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 …
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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.
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great first marathon experience
love love love this event. My first time ever doing a marathon and I'm glad I was able to do it in Eugene. The location of the race is super … MORE
love love love this event. My first time ever doing a marathon and I’m glad I was able to do it in Eugene. The location of the race is super convenient since it was located within college town. So having access to stores and restaurants made it easy since I was coming in from out of town. I made the mistake of not booking lodging within a timely matter, but I managed to find a room at one of the houses within that area. Loved the spectators since the majority of them were college students. The scenery was an awesome distraction from the fact that I was running a marathon. The pacers did an amazing job. I loved how friendly and supportive my pacer was, she helped me get to the finish line and so extremely grateful for her. The route was great for spectators to cheer you on more than once. So many fun vendors. Gorgeous weather and I am just glad I was able to accomplish one of my lifetime goals of finishing a marathon and grateful that I did it at the Eugene Marathon:)
Great experience from start to finish
Great swag. Ton of fun finishing at Hayward Stadium. Weather was picture perfect for the marathon. Scenic trail along the river. Images on large video board were fun to see … MORE
Great swag. Ton of fun finishing at Hayward Stadium. Weather was picture perfect for the marathon. Scenic trail along the river. Images on large video board were fun to see at finish line.
Finishing on the track is awesome.
This is a pretty great race. It is also a very large race, so be prepared for that. We got in on Thursday night and were at the Expo and … MORE
This is a pretty great race. It is also a very large race, so be prepared for that. We got in on Thursday night and were at the Expo and packet pickup first thing Friday morning (it starts at 10). It was busy then. I can’t imagine what it was like on Saturday.
The shirt to me is meh. It’s the normal cheap tech shirt with too much stuff on the front. I prefer simpler, softer shirts. But that’s my own preference. The medal is LEGIT though. You get a water bottle at the finish line, too.
My wife and I did the 5K Saturday morning and then I did the half on Sunday. If you do both races, you get a “double stack” medal on top of the other two.
It was about 42 degrees when we started- perfect running weather for me.
Sunday is crazy- thousands of people. They do have corrals- I was in the 1:40-1:50 finish time corral. That corral by itself was larger than some races I have done. I think it was about 90 seconds between each corral start. The start line is on the road outside of the University of Oregon track stadium.
With that many people, it is still crowded once the race begins. It’s imperative that you are in the right pace group. After about 2 blocks you begin the first hill. The hill isn’t bad, about 2 blocks long itself, but being in the crowned start of the race, it can slow everyone down quickly. Shortly after that, though, you hang a right and have a good 4 blocks or so downhill. We all opened it up pretty good and it stretched the herd out a little. At about the one-mile mark, you have another stepper short hill followed by a very long downhill. The first mile and a half or so are in the really nice neighborhood just south of the University of Oregon campus.
As you come out of the neighborhood, you head south for a couple of miles. There is nothing glamorous about this section of the course. But it gets exciting with a good uphill stretch just after the four-mile marker. The good news is the next mile and a half or so are all downhill as you come back north towards campus. From 5-8 you can really push it.
At the end of mile 8, you make a right turn and get to see the biggest, baddest hill on the course. I swear this thing was 7 blocks long. (It may have been short but not much!). It’s the same long hill you ran down during mile 2. You get over the top of that thing, have a couple small blocks of downhill before turning left onto the road you started on. Pass mile 9 and then the startling line as you run past the stadium.
From there, you have a mile and a half of some roads and trails before you cross the bridge to the north side of campus. There is a steep little hill up to the bridge and the first part of the bridge. But a few minutes later you’ll pass mile 11. You run on a large trail that runs parallel to Pre’s trail. The trail takes you to the front side of the football stadium but there are mostly woods blocking the view and by the time you get there, you are turning away from it and heading back. Follow the trail to another footbridge with another steep little climb and that takes you back to the road, passed the intramural fields, under a bridge and into the final 4 blocks or so of the race.
You leave the road (the same one you started on) and enter the stadium at about the 200 meter start point. Run the curve and the straight away and you you’re done!
There are officials there keeping people moving away from the line. You can move around the next curve of the track a little and take some pictures but they get you off the track pretty quickly. The after party is on a practice field out the back and up in the stadium. More swag, a beer, pancakes, finisher jackets (for $90).
The entire race is mostly on roads, with about one and a half miles on paved trails and foot bridges. Never had an issue with traffic- roads are closed.
Logistics- I have never seen so many portapotties at a race starting area. There was no line- either Saturday or Sunday. That part was insane. Water and Gatorade about every 2 miles on the course. And those stations were huge! Spectators were about medium level. The closer to campus, the more spectators.
The only thing I wish was different- the 5K route takes you straight through campus, the half does not.
Lodging- if you’re going to stay in Eugene- stay in the Holiday Inn Express just east of campus. It is a .6 mile walk to the start line and 95% of that walk is through side streets. Parking around the start/finish is ugly. Don’t be bougie and try and stay downtown.
It was an absolutely amazing experience. Would run it every year if I was in Oregon.
If you don't need water - good race
This was my 49th state and 1st trip to Oregon. Overall - a good race. My problem was: no water or cups for back of the packers. I didn't get … MORE
This was my 49th state and 1st trip to Oregon. Overall – a good race. My problem was: no water or cups for back of the packers. I didn’t get water until the mile 9 station and then I had to “cup” my hands (there were no cups) while the volunteer poured water into them for me to drink. That is ridiculous as well as dangerous. Now from the beginning: The expo and packet pickup was a zoo. It was at a downtown hotel and parking was a problem to find. The t-shirt was great – one of my favorites. There was also additional Nike (of course) merchandise to buy – but not enough. The expo was so crowded (lack of space) that you couldn’t get around. There were plenty of places to eat and stay around Eugene. The morning of the race I took a shuttle to the start waiting area that was outside my hotel – very convenient. Also plenty of port-a-potties at the start. The course at the beginning was through neighborhoods and street of Eugene. The 2nd half of the course was along a really beautiful park and river. The finish on Hayward Field was amazing! Tons of people with plenty of room to see and spread out. The medal was ok but the best part was a plastic bottle with COLD water given at the end along with a bag of treats. Pictures: – terrible – I only had two. I appreciate that they were free, but I would have been willing to pay for more. there are thousands to “claim” if you have time to go through them all. Overall a must do for Oregon but know that you’ll be with very good runners.
A little torn on this one…
Overall a pretty good race but the last third of the course prevented me from really loving it. The course itself is relatively easy—pretty flat with just a couple minor … MORE
Overall a pretty good race but the last third of the course prevented me from really loving it. The course itself is relatively easy—pretty flat with just a couple minor hills. However, the last third of the course when you’re running along the river is on a concrete path which destroyed my legs. I had a great pace (for me) going up until that point, but a couple miles on the concrete and it fell apart for me. I am a bigger runner (195 lbs) so it may not effect lighter runners as much, but the impact on the concrete really did me in and unfortunately made what was the most scenic part of the course less enjoyable because I was so uncomfortable.
Otherwise, every was pretty smoothly run. The first half of the race through the neighborhoods and the university see great crowd support. There are also plenty of aid stations. The finish in Hayward Field is truly unique.
The expo seemed small for the size of the event. The tech shirt that comes with your registration is nice. The rest of the merch will depend upon your feelings about Nike and how much you want clothes featuring a big swoosh as opposed to the race logo. The medal was very cool. Photos are free but they did not get a single picture of me so I can’t say you should expect you’ll come away with any.
Eugene was a fun town to visit and really gets behind the event. Many businesses offer discounts and deals to runners. A wonderful time of year as well—weather for the race was pretty much perfect.
Strong Race, Needs Expo & Logistics Fix
Overall, this was a great race and a strong event experience. The Eugene Marathon delivered solid organization, and the on-course support and crowd energy were highlights throughout the race. The … MORE
Overall, this was a great race and a strong event experience. The Eugene Marathon delivered solid organization, and the on-course support and crowd energy were highlights throughout the race. The running community atmosphere in TrackTown USA really stood out and made for an enjoyable and motivating experience.
There are a few areas where the event could improve to elevate the overall participant experience. The expo felt underwhelming and could benefit from more vendors and greater variety. Ideally, vendors would offer take-home samples or small giveaways to enhance engagement. One example was a peanut butter vendor that provided on-the-spot samples only, and the interaction with the owner felt unnecessarily abrupt, which detracted from the experience.
The speaker series also missed the mark. The topics did not feel particularly compelling for marathoners, and the lineup seemed limited in relevance to endurance running. It would be beneficial to feature more experienced marathon athletes or coaches to provide deeper insight and more engaging content.
Logistics around transportation could be improved. The shuttle system from the Graduate Hotel (sponsor hotel and expo location) to the Oregon State drop-off point required a longer-than-necessary uphill walk before the race, which was not ideal for athletes preparing to compete. Post-race, signage for shuttle pickup back to the hotel was unclear, especially since the pickup location differed from the drop-off point, leading to confusion for many participants.
Finally, hydration support near the finish line could be strengthened. The last two aid stations felt small and were not well marked, making them difficult to locate when they were most needed.
Despite these opportunities for improvement, the Eugene Marathon remains a well-run and memorable event with strong community support and a great race-day atmosphere.
Incredible, must-do event for any runner
I loved this race. First time to Oregon, state #37. Eugene was elite (literally) - it’s truly a surreal paradise for any runner nerd out there. So much history and … MORE
I loved this race. First time to Oregon, state #37. Eugene was elite (literally) – it’s truly a surreal paradise for any runner nerd out there. So much history and vibrant energy toward the sport and community of running. Despite lackluster training and living at sea level I ran this entire race without walking or putting my headphones in. Truly beautiful scenery, amazing crowd support, and iconic finish on the track at Hayward field. Fantastic post race pancakes (they had gluten free which is a huge win and rare to see at races!) I felt energized by the whole experience! Definitely some tough moments toward the end on a quieter stretch of the course, and some gnarly hills, but the crowd carries you up! Cannot recommend this race enough! Oh also volunteers holding signs “questions? Ask me!” – brilliant, every race take notes
My favorite race to date!
Awesome, awesome race. My 7th marathon and my favorite - Production and organization is great. So polished and well put together. - Great swag: beautiful medal, free tote, tee, bottle, … MORE
Awesome, awesome race. My 7th marathon and my favorite
– Production and organization is great. So polished and well put together.
– Great swag: beautiful medal, free tote, tee, bottle, and more after finish.
– Gorgeous course with some challenging sections, but mostly flat and fast. Great crowd support for a midsized race too.
– Finish on Hayward Field is completely magical–track feels amazing, crowd is rocking, gave me goosebumps.
Loved it.
Eugene is a small town with a cool vibe. So if you are from out of town, it’s worth checking out for a couple nights. The race was very well … MORE
Eugene is a small town with a cool vibe. So if you are from out of town, it’s worth checking out for a couple nights. The race was very well organized and really liked the fact that it was on the University grounds, which was nice to stroll around. The finish inside the University’s track was very cool. Some of the race was through residential areas, and there were a lot of families in robes and pajamas out there cheering us on from their porches. Mostly flat course. It was my personal best for a half so felt good about the whole experience. Medal was really nice. Highly recommend.
Best Marathon in the PNW
eugene is considered the best marathon in the pacific northwest for a reason, beyond the obvious historical connections to running. But they leverage these connections with good production and great … MORE
eugene is considered the best marathon in the pacific northwest for a reason, beyond the obvious historical connections to running. But they leverage these connections with good production and great local support to put on a pretty special race. Part of the charm is that this is a mid-sized city and not a bustling metropolis that views their marathon as a nuisance. Eugene is also highly walkable with shade covered streets and has lots of green spaces with trails the marathon makes use of. Nice crowd support, typically ideal weather, and a pretty easy course make this a must-do if you live near or far.
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.