of O. This was convenient for getting there though not as much getting back. The starting line at Hayward did have plenty of room to stretch and prepare for the race. Getting into the corrals with my pace group left something to be desired but it was not as bad as other races I have been to.

    The race did get started on time and gave a nice tour of Eugene without bringing the city to a complete halt. Eugene is not a particularly beautiful city but this race did the best to project a nice face. The course was a mixture of downtown, neighbourhoods, park, and of course Autzen Stadium pass. The last part of the race did one of my least favorite things and takes runners past the finish and goes back out before coming back to finish. My pacer did a great job of keeping the pace as he should.

    The finish line had plenty of room (probably because it was the same as the starting line) and was well appointed. The medal for this race is very nice . I was ok to do so, but I would say that having to ascend the steps of Hayward to get to the beer and main food after running the race would likely not be comfortable for a good amount of racer’s sore muscles.

    Lets talk about the shuttle back to downtown for a second. I understand that they decided to maximize efficiency and therefore didn’t start the shuttles back to downtown until they anticipated having marathoners there to ride them. However that meant a good wait for a faster half marathoner. It was such a long wait and I was hungry enough that I just walked back to downtown and beat the shuttle bus by a considerable margin.

    Again, the race was fine. It was worth coming down to Eugene to experience it once. But I will have to disagree with the “experts” about this being the race to do in Oregon. Unless Hayward Field gets you weak in the knees, there are a few other races that are just better overall (the Portland Marathon being only one of them). Eugene is indeed Track City USA, but a marathon is not generally run on a track.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    4

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    pt105 FIRST-TIMER '23

    One of my overall favourite races. A great supportive college feel and running in the footsteps of legends. The track stadium finish is amazing! 10/10 MORE

    One of my overall favourite races. A great supportive college feel and running in the footsteps of legends. The track stadium finish is amazing! 10/10

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5
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    lsn1986 REPEAT RUNNER '23

    It's always fun to run in the footsteps of legends at Hayward Field where some of the best runners participated in the sport, but this year we also were running … MORE

    It’s always fun to run in the footsteps of legends at Hayward Field where some of the best runners participated in the sport, but this year we also were running where the World Athletics Championships were held in 2022. With those things in mind, it is just a more awe-inspiring experience.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    3

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    Packet pick up was smooth at a host hotel in downtown. Medium size vendor for things you may need for race day. The course was well supported with friendly and … MORE

    Packet pick up was smooth at a host hotel in downtown. Medium size vendor for things you may need for race day.
    The course was well supported with friendly and helpful volunteers. Plenty of traffic control and fuel. The course was through the campus and along their trail systems along the Wilmette River! Prepare yourself for mostly concrete which I’ve never experienced and my joints paid for it!
    The finish in the stadium along the track was so nice!
    They were stingy with heat sheets at the end of the race. Nice touch of having a grilled cheese sandwich and one free beer!
    Solid medal and nice quality shirt!

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    2
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    This was my first marathon and I got to run it in my home town (which I know makes me biased). The first half is mostly on city roads than … MORE

    This was my first marathon and I got to run it in my home town (which I know makes me biased). The first half is mostly on city roads than the latter half is along the riverfront. I did the majority of my training on parts of this course and never got bored– the scenery is beautiful. Packet pickup was easy. My kids ran the Duck Dash the day before and were thrilled to get little rubber ducky medals. The support for the race was stellar (water stations were helmed by local run clubs and volunteers). Although the weather was in the 80s the day before, this is Oregon so it cooled down to a perfect 50 degrees and misty on race day. My only note is that the pacers for the back-of-the-pack runners were WAY off (the 5:30 pacers ran at a 5hr pace or faster for at least the first half when I was tailing them). There is some elitism and snobbery in general from the organizers (it would be nice to have any sort of body diversity represented in their promotional materials, though there have been efforts to address racial inequity), though I want to point out that the volunteers along the course were EXCELLENT in their cheering and support, even though they had been out there for awhile before I showed up. I would absolutely recommend this race for a first-time marathoner, though be prepared to run alone if you’re a back-of-the-packer like me– there were not many of us in this race.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    pt105 REPEAT RUNNER '23

    I use this race as a shakeout for the race on Sunday. It's a well-supported run through town with a finish at Hayward Field. I highly recommend it as part … MORE

    I use this race as a shakeout for the race on Sunday. It’s a well-supported run through town with a finish at Hayward Field. I highly recommend it as part of the Doublestack Challenge.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    2
    SWAG
    4
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    CJoy FIRST-TIMER '23

    Course was paced the entire way. A few gentle hills. Started at Hayward Field, through lovely communities, a gorgeous Park and finished inside the stadium. Lost a star only because … MORE

    Course was paced the entire way. A few gentle hills. Started at Hayward Field, through lovely communities, a gorgeous Park and finished inside the stadium. Lost a star only because there were not mile markers regularly. Great production.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4
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    TatumBurke FIRST-TIMER '22

    I chose this race because my high school coach always showed us clips and used quotes of the famous PreFontaine. It brought back so many memories. The race actual goes … MORE

    I chose this race because my high school coach always showed us clips and used quotes of the famous PreFontaine. It brought back so many memories. The race actual goes right down a trail he used to run and ends at Hayward stadium. The whole town comes out to support you and those last miles are truly epic! The medal they gave at the end was created from the old Stadium and it was truly unique to have a souvenir of history! I highly recommend this one!

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    5

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    feria-arias.1 FIRST-TIMER '22

    This was on my bucket list just because of the grandeur of finishing in the same stadium as PreFontaine and many other Run Gods have finished. The race starts and … MORE

    This was on my bucket list just because of the grandeur of finishing in the same stadium as PreFontaine and many other Run Gods have finished. The race starts and ends at Hayward stadium. The Stadium in itself is so nice that it alone would have made this race worth while but everything from the race swag to the race production to the sights made it by far the best marathon in Oregon. The only slight knock I would say is the medal isn’t as grandious as the event itself but it will do. The course has some hills but for Oregon it has a lot of flat areas and the crowd support is great. The entire city shuts down for this event.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5
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    RosBogan FIRST-TIMER '22

    Fantastic weather, nice course, not too challenging with great surroundings. Well run race experience. Starting and ending at a stadium means you can avoid port'a'johns. MORE

    Fantastic weather, nice course, not too challenging with great surroundings. Well run race experience. Starting and ending at a stadium means you can avoid port’a’johns.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    4

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    mojolobo83 FIRST-TIMER '22

    Great weather. Great running spots (Pre's Trail). The campus atmosphere is electric with previous greats shown at the track. Rideshares become scarce starting on Friday & Saturday, so schedule ahead. … MORE

    Great weather. Great running spots (Pre’s Trail). The campus atmosphere is electric with previous greats shown at the track.

    Rideshares become scarce starting on Friday & Saturday, so schedule ahead. Packet pick-up was a little disorganized with certain tables being unable to approach due to long line forming for other table packet pick-up.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    3

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    pt105 FIRST-TIMER '19

    One of my favorite marathons is the iconic run through TrackTown USA with a great college town-feel, terrific crowds, and a fast course. I would give it a 10/10 rating. MORE

    One of my favorite marathons is the iconic run through TrackTown USA with a great college town-feel, terrific crowds, and a fast course. I would give it a 10/10 rating.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    5

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    MrMike FIRST-TIMER '19

    Great race with a ton of people. Entire width of road is the start. Great finisher medal and so professionally done. I would do this every year if I still … MORE

    Great race with a ton of people. Entire width of road is the start.
    Great finisher medal and so professionally done.
    I would do this every year if I still lived in Oregon.

    Great post party. So much fun!

    DIFFICULTY
    1
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
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    Joann FIRST-TIMER '19

    The race started and finished in front of the stadium. They had buses to take us to the starting line and to take us back when we finished. That time … MORE

    The race started and finished in front of the stadium. They had buses to take us to the starting line and to take us back when we finished. That time of the year is really beautiful with all the flowers and blooming shrubs.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    rothruns REPEAT RUNNER '19

    I love this race so much. I think that everything is run really well--there are plenty of aide stations along the route, the beginning of the race is well organized, … MORE

    I love this race so much. I think that everything is run really well–there are plenty of aide stations along the route, the beginning of the race is well organized, and the end of the race is the bomb. The general atmosphere is just so welcoming and warm.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    Baroquen131 FIRST-TIMER '19

    Another enjoyable event for me. The "worst" part for me was the travel - flying into Portland, and driving down to Eugene was not awful, but a chore. Once in … MORE

    Another enjoyable event for me. The “worst” part for me was the travel – flying into Portland, and driving down to Eugene was not awful, but a chore. Once in town, everything else was quite pleasant. Expo was small but nice. Starting (and ending) at Autzen Stadium was a good thing – spacious with facilities. Weather was colder than was forecast and I ended up making a trip to Target to scavenge for sweatpants/sweatshirt. But all worked out well. Course was fine, and ending on the field at the stadium was fun. After the race was pleasant too with lots of food/drink options, and plenty of space for everyone. This was a well-run event and I’m glad it was my pick for running Oregon.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    4

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    brittandcam214 FIRST-TIMER '18

    Great course and so pretty! Lots of locals out there for support in the first half, the second half if senic but a little lonely. They call it fast and … MORE

    Great course and so pretty! Lots of locals out there for support in the first half, the second half if senic but a little lonely. They call it fast and flat but there are some gradual uphills that surprised me. Perfect for my first marathon!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4
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    Kimbertson REPEAT RUNNER '17

    Eugene is my hometown, but as I run more races in other towns/cities, I am consistently reminded with how wonderful an event the Eugene Marathon is. I have run the … MORE

    Eugene is my hometown, but as I run more races in other towns/cities, I am consistently reminded with how wonderful an event the Eugene Marathon is. I have run the half the last four years, but since I train here, I also regularly run much of the course for the full. Having now finished two fulls myself, I can say I definitely plan to run the Eugene full, and anticipate it being a fast and enjoyable race.
    Pros:
    Finishing on Hayward Field – let’s face it, other than a race like Boston, I think finishing on the track at Hayward is top notch. It feels amazing to hit that track for the last .15, and there are always lots of spectators to cheer you to the finish!
    Course – the race follows a nice mixture of city / neighborhood streets, going through the University of Oregon campus, and past the football stadium, onto the river path that hugs the Willamette river. It is overall very flat, with a slight incline miles 2-4.5, a couple hills (not too big though) at mile 8.5, and 14ish, and then small rolling hills along the bike path the last few miles (for the full only). Again, overall very flat and fast, and once more runners discover this as a good BQ course, I can see the participation exploding!
    Fans – people in Eugene love running, and if they don’t run, they still appreciate it as the legacy of this small city. The crowd support /spirit is great for an event this size. From a guy playing an electric guitar in a field by the river, to kids and families drinking coffee and eating donuts, offering “free hugs,” the crowd adds a fun element to this race.
    Finish line – the finish area is excellent. Rather than a street curb, you are ushered onto the artificial turf soccer fields, where hot pancakes, live music, and usually plenty of sun greet you. The beer tent is great, though you do have to buy your beer (maybe one of these days they’ll change that!). Also, plenty of refillable water stations, and the last two years part of the finish line swag is a water bottle.
    Organization – I feel this is a well-organized race, and at the same time, it is my hometown, so it’s more familiar to navigate.
    Cons:
    Shirts – the shirts could be better! They are fine, good quality Nike t-shirts, but I’ve been disappointed that 2 of the last 3 years were white. Also, I consistently feel that the shirts don’t fit quite right (no matter the size) – the female ones are just not long enough. I feel like the shirts could be better in order to match the overall quality of this event.

    Highly recommend this event, to anyone from a first-timer, up to anyone trying for a PR or even a BQ, this is a great race!

    DIFFICULTY
    1
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    5
    SCENERY
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    M_Sohaskey Dec 06, 2017 at 7:43pm

    Love this review Kimberly, it brought back such great memories of the race itself. I ran the marathon this year and look forward to posting my own review soon, but… MORE

    Love this review Kimberly, it brought back such great memories of the race itself. I ran the marathon this year and look forward to posting my own review soon, but spoiler alert: Eugene is indeed a beautiful town that hosts a top-notch race. And that's coming from a Stanford alum :) . Winding our way through the UO campus and along the Willamette, coupled with the perfect running weather, made me *feel* fast. And the finish on Hayward Field was among my favorites; I was honestly looking forward to it for 26 miles. And being able to run in The House That Pre Built gave me goosebumps. Thanks so much for your awesome review, and hope you'll share more of your racing adventures here on RaceRaves! LESS

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    drobeson_uf REPEAT RUNNER '17

    Packet pickup and the after party are both great and well run. Finishing at Hayward Field is awesome. The only drawback to running the half instead of the full is … MORE

    Packet pickup and the after party are both great and well run. Finishing at Hayward Field is awesome. The only drawback to running the half instead of the full is that you miss a lot of the shady area along the river, which is much more scenic than running along runs through Eugene, in my opinion.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    5

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