Discover the scenic beauty of Northern California with the Humboldt Bay Marathon in Eureka. This race takes you along a captivating coastal course where the rugged charm of Humboldt Bay meets the dynamic energy of a bustling urban backdrop. With a predominantly flat, fast-paced route interspersed with refreshing coastal breezes, …
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Discover the scenic beauty of Northern California with the Humboldt Bay Marathon in Eureka. This race takes you along a captivating coastal course where the rugged charm of Humboldt Bay meets the dynamic energy of a bustling urban backdrop. With a predominantly flat, fast-paced route interspersed with refreshing coastal breezes, the marathon offers a perfect blend of speed and natural wonder. Runners love the harmonious mix of city energy and serene waterfront vistas that define the experience.
Marathon and Half Marathon Courses are USATF Certified. What runners love:
- Stunning Waterfront Scenery: Enjoy expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, rugged shorelines, and the natural splendor of Northern California.
- Fast and Efficient Course: A well‑maintained, flat route designed to maximize speed and performance while allowing you to soak in the views.
- Dynamic Urban-Coastal Fusion: The course seamlessly combines urban vibrancy with the tranquility of coastal landscapes for an invigorating run.
- Strong Local Support: Enthusiastic volunteers, well‑placed aid stations, and a spirited community create an uplifting race-day atmosphere.
Celebrate the best of Northern California by joining the Humboldt Bay Marathon in Eureka. Register today and enjoy a race that merges speed, scenic beauty, and urban-coastal charm into an unforgettable running adventure!
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Hidden Gem
This is a hidden gem of a race. It's definitely on the small side (2024 had about 150 half marathoners and half that many marathoners) but it's a fantastic race … MORE
This is a hidden gem of a race. It’s definitely on the small side (2024 had about 150 half marathoners and half that many marathoners) but it’s a fantastic race to do in August when it’s warm everywhere else as this race is in coastal Eureka where you’re practically guaranteed overcast or foggy skies and mid-50s temperatures.
The race is on its 9th year and always has really nice medals designed by a local artist that each year showcases a different native animal and plant life/flower. The shirts are decent – it seems like 2018 and 2019 had the best shirts, with full sublimation designs – and after 2020 they went back to basic tech shirts, but still nice enough and they showcase the same artwork as the medal.
The course is near pancake flat. A lot of people use the marathon (2 loops of the half) to BQ. The volunteers are fantastic and the on-course aid and post-race food is great.
Eureka is quite a bit far off from anywhere, which is the only drawback to the race – coming from San Francisco this was a 280 mile drive one way. But the drive is lovely, through the Redwoods with nice scenery, so I will be back.
Great summertime marathon
The Humboldt Bay Marathon and Half may not be as reputable or picturesque as The Avenue of the Giants or Big Sur marathons, but the cool summer weather, fresh unpolluted … MORE
The Humboldt Bay Marathon and Half may not be as reputable or picturesque as The Avenue of the Giants or Big Sur marathons, but the cool summer weather, fresh unpolluted air, easy access, small field, and the BQ-friendly course makes this event a must-do on California’s northwest coast. The marathon has been around for only five years and for anyone looking for a summertime marathon or half, this is it. I recommend this event to any runner wishing to visit a different part of California.
I’ve run this race four of its five years of existence serving as a pace leader – once as a full marathon pacer during its inaugural run and thrice as a half marathon pacer. Unfortunately, the course route changed since its inaugural year, which tends to be somewhat less scenic in my estimation.
Far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities of central and southern California, the state’s north coast offers a diverse assortment of birds, wildlife, hiking, fishing, Victorian architecture and many other outdoor activities in the coastal redwoods – and don’t forget the famous Samoa Cookhouse for hearty meals of comfort food after your run.
The USATF sanctioned marathon begins in the city of Eureka and completes a counter-clockwise loop around Humboldt Bay through the agricultural lands of Arcata Bottoms and across the signature part of the course, the Samoa Bridge, returning to Eureka’s maritime-themed boardwalk for a memorable finish. The bridge segments can be tough, but with proper pace management, the crossing can become less torturous.
The half marathon portion of the course begins at Klopp Lake at the city of Arcata’s marsh and wildlife refuge two hours after the marathon start and completes a half loop of the bay, across the bridge and to the finish on the boardwalk. Runners are shuttled from the marathon start area in Eureka to the wildlife refuge located on the north side of Humboldt Bay.
Participant swag bags include a tech shirt with unique designs by a local artisan, only found in Humboldt County, hemp seed protein bars and a packet of hemp seeds to drizzle on food. Hey, it’s Humboldt County.
PROS: A small field of runners; cool summer temperatures, cool ocean breezes, and pleasant weather; easy parking and logistics; inimitable atmosphere; friendly people and unique finisher’s medal and awards.
CONS: Getting to Eureka can take some time (six hours north of San Francisco) but there is an airport with direct flights from DEN, LAX and SFO; some of the course may be boring to some; the challenge of the Samoa Bridge; and minimal entertainment and finish line merriments.