The Newport Marathon course starts in Yaquina Bay State Park at the historic “haunted” lighthouse, where runners will head north along the ocean through some of Newport’s picturesque neighborhoods. This loop through the city is primarily residential with a few short gentle hills and turns at street corners. Heading back …
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The Newport Marathon course starts in Yaquina Bay State Park at the historic “haunted” lighthouse, where runners will head north along the ocean through some of Newport’s picturesque neighborhoods. This loop through the city is primarily residential with a few short gentle hills and turns at street corners. Heading back through the starting area, runners will proceed downhill under the Yaquina Bay Bridge to the bayfront. Past shops, restaurants, galleries and a large fishing village, the course continues along the bay. Just past mile four, there is a short hill that rises about 40 feet then gently descends back to bay level where it continues for the remainder of the race. The course follows the Yaquina Bay and River estuary to mile 15 where it turns back toward town, retracing the same route. The gentle hill at mile four reappears at mile 26, and it’s downhill from there to the finish. Along the course runners will be treated to a splendid variety of views and scenery, wildlife and shipping, fishermen and crabbers. It is a flat, very fast, and beautiful course that will produce numerous PRs. The course is USATF certified and has proven to be a very good “first marathon” as well as an excellent qualifier for the Boston Marathon.
Newport lies at the heart of Oregon’s beautiful central coast. Blue water, crashing surf, and natural wonders abound in seemingly endless variety. Local residents love to share their special place with visitors giving Newport its motto “The Friendliest”. From quiet walks on the beach to deep sea fishing to visiting the numerous local attractions, there are a wide range of opportunities for recreation and inner reflection. It’s the perfect setting for a marathon.
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Great scenery, friendly people
This is a great race. Communication and organization is excellent. Aid stations are well-staffed by the local high school athletes. Early start option was great. Unique glass medal. The Oregon … MORE
This is a great race. Communication and organization is excellent. Aid stations are well-staffed by the local high school athletes. Early start option was great. Unique glass medal. The Oregon coast is beautiful and Newport is a pretty little town. You should do this one!
Beautiful course, worth the trip
This course was just very pretty. It was hilly, but the views were constant and I didn't really think about the hills very much. It isn't a fast course, or … MORE
This course was just very pretty. It was hilly, but the views were constant and I didn’t really think about the hills very much. It isn’t a fast course, or at least it wasn’t for me.
The race org was good, with a great post-race party, plenty of food and drink. Or plenty of drink, anyway. I don’t actually remember the food, except that it wasn’t vegetarian (which I am). I think it was clam chowder, or something like that. I don’t know what the hotel situation is like; we camped the night before and the weather was perfect for camping… and running.
Overall, this was a great race. I live in TN and although I did not travel to OR solely for this race (we have family there), if I could pair this race with a couple of other pretty races in that region then it would have been worth the trip just for the running. It’s not a bucket list race and I probably wouldn’t make the trip across the country just for this race unless it were a runcation and I was going to be in this part of the PNW anyway. But I’m super glad this one found its way onto my race calendar.
I would highly recommend this one. Everything from the start line through the post-race party was just really well done.
Great small town marathon!
Nice small town marathon and a fairly flat course. Run along the Yaquina Bay and enjoy the view. Great support from the packet pickup run by the locals to the … MORE
Nice small town marathon and a fairly flat course. Run along the Yaquina Bay and enjoy the view. Great support from the packet pickup run by the locals to the local high school teams that staff the aid stations. If you can make it out to the Oregon coast, you definitely should put this marathon on your bucket list!
Great First Marathon!
This is not a big city race at all but the scenery was amazing! It was so calm and serene and made me feel like I was just out for … MORE
This is not a big city race at all but the scenery was amazing! It was so calm and serene and made me feel like I was just out for a really nice (and long) morning run. The course was well laid out and easy to follow. Very flat course with some very short inclines here and there, but a very easy ride. Weather was perfect. The spectator bus system they had was super fun and my parents got to see me at different parts of the course. Everything went so smooth. I just couldn’t ask for a better first Marathon!
Flat and scenic
Overall Rating: Very good. Course Difficulty: Very easy course with a few hills. Course Scenery: Ran along the ocean for a few miles, through the old port, and the along … MORE
Overall Rating: Very good.
Course Difficulty: Very easy course with a few hills.
Course Scenery: Ran along the ocean for a few miles, through the old port, and the along bay for the rest of the run. There was a lot to look at and was a fantastic representation of this part of the world.
Race Production: Really good. The volunteers at this race were excellent. While I was walking to the early start at 5:30, there were already smiling faces at each of the intersections just waiting. Aid stations were well stocked, and packet pickup was no-frills/no problems. Course was well marked.
Race Swag: Good. Nice quality tech shirt and handmade glass medal.
My Performance: Odd. So this was my 10th marathon in 21 days and I got a PR??? I checked my watch a couple of times to make sure I didn’t cut a part of the course, and all was right. Somehow, I just felt really good running that day; not sure why, but I’ll take it.
Thoroughly enjoyed this part of the world, it is just beautiful, and the people are really friendly. The PR was a bonus. If you’re looking for a BQ, this is very likely a good place to make it happen.
Smaller race-good atmosphere
Smaller race with out and back course that's flat and decent opportunity for PR. Good feel atmosphere. Finisher medal great. Not a race for great swag. MORE
Smaller race with out and back course that’s flat and decent opportunity for PR. Good feel atmosphere. Finisher medal great. Not a race for great swag.
Magic PR/Boston Qualifier Location
Many of my friends have qualified for Boston here or have run a PR (me too!) It is a smaller race capped at around 700 runners. It is a out … MORE
Many of my friends have qualified for Boston here or have run a PR (me too!) It is a smaller race capped at around 700 runners. It is a out (down hill) and back (uphill) slight grade that produces great times. The worst 2 parts is the begining few miles weaving through a small town (easy but deal with it) and the crazy short steep hill to the finish. Highly recommend it …weather is the only issue. Race day seems to always been nice but the day before and after can pour like cats and dogs! I love that the have “Finisher” shirts…got to earn it!
Hometown luxury
Inexpensive, small town marathon, that has been written up in several Runners World articles, as a fast course. The setting begins along the ocean front on the south end of … MORE
Inexpensive, small town marathon, that has been written up in several Runners World articles, as a fast course. The setting begins along the ocean front on the south end of Newport, Oregon, and after a short loop through a small neighborhood, the runners head down to the south waterfront. The run continues east, running along a small highway, which has one lane closed for the marathon. It is scenic the entire course. The run takes you east until about mile 16, where you then make a U turn and head back on the same highway going west. You have the ability to see and cheer for other runners, and both directions you have a confluence of ocean and river water to the south of the highway. At mile 11, and again at mile 19, runners are offered, and in fact encouraged, to stop for “oyster shooters”, already prepared so that you barely have to slow down.
The race finished down on the south waterfront “old town waterfront”, where crowds of locals, but mostly friends and family greet the finishers. For a small town marathon, they did a great job organizer this race. I have never repeated a marathon, but this is one I am considering.