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
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 on for over 50 years — most recently at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 in July of 2022. Start outside the newly renovated Hayward Field, finish on the iconic track, experience the magic of Hayward Field and Run in the Footsteps of Legends.
Whether you’re a first-time racer or a seasoned veteran, you won’t find a better running destination than the Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon. And no matter what race you choose, you’ll break the finish line tape in front of cheering fans at Historic Hayward Field – one of the world’s most revered track and field venues and home to iconic athletes and coaches such as Steve Prefontaine, Bill Bowerman and Ashton Eaton.
Join us for a celebration of human will, determination and triumph this coming spring during the annual running of the Eugene Marathon. And make your own unforgettable history.
LESS
Beautiful course and fantastic event!
This race begins right outside the famous Hayward Field and ends on the legendary track inside. Along much of the course is a lovely river as well as plenty of … MORE
This race begins right outside the famous Hayward Field and ends on the legendary track inside. Along much of the course is a lovely river as well as plenty of spectator support all the way. Most impressive is this region of the country with incredible hikes with waterfalls, blue pool, hot springs and the most gorgeous trails I’ve ever seen. The town is easy to get around in and there are lots of great food choices. Highly recommend!
Legendary location
Easy course, well organized, bathroom tip-before the race, use the bathrooms upstairs in the stadium warm up area, Very supportive to back of pack runner, excellent neighborhood support, friendly city, … MORE
Easy course, well organized, bathroom tip-before the race, use the bathrooms upstairs in the stadium warm up area, Very supportive to back of pack runner, excellent neighborhood support, friendly city, great destination, Oregon is beautiful! We took Uber because there didn’t seem to be much parking around the stadium.
An Epic Finish
This was my 50th state Half Marathon!!! I chose this race for #50 for a few reasons. The main reason being the finish at Hayward field but I also heard … MORE
This was my 50th state Half Marathon!!! I chose this race for #50 for a few reasons. The main reason being the finish at Hayward field but I also heard good things about the race and it was a convenient time for my mom to go on vacation and she wanted to be there for #50. For the race I took off Friday and a couple days after the race. We flew to Portland Friday morning and drove 2 hours down to Eugene. There is a small airport in Eugene but it was cheaper to fly to Portland and we were already planning to spend time in Portland after the race. Once we arrived in Eugene we went to the expo. Everything was well organized. They had a separate line if doing the double stack (5K + half or full). Packet included bib and a really cute short sleeved tech shirt. You only got one shirt if doing challenge. It was a medium sized expo. The expo is in downtown Eugene where most of the hotels are and there is a shuttle from downtown to the race. However if you want to stay in the most convenient hotel stay where I did which is the Holiday Inn Express which I think is the closest and definitely one of the closest hotels to the start/finish. It was about a 1/2 mile walk and made race morning much less stressful not having to worry about a shuttle or parking. Race start was well organized. There were 5 corrals and lots of pace groups. I was in the last corral which was E. My initial plan was to go for under 2:45 but ugh I got a cold during the week and was feeling better race day but not 100% so knew that goal was unrealistic but lined up near the 2:45 pacer to see if I could keep up. Race day weather could not have been more perfect. The first few miles are in neighborhoods around the university and they were nice and full of spectators. There was one spectator which had you punch someone that I’m sure a lot of us want to punch (if you know you know) which was funny. Miles 3 through 7 were sort of an out and back that was a bit more boring that still had a good amount of spectators but not as much as the first 3 miles. Annoyingly around mile 9 you pass the start again and see the fast finishers turning into the track. But this part is fun because there are so many spectators including someone with a llama!! About 1/2 a mile later you go right past my hotel. The you go across this bridge with beautiful scenes of the river and then through this beautiful natural area. You then have about 1/2 mile back in town with an epic finish on Hayward Field full of spectators. Course wasn’t too hard but it’s not as flat as advertised. PNW “flat” is similar to New England “flat” with 300-400 feet of elevation gain. Production was excellent. Course was very well marked and organized. Roads were all closed. There were a good amount of aid stations. Only issue was I think there was supposed to be Gu at the aid station at mile 8 but I didn’t see any. The other minor production issues is there seemed to be some timing issues as my initial result was incorrect and then it just showed gun time but they fixed it relatively quickly and now has my correct time. As I predicted the 2:45 pace was a bit fast for how I was feeling but I was happy I still finished under 3 hours. This is also a very BOTP friendly race and there were tons of people finishing at my pace and a bunch behind me. I also love how clearly the race website explained the time limit. There is a 3:30 time limit for the half but they will keep the finish line open for the full marathon time limit you just may have to go to the sidewalks and may not have course support if over 3:30. Knowing this made the experience so much less stressful knowing there was no way I wouldn’t get a finishing time. The finish at Hayward field was perfect for finishing a major goal such as 50 states! It was also set up well for spectating so my mom could watch me finish. The medal is really cool with wood from the original Hayward field incorporated into the design and you get an extra medal if you do the double stack challenge. You get a bag of snacks at the end. One thing I loved is instead of giving one time use plastic water bottles you get a reusable water bottle as an extra swag item filled with water. The finish area had additional snacks and drinks such a beer, chocolate milk, grilled cheese and pancakes. Overall this was an excellent race and had great crowd support and a perfect finish. I do think you can probably find a more scenic Oregon race (although this race’s scenery was still good but not spectacular) but you probably can’t find one with better crowd support which is what you want for a milestone race.
Sneaky uphill
This course looks flat, but it’s actually a sneaky gradual uphill especially in the second half. The second half is also mainly through the park trails which gets a little … MORE
This course looks flat, but it’s actually a sneaky gradual uphill especially in the second half. The second half is also mainly through the park trails which gets a little boring. The highlight is, of course, finishing on Hayward Field which is amazing! Expo was small but had great vendors, and the after party pancakes were good and much needed. When there were crowds, they were supportive and a lot of fun (y’all, there was an actual live llama). Great dogs per mile too. I loved how meaningful the medal was having the wood of the old east grandstand in it. Race photographs are free! Everything was well run and I highly recommend this race, but would probably do the half if doing this again.
Run in the footsteps of legends!
The Eugene Marathon is a great marathon for first timers, anyway who wants to PR, or is just there for the vibes. The expo was held at the Graduate hotel … MORE
The Eugene Marathon is a great marathon for first timers, anyway who wants to PR, or is just there for the vibes. The expo was held at the Graduate hotel on the Friday and Saturday before race day. Packet pickup is pretty seamless and you can be in and out in under 20 minutes if you want to. As for accommodations, I would recommend staying at the Hayward Inn. It’s a 10 minute walk to the start/finish area, and was very reasonably priced. We booked about 3 months ahead of time and they had plenty of rooms. They also have a great free continental breakfast.
Race morning. There were lots of porta potties. I showed up 15 minutes before race time and there was hardly any wait in line. The race itself was very well supported. I never felt like the fueling stations were few and far between. There also seemed to be lots of bathrooms on the course. The court itself was pretty flat with a few rolling hills. I’d say the highlight about choosing this marathon is the predictable weather. It’s notoriously good. For us, it was a perfect 45 degrees at the start, 5mph winds, and overcast. 55 by the end. The only complaint I have about the course design is that there were, in my opinion, lots of sharp turns. Don’t love this as someone who had a time goal. The course was also very pretty. Not too many spectators, but very green.
The finish: one of the highlights of the race is the finish on Hayward field. Very cool experience running on the track with the finish line displayed on the Jumbotron. Overall, would highly recommend this race.
Everything I expected!
State #29 - Really enjoyed this race. I had high hopes and the race delivered. Expo - pretty simple expo which is held in a hotel. Easy pickup of shirt … MORE
State #29 – Really enjoyed this race. I had high hopes and the race delivered.
Expo – pretty simple expo which is held in a hotel. Easy pickup of shirt and bib and there were vendors selling merch. The race merch looked nice with interesting designs.
Race – Logistics were good. Shuttle buses offered from a few locations, one was close to my hotel. I would just warn to get there early as the ride to the start took a while because of traffic. Gear check was easy and there were plenty of pre-race port a potties.
Course – Beautiful course showcasing a lot of different parts of the city. I personally enjoyed the back half. I love the number of green spaces in the city! The course is billed as a fast course, and while I think that is generally true, there is one sizable hill in the first half and enough rollers in the second to make it a challenge. I had 550 ft of elevation over the full marathon. The aid stations were plentiful and consistent with Gatorade first then water. Volunteers were really good as well. Crowd support was fairly sparse. The highlight of the race is finishing on the track in Heyward field. A really fun moment.
Swag – Shirt was ok. Medal is amazing. Finishers received a finisher bag and reusable water bottle. Post race pancakes were the best.
All in all, a really nice day. Would recommend.
I finished a race in all 50 states
I was doing the Eugene Half Marathon for my 50th state in my goal to run a half marathon or longer in every state and decided to do the double … MORE
I was doing the Eugene Half Marathon for my 50th state in my goal to run a half marathon or longer in every state and decided to do the double stack challenge which is the 5K on Saturday with the half or the full on Sunday. My mom came on this trip with me and we did the 5K together. Most of the details are in my half marathon review. The 5K started and ended the same as the half and went through neighborhoods and Oregon’s campus. It was a lot of inclines and declines though doesn’t too steep. We walked it so we weren’t super fast. There were a ton of walkers which was great so it didn’t feel like we were holding anyone up. The finish line is also on Hayward track which is fun although I kind of wish it wasn’t as it made Sunday slightly less special. Swag for the race was excellent for a 5K. You got the same nice tech shirt and a medal. I love getting medals at 5K’s since most New England races only give them for longer races. They also gave a snack bag and a reusable water bottle filled with water instead of disposable plastic bottles. Overall a nice 5K that you should try to add on. We arrived Friday so got our packet then but you can do the packet pickup for the 5K race day morning at no extra fee if you can’t make the expo Friday.
Best in the PNW
Loved the energy, course, weather, expo, and production of this race. The finish at Hayward is something else. Plenty of room at the start and finish, no lines for beer, … MORE
Loved the energy, course, weather, expo, and production of this race. The finish at Hayward is something else. Plenty of room at the start and finish, no lines for beer, and you can just tell that Tracktown USA knows how to host thousands of runners. I also loved the free running shirt, it looks awesome, still wear it all the time and is a great conversation starter. I will say though, the rest of the purchasable merch was poor quality and was not the same Nike build quality as even the outlets.
Since I ran the half with a handheld, I don’t recall much on the aid stations. There’s a big hill on campus though since it’s in the midst of UO the crowd support here is outstanding, felt like a finish line.
Crowd support overall was incredible until the river portion. Those running the full were probably a bit lonely in the pain cave though once headed back to the stadium and hearing the announcer, the atmosphere is electric. The course is pretty boring though there aren’t really any true out and backs (you run south on parallel roads so kinda). Just a fast course with great crowds.
I would love to return and run the full next Spring. Cream of the crop for races. Having ran Seattle the past 2 years and friends who have done SF and LA, Eugene may be one of the best in the West.
My favorite race so far!
There's a reason Eugene, OR is known as Track Town USA. They seriously know how to put on/host a race (in this case, a marathon). Expo was fab, amazing keynote … MORE
There’s a reason Eugene, OR is known as Track Town USA. They seriously know how to put on/host a race (in this case, a marathon). Expo was fab, amazing keynote speaker, swag is on point, and finishing inside Hayward Field is something I/you will never forget. Course has a few rollers but is largely fast and fun. Race conditions this year were the best I’ve ever had on a marathon morning (cool/limited sun until the end/later in AM). Just do it.
An OK race
Overall, the race was just OK. I wasn't overly impressed with the scenery which was mostly a variety of residential homes. It was fun to finish and run a loop … MORE
Overall, the race was just OK. I wasn’t overly impressed with the scenery which was mostly a variety of residential homes. It was fun to finish and run a loop on the Hayward Field.
Great Race for Competitive Age Groupers
I was pleasantly surprised at the competitiveness of the field for its size (over 300 sub 3hrs out of ~3000). That said it was a bit congested for the first … MORE
I was pleasantly surprised at the competitiveness of the field for its size (over 300 sub 3hrs out of ~3000). That said it was a bit congested for the first several miles. Worked out for me in the end as it didn’t let me go out too fast 🙂 The course was quick. Nothing to slow you down too much aside from a few small hills in the first half. Finishing in Hayward Field was great & having it open before the race was good too.
I don’t usually care about finishers medals, but I must say this one was one of the nicer ones I’ve received. The chunk of the old Hayward Field embedded in it was a touch.
The weather could have been a wet one, but the running gods were on our side and it was a great day for the race.
The volunteers & spectators were first rate.
Overall an excellent race. Well done!
Truly a Great Race
Overall, the Eugene Marathon was awesome. The course is pretty easy (it is rolling, not flat, but the rolling hills can buy you some cheap time) and allows for a … MORE
Overall, the Eugene Marathon was awesome. The course is pretty easy (it is rolling, not flat, but the rolling hills can buy you some cheap time) and allows for a great PR opportunity for everyone. How could one not love finishing at Hayward Field down that last 200m? Truly the most unique race I’ve ever been in.
Being able to hang out with supporters behind the field on the turf is also awesome, so much better than standing around or sitting on a curb. Post-race pancakes were great as well!!
My main gripe is starting the half and full marathoners together at the same time. The road is very narrow for the first several miles and it makes it unironically a battle out there, especially with more inexperienced folks.
The only other critique I have is the design of the swag. The Nike apparel is awesome and I got a sweatshirt, but I thought the design was a little lackluster. Maybe darker greens for the sweatshirts and larger logos on the main sweatshirts as well. They get away with it cause they’re Nike branded and comfy, but I’d pay a few more bucks for a cooler design.
Overall, great race, huge PR opportunities, and tons of fun.
Fun, flat, historic race
This race was well organized and began right at 7:00am. The race included aid stations every other mile, and listed mile markers at every mile except for around miles 15-18. … MORE
This race was well organized and began right at 7:00am. The race included aid stations every other mile, and listed mile markers at every mile except for around miles 15-18. The marathon was mostly flat/downhill. Expect an iphill at miles 4.5 and 8.5. You get to run along the river which offers beautiful scenery. The finish line at Hayward field was energetic. You get to see yourself on a big screen and hear your name as you enter the field. The post race festivities include a bag with a cookie, banana, bagel, and race bottle with water. Kristen’s was also there for post race pancakes although I did not partake. The expo seemed unorganized when picking up bibs. It seemed as though you could stand in any line as a corral was never assigned to people. The rest of the expo had usual vendors, and a cool bike race shirt. I would highly recommend running this race. This year the weather was perfect, no rain and overcast at 48 degrees.
Amazing finish line and medal!
I came to this race for two reasons, it was reasonably flat and you get to finish on Hayward Field! What more could you ask for. I ended up with … MORE
I came to this race for two reasons, it was reasonably flat and you get to finish on Hayward Field! What more could you ask for. I ended up with my third fastest marathon ever and a 33 minute BQ (helps being 50!). This was my 27th marathon overall and my 10th sub 3 hour marathon!
The expo was small but lively. I probably was there for 45 minutes. I got my bib and a shirt from a local running company at the expo. Not a lot of free things there but not a big deal. The race shirt was very nice and all of my fellow running group liked it a lot as well.
Race morning they run buses from three different locations to the start line. They start at 5:30am which we thought was late for a 7am start. We got there right at 5:30am and got right on the first bus no problem. The start line had a decent amount of port-a-johns before the race and bag drop off was easy.
The start line was nice and simple. We did think the corrals were not divided up enough as corral A was runners under 3:09 full and 1:39 half. This probably should have been broken down a little more to something around sub 3:00/1:30.
The course itself is advertised as flat and it was for the most part. Any of the hillier sections are on the first half of the course. There was a small roller at mile 2, a larger uphill section around mile 4.5, and then a surprise roller around mile 9. Thankfully, all of those were countered with a downhill of the same size. The back half is completely flat and mostly run on trails.
There is a tiny incline around the finish but you don’t care because you know you are approaching Hayward Field. Coming in to the stadium is amazing. When I came in, the announcer called my name out and it was so cool. The lower section by the finish was very full when I came in which was such a rush.
The post race on the track could have been better. The people were ushering you out of there quickly. I was surprised at the lack of photographers after the finish. On your way out of the stadium, they gave us a bag with a stale bagel, a cool Eugene Marathon water bottle, and some other snacks. We didn’t stick around for the post race food too much but that part was just ok. Maybe a band or something outside the stadium would have helped that area a bit.
The finishers medal was also a huge plus to this race. Half of the medal is made from the old wooden seats from Hayward Field so its like I have a piece of it forever.
The course ended up with over 5-600 feet of elevation in all but I thought it was a fair course and reasonably flat. There are not a lot of spectators on the course as a whole. If your family wants to cheer you on, they could reasonably see you at 3-4 spots during the race. As a whole, a great fun race that I highly recommend.
Great Race to PR
Overall, a very positive experience. This was my 7th marathon and both my PR and BQ. The organization and crowd support for a small city was excellent. Finishing inside the … MORE
Overall, a very positive experience. This was my 7th marathon and both my PR and BQ. The organization and crowd support for a small city was excellent. Finishing inside the Hayward stadium was amazing.
The weather was perfect. I was worried that I would get caught in a downpour, but we ended up with a just a little drizzle. The temp was nice ad cool throughout.
Just a few cons:
1. There was no mile marker on Mile 16 or so. But, that is minor gripe.
2. It is not pancake flat. A few hills, but nothing too bad.
All, in well, the race was very well organized, with clear signs of where to go, plenty of crowd suport. This is definitelty the race to run if you want a good marathon experience.
Home of Legends
Organization was phenomenal. Pre and post race was smooth as silk. Course was easy to navigate and well staffed. Plenty of volunteers and fans along the course. The finish at … MORE
Organization was phenomenal. Pre and post race was smooth as silk. Course was easy to navigate and well staffed. Plenty of volunteers and fans along the course. The finish at Haywood Field was awesome! Great venue.
This city LOVES running!
This race is so fun! The scenery is beautiful - the arts in Eugene, natural preserves, bridges near the Wiliamette river and, of course, the finish on the Hayward stadium. … MORE
This race is so fun! The scenery is beautiful – the arts in Eugene, natural preserves, bridges near the Wiliamette river and, of course, the finish on the Hayward stadium. I had to take this race easy but it was a great decision, as the course was so pretty.
And – rather fast and flat. There are some rolling hills but not intimidating.
The expo – very crowded but the lines to packet pick-ups were short.
Swag – great medal quality with a piece of the stadium and a Nike T-shirt – nice! You also get a beer and pancakes after the race. 🙂
Volunteers and spectators were THE BEST and they were seen all along the course!
Production – awesome, I liked that the gels were still available for slower runners and there were buses taking you to/from the race, in multiple locations. Toilets, water and aid stations every few miles.
I understand why this race is a classic!
Quintessential PNW
The race is known for being fast, and although there were a couple of hills, when I got through the biggest hill in mile 5, I thought, "That was it?" … MORE
The race is known for being fast, and although there were a couple of hills, when I got through the biggest hill in mile 5, I thought, “That was it?” The back half of the course is just gorgeous, through (paved) park trails. Everything was lush green in a backdrop of overcast perfect running weather. The first half is pretty average residential and commercial streets. Finishing in Hayward Field is a treat. My only gripe is that the start was a bit of a cluster. There was a 3:25 pacer at the front of the second corral, then I didn’t see another pacer (looked like the 3:30) until the front of the third corral…out of 4 total. I ended up staying between the two, but the pack was much slower than either of those paces, and I couldn’t break away for the first 2 miles because it was VERY crowded. This is the first year the races were sold out, so I’m not sure if that has always been the experience. The rest of the race was plenty spacious.
More positives: Expo was good, nice race shirt (Nike DriFit of course), medal was handsome and sentimental with incorporated lumber from the historic Hayward Field, free photos that were available within hours.
Great iconic race!
Coming from Fl, this was a fun half marathon. The weather was perfect at about 50. Like any large race, there are some lines for gear drop and refreshments afterwards. … MORE
Coming from Fl, this was a fun half marathon. The weather was perfect at about 50. Like any large race, there are some lines for gear drop and refreshments afterwards. Yes there are signs every mile.
The crowds were fantastic, the aid stations plentiful, and the swag and medal is the best quality yet of my 50 state journey. Finishing in the stadium was really fun. The photos were up within an hour of when I finished!
Parking is a challenge, just show up early or get dropped off. Great time!
Feel like an Olymic runner
History of five athletes is Legendary- I had know idea until I did this race. The Willamette River and breweries were my initial draw. Crossing the bridges miles 11-12 was … MORE
History of five athletes is Legendary- I had know idea until I did this race. The Willamette River and breweries were my initial draw. Crossing the bridges miles 11-12 was the highlight for me. The gradual hills got me- please train for lots of gradual hills and you will Do well. Finish food was already in a bag, banana and trail mix, bagel and a cookie. Plus you receive your own reusable water bottle filled with water, the medal was a piece of the old Hayfield stadium, a treasure. And crossing the finish line on the state of the art track and filed inside the new stadium! Wow- made me feel like an Olympic star!