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!
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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 8th 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 8th 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!
Beautiful day to run Eugene
The weather was perfect as it was as in the high 50 with no wind , some drizzle and we saw very little of the sun. There were rolling hills … MORE
The weather was perfect as it was as in the high 50 with no wind , some drizzle and we saw very little of the sun. There were rolling hills . The course was well marked and except at the start it was not crowded. The shirt had a nice design and the medal was great too. I like that you got you post race snacks in the tote bag that you can use in the future to bring home groceries . You also got a great water bottle. The expo was a little crowded . I booked to stay at graduate hotel where the expo and shuttles were at . Great location; I liked this race and the communication they had. I also liked the speaker they had on Saturday. The line to buy her books wrapped the entire room. I liked that they had nunn as that is what I use and they didn’t run out of gels at mile8,
This town loves runners
This was my first race. The race was extremely well run and the swag was awesome. The best part of this race is the crowds. There are thousands of people … MORE
This was my first race. The race was extremely well run and the swag was awesome. The best part of this race is the crowds. There are thousands of people out to cheer on the runners. Its very uplifting. The final run into the stadium is really amazing too.
Tough on the legs
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.
It was fine but not the hype
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.
TrackTown USA
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
Legacy Running
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.
CONCRETE and more concrete
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!
Hometown race is best!
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.
A great shakeout in Tracktown
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.
Beautiful course
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.