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.
Please login to reply to this review.
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.