I can’t believe we are under two months from the 11th annual Eugene Marathon. This has become a staple in Oregon’s repertoire of fantastic races and one that I truly believe everyone should run at least once. I participated in the marathon last year, after vowing a few years ago that one 26.2 race was good enough for me. My experience last year actually gave me hope, desire, and motivation to compete in more. Here is a little of what I had to say afterwards:
[W]hile I drove home from the 10th annual Eugene Marathon, recapping the experience in my head, I had an internal struggle with myself. I mean, I literally couldn’t come up with one “negative” thing to say. That’s always the internal debate with someone who writes about their experiences – am I coming across non-partial? Am I writing from a neutral perspective? Is my positivity going to come across disingenuous? Regardless of those thoughts, and regardless of Run Oregon’s mission to spread as much positive news about running, I can say that – now a week later – I am still buzzing about race weekend.
Tried and True:
The courses of all distances have remain unchanged (why mess with a good thing?), with the longer distances starting at the corner of 17th and Agate – right outside of Historic Hayward Field and starting south out of the downtown area through crowded city streets for the first couple miles. If you don’t want to get bogged down initially, I recommend getting as close as your corral allows. Either that or put on a happy face and enjoy a slower pace until the crowd thins out. Runners will run alongside Amazon Park for an out-and-back and be back to Hayward Field around mile 8.5 or so. I always encourage runners to be prepared for the relatively short, yet not uneventful, hill near mile 8.
Following that, runners will head into Alton Baker Park and split off at mile 10, with half marathoners circling through the park and back to the finish. Marathoners will head east into Springfield for a bit before returning to Alton Baker near Autzen Stadium. The last ten miles are run on some of Eugene’s most ran paved trails along the banks of the Willamette.
Race weekend again comes complete with the Run TT 5k and Kids 1k Duck Dash on Saturday, May 6. These are great for extending your weekend in Eugene or as a standalone event if you aren’t really a long distance runner. The Health & Fitness Expo will be back again on the soccer fields next to Hayward Field. Local music, beverages, and food will join alongside numerous exhibitors. We hope to gather more information about the expo and some pre-race activities, such as a pre-race dinner.
Registration fees for the 2017 Eugene Marathon increase on 3/20/17. So if you haven’t registered yet, now is a GREAT time to do so. Packet pick-up is May 5th and 6th, and will cost you $15 DOR – so we recommend you stay nearby if you have the means. I would also recommend planning ahead and checking out the shuttle schedules, as parking nearby can be a bit of a challenge.
The New and Upcoming!
- TOMORROW, MARCH 11th will feature a preview run. Come run 9 or 13 miles starting at 8am outside of the U of O Rec Center. RSVP to the event and invite your running buddies. There will be hydration, as well as pacers and post-run massage offered. Bring used running shoes to be recycled by Soles4Souls and you’ll receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win Eugene Marathon swag! The second preview run will be Saturday, April 15th.
- There is a new challenge this year – the Corporate Wellness Challenge, which encourages people to join in with colleagues for training and participation. Not only will you become tighter as co-workers, but as teams earn points throughout the challenge, the winning team will be awarded a $500 donation to their choice of local nonprofit. Points will be accrued through participation, and additional engagement (such as attending the aforementioned preview runs, Track Town Fitness runs, and Soles4Souls shoe drive). Definitely follow the Corporate Wellness Facebook page for info.
- The 9-week training plan began this week, where kids can “train” to be a marathoner! Kids can run their own “marathon” by tracking their miles and finishing the final (1K) of their “marathon” at the Kids Duck Dash! The really awesome part is that the 1k will, like the adults, finish on the track at historic Hayward Field, and all kids will receive a medal, t-shirt, Eugene Marathon goodie bag, and pancakes after the race – all of that for $15!
- On Saturday, May 6th (the day before the longer races), check out the DJ Yoga Flow event from 4-5pm at the Rec Center Field 1 (same location as the Expo). Chelsea from Hard Core Yoga and DJ Mandy Mac will get you limbered up for the weekend.
- The Eugene Marathon just released their new app, which will allow participants and spectators to track runners in real-time on their phone, as well as have basic race info at your fingertips.
- $110 until 3/20/2017; 11:59 p.m.
- $120 until 4/28/2017; 11:59 p.m.
- $140 at Health & Fitness Expo
HALF MARATHON:
- $90 until 3/20/2017; 11:59 p.m.
- $100 until 4/28/2017; 11:59 p.m.
- $120 at Health & Fitness Expo
EUGENE 5K
- $25 until 3/20/2017; 11:59 p.m.
- $30 until 4/28/2017; 11:59 p.m.
- $40 at Health & Fitness Expo
KIDS DUCK DASH
- $15 until 3/20/2017; 11:59 p.m.
- $20 until 4/28/2017; 11:59 p.m.
- $20 at Health & Fitness Expo