| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| H (°F) | 77 | 57 | 68 | 66 | 62 |
| L (°F) | 49 | 41 | 35 | 51 | 39 |
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.
Please login to reply to this review.
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!
Please login to reply to this review.
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.
Please login to reply to this review.
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.
Please login to reply to this review.
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!
Please login to reply to this review.
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.
Please login to reply to this review.
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.
Please login to reply to this review.
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.
Please login to reply to this review.
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!
Please login to reply to this review.
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.
Please login to reply to this review.
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.
Please login to reply to this review.
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.
Please login to reply to this review.
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!
Please login to reply to this review.
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!
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.
Please login to reply to this review.
This is a well organized, beautiful race. The course is nice with lots of fans cheering you on. There are some hills, but nothing awful. Running along the river was … MORE
This is a well organized, beautiful race. The course is nice with lots of fans cheering you on. There are some hills, but nothing awful. Running along the river was great and shady. Finishing at Hayward Field is awesome. I can’t wait to travel to Eugene and do this race again.
Please login to reply to this review.
* Very reasonably priced * Did not sell out * Nearly pancake-flat course with plenty of space, some shade, & a bit of scenery * Awesome spectators/volunteers/spirit groups * Just … MORE
* Very reasonably priced
* Did not sell out
* Nearly pancake-flat course with plenty of space, some shade, & a bit of scenery
* Awesome spectators/volunteers/spirit groups
* Just the right amount of swag (nice medal, tech T, & plastic water bottle)
* TIIIIINY expo (but seriously who cares)
* Pancakes!
* The bag check was a little crazy but ultimately it was fine
I 100% loved this race & if I was local I would probably run it every year.
Please login to reply to this review.
Eugene track fans are awesome and they line most of the course. The finish at historic Hayward Field is amazing. So glad this event is in my hometown. MORE
Eugene track fans are awesome and they line most of the course. The finish at historic Hayward Field is amazing. So glad this event is in my hometown.
Please login to reply to this review.
The Eugene Marathon is run on a great course. A combination of city side streets, bike and walking paths, one gets to enjoy plenty of scenery. The marathon itself is … MORE
The Eugene Marathon is run on a great course. A combination of city side streets, bike and walking paths, one gets to enjoy plenty of scenery. The marathon itself is for the most part flat, although a few tiny hills, but nothing to slow the runner.
EXPO: The one negative to the marathon was the Expo, or that is, the lack of an Expo. Maybe 20 vendors, not even sure what they were selling, but wasn’t what one would expect at Track Town USA.
Check In: Easy, walk in, pick up your number and T-shirt and out of the Expo in a minute. T-shirt was a decent tech shirt, but……. white.
Course: Beautiful course. I would say it is one of the nicer courses I have run, mostly because you run on bike and running trails as well as side streets. Lots of turns, meaning you don’t look out 2 miles down the road which to me gets cumbersome.
Post race party: A nice party. After receiving your medal, you are then given a cloth swag bag, filled with a few simple food and drink items. A bagel, an orange, peanut butter, nuts, water and an electrolyte drink. Shortly thereafter, you are offered pancakes, HOT pancakes. Not a big eater immediately after running, but it was a nice touch. A few vendors selling beer and advertising future races, actually a better expo than the expo itself.
The medal was nice sized, heavy and well designed.
I would definitely recommend this marathon for others. Just don’t expect a big expo.
Please login to reply to this review.
This race had great crowd support, even the residents of the retirement home came out to watch in their lawn chairs. It was perfect weather. The pacers were great and … MORE
This race had great crowd support, even the residents of the retirement home came out to watch in their lawn chairs. It was perfect weather. The pacers were great and kept you entertained throughout. Being from south Texas, this truly was a flat course! Of course finishing on hayward field was amazing.
Please login to reply to this review.
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.
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.
Run where the legends have/great course
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!
Best Marathon in Oregon by far
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.
Beautiful race, very well organized.
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.
PRs in Tracktown USA
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.
Very good event- Flat & Fast
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!
Area stunning
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.
LOVE THIS RACE
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.
My choice for OR - happy w/ the pick!
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.
So much fun, amazing volunteers!
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!
Tracktown race top notch
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!
Great race but not as scenic as the full
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.
Great Race!
This is a well organized, beautiful race. The course is nice with lots of fans cheering you on. There are some hills, but nothing awful. Running along the river was … MORE
This is a well organized, beautiful race. The course is nice with lots of fans cheering you on. There are some hills, but nothing awful. Running along the river was great and shady. Finishing at Hayward Field is awesome. I can’t wait to travel to Eugene and do this race again.
Awesome smaller marathon
* Very reasonably priced * Did not sell out * Nearly pancake-flat course with plenty of space, some shade, & a bit of scenery * Awesome spectators/volunteers/spirit groups * Just … MORE
* Very reasonably priced
* Did not sell out
* Nearly pancake-flat course with plenty of space, some shade, & a bit of scenery
* Awesome spectators/volunteers/spirit groups
* Just the right amount of swag (nice medal, tech T, & plastic water bottle)
* TIIIIINY expo (but seriously who cares)
* Pancakes!
* The bag check was a little crazy but ultimately it was fine
I 100% loved this race & if I was local I would probably run it every year.
Track Town gets it right
Eugene track fans are awesome and they line most of the course. The finish at historic Hayward Field is amazing. So glad this event is in my hometown. MORE
Eugene track fans are awesome and they line most of the course. The finish at historic Hayward Field is amazing. So glad this event is in my hometown.
Steve Prefontaine ran here.
The Eugene Marathon is run on a great course. A combination of city side streets, bike and walking paths, one gets to enjoy plenty of scenery. The marathon itself is … MORE
The Eugene Marathon is run on a great course. A combination of city side streets, bike and walking paths, one gets to enjoy plenty of scenery. The marathon itself is for the most part flat, although a few tiny hills, but nothing to slow the runner.
EXPO: The one negative to the marathon was the Expo, or that is, the lack of an Expo. Maybe 20 vendors, not even sure what they were selling, but wasn’t what one would expect at Track Town USA.
Check In: Easy, walk in, pick up your number and T-shirt and out of the Expo in a minute. T-shirt was a decent tech shirt, but……. white.
Course: Beautiful course. I would say it is one of the nicer courses I have run, mostly because you run on bike and running trails as well as side streets. Lots of turns, meaning you don’t look out 2 miles down the road which to me gets cumbersome.
Post race party: A nice party. After receiving your medal, you are then given a cloth swag bag, filled with a few simple food and drink items. A bagel, an orange, peanut butter, nuts, water and an electrolyte drink. Shortly thereafter, you are offered pancakes, HOT pancakes. Not a big eater immediately after running, but it was a nice touch. A few vendors selling beer and advertising future races, actually a better expo than the expo itself.
The medal was nice sized, heavy and well designed.
I would definitely recommend this marathon for others. Just don’t expect a big expo.
Great race!
This race had great crowd support, even the residents of the retirement home came out to watch in their lawn chairs. It was perfect weather. The pacers were great and … MORE
This race had great crowd support, even the residents of the retirement home came out to watch in their lawn chairs. It was perfect weather. The pacers were great and kept you entertained throughout. Being from south Texas, this truly was a flat course! Of course finishing on hayward field was amazing.