Running News Daily

Eugene Marathon was gone but not forgotten as record number of runners will mark race's return

It’s been three years since the Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon held a live race.

It’s been even longer since the finish line was inside Hayward Field.

Both are back this weekend as the longtime local road race returns Sunday morning to the streets of Eugene and Springfield.

The traditional finish line had to be moved to Autzen Stadium in 2019 due to the construction of the new Hayward Field. The race was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, then went virtual in 2021 as the pandemic continued.

“On some days I can’t believe it’s been four years,” race director Ian Dobson said. “And on some days it feels like it’s been forever, like it’s hard to remember it almost.”

Hard to remember, maybe, but hardly forgotten.

Registration for the 15th Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon and Saturday morning’s Eugene 5K and Kid’s 1K Duck Dash — which both start outside Hayward Field and end on the track and the finish line — has reached record-setting numbers.

According to Dobson, approximately 9,700 have signed up for one of the four races. Broken down, they expect 4,000 for the half marathon, 3,200 for the marathon, 1,500 for the 5K and 1,000 for the Duck Dash.

The race has essentially reached capacity.

"Actually, we don’t even know what it is because we’ve never had to explore that," Dobson said with a laugh. “We’re limiting registration because we want to make sure we can do a great job for the people that are registered, not because we can’t fit more people on the roads.”

The marathon’s previous best year was 2013 when it had 8,561 registered participants.

“We’re really, really excited about that,” Dobson said. “I think some of it is genuine enthusiasm for the event, and a lot of it is also people who are, ‘It’s time to get back to doing stuff.’ ”

The 26.2-mile marathon and 13.1-mile half marathon courses will closely resemble what they were in 2018 with only a few minor changes. 

The most obvious is where the marathon and half-marathon participants split off from each other. That point is now on the south side of the Willamette River's Knickerbocker Bridge instead of the north side. 

That change eventually redirects marathon runners through downtown Springfield and keeps them off Centennial Boulevard.

“Which I think is a gift to everyone,” Dobson said. “Traffic control, law enforcement, runners, everybody.”

The Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon has always been largely a community event, though professionals and other runners with larger goals have also participated in the race. This year is no different.

There are 80 “elite” runners entered in both races, a designation given to men who have recorded marathon times of 2 hours, 25 minutes or 1:08:00 for the half marathon, and women who have times of at least 2:53:00 or 1:20:00, respectively, since May 1, 2019.

The 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying window opened in January and hitting the standard of 2:18:00 for the men and 2:37:00 for the women is certainly on the agenda for many.

For the rest of the runners, the race weekend marks the long-awaited return to road racing. Dobson said at least one-quarter of the registrations have been rolled over from people who initially signed up in 2020 or 2021.

“I think there’s a real excitement to be back to something familiar," Dobson said. “It just feels good.”

Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon

Start: 7 a.m. Sunday at 17th Avenue and Agate Street

Finish: Inside Hayward Field

(04/30/2022) Views: 1,097 ⚡AMP
by Chris Hansen

Eugene Marathon Is Offering Medals Made of Wood

Organizers of the Eugene Marathon, which typically finishes at Hayward Field, were able to procure some of the old steps from the east grandstand, and those steps are being refashioned into race medals for this year’s virtual marathon and half marathon, scheduled for April 23 through 25. Next year’s event medals will feature the old Hayward wood as well.

Race director Ian Dobson told Runner’s World the organization submitted a proposal to the University of Oregon in order to get his hands on the antique steps. When approved, he then filled his truck and moved the wood to the race’s storage facility. Dobson also had them tested to make sure they didn’t contain any lead paint. (They didn’t.)

In the past, the race medals had come from overseas, which is the industry standard. For this, the race’s staff selected a local designer for processing and fabricating. “For the whole project, we were able to keep everything local,” Dobson said.

The medals are being made from the interior wood of the grandstand; they might look new, because that section of wood was unweathered by nearly a century of rain, wind, and snow. To maintain a connection to their historic past, the medals will be cut in the same proportion as the former Hayward Field steps.

Additionally, the unusual medals are driving participation for this year’s race, which will be virtual—for the second year in a row—in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dobson said fewer than 100 spots remain for the marathon ($75) and about 500 spots remain for the half marathon ($60).

Race packets—including shirts, numbers, and medals—will go out before the race to everyone who signs up. So technically, there’s nothing stopping memorabilia collectors from registering in order to get the medal, even if they have no intention of doing the race.

Dobson’s not worried, though. “We trust the running community,” he said.

(03/23/2021) Views: 1,376 ⚡AMP
by Runner´s World

2021 Eugene Marathon has been cancelled due to the pandemic

After careful consideration, the 2021 Eugene Marathon will shift to a fully virtual event in late April of 2021. 

Over the fall and winter, the Eugene Marathon staff worked with partners at Lane County Public Health, the City of Eugene, the University of Oregon and PeaceHealth to plan for a COVID-modified, in-person event; but due to the current state of the pandemic and the projected timing of the vaccine roll out, it has become clear that putting on a safe, in-person event in April is not possible. 

“When we opened registration in the fall, we were hopeful that 2021 would be our year to return to in-person races and to our roots at Hayward Field,” Race Director Ian Dobson said. “But as we have gone through the planning process, it has become clear that our community partners and the medical support staff we rely on will still be very busy serving our community in a significant way by providing treatment and vaccinations.”

“We also acknowledge the impact that our event could have on COVID transmissions,” Dobson added. “The fact that we attract participants from all 50 states and around the globe is something we are extremely proud of, but right now it would clearly be irresponsible for us to put our community at risk by hosting an event with that sort of reach."

The Eugene Marathon, which takes place annually on the final weekend of April, consists of a Marathon, Half Marathon, Eugene 5K, Kid’s Duck Dash, and Health & Wellness Expo. All events, including a live-streaming Finish Festival will now take place virtually. A final schedule will be announced in March. All 2021 registrants have been notified by email and will be provided a week to defer their entry for free to 2022 or to stay in the virtual event.

“Life has changed significantly since we became the healthcare sponsor for Eugene Marathon in 2019. Through the challenges of the last year, it became apparent how socially conscious Eugene Marathon is as an organization. And this decision truly highlights their commitment to doing what’s right for our communities,” said Todd Salnas, chief operating officer, PeaceHealth Oregon. “We are proud to support this year’s virtual event and associated activities and look forward to the possibility of celebrating together in person at Hayward Field in 2022.”

“We are looking at innovative ways to approach the virtual race experience and make it as fun and interactive as possible,” Dobson said. “There will be multiple days of activities available throughout race weekend. “

 

(02/04/2021) Views: 1,491 ⚡AMP

Registrations is now open for the 2021 Eugene Marathon which will finish at the new Hayward Field Stadium

2921 registration is now open for the Eugene Marathon! Mark your calendars for April 23-25, 2021 and mark your finish line for Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. That’s right, in 2021 – if all goes as planned – you will get the opportunity to once again Run in the Footsteps of Legends and cross the finish line at the newly renovated and always iconic Hayward Field. 

 Since the moment we canceled the 2020 race due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have dedicated our time and effort to looking forward to 2021 and doing all that we can to make it the finest and safest Eugene Marathon yet. Our team is working with our partners – including Lane County Public Health, the City of Eugene, the University of Oregon and PeaceHealth – to develop plans for a safe, accessible and exciting event.

Additionally, taking into consideration the context of COVID-19, we are offering the option to sign up for a virtual race experience that will include top-notch virtual race technology, a live-streaming virtual expo, sponsor perks, and all the swag of a traditional Eugene Marathon sent in a custom race box straight to your front door. .

In the event that an in-person event cannot take place, all 2021 registrants will be transferred to the 2021 virtual event.

(09/30/2020) Views: 1,636 ⚡AMP

Richard Maher, Race Director of the Eugene Marathon since the event’s inception in 2007, is retiring from his position

Courtney and Andy Heily, who founded the event with Maher in 2005, will maintain their positions on the Board of Directors alongside Maher. Ian Dobson has stepped into the role of Race Director after serving for three years as the Assistant Race Director.

“It's been a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of the Eugene Marathon all these years,” Maher said. “I may be leaving the Race Director position, but I plan to continue to be involved. I count myself as lucky to have worked with so many wonderful staff, volunteers, family and friends who dedicate their time to make this special event happen each year.”

Maher was an instrumental force in the development of the Eugene Marathon from its beginning.

“Back in 2005 we contacted Richard about possibly starting a marathon in Eugene,” Courtney Heily said. “Within weeks of that initial conversation, Richard had rallied his troops and began the pivotal early work with the cities of Eugene and Springfield, the University of Oregon and various other stakeholders. Within six months, we had a game plan and decided to roll the dice and see what happened.” 

Since 2007, Maher and the Eugene Marathon team conducted 13 total events for a combined 125,000+ participants, including thousands of volunteers. The race has earned a “Best Marathon” award four times in various categories by Runner’s World and is annually acknowledged as one of the best races for those aspiring to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

“Andy and I cannot thank Richard enough for taking a risk with us and helping create this amazing event that we all love,” Courtney Heily said. “I will miss working with Richard regularly, but I am also happy and excited for him as he moves into this next chapter of his life.”

“We have a great deal to be proud of as we look ahead to 2020. The Marathon grew from a crazy idea back in 2005 to an annual event that Eugene residents and others look forward to each spring. We never would have gotten to where we are now without Richard.”

Dobson has assumed the role of Race Director following two years as the Assistant Race Director and Elite Athlete Coordinator. He is an Oregon native, 2008 Olympian in the 5,000 meters and Eugene resident since 2010. Joining Dobson on the Eugene Marathon staff are Becky Radliff as Director of Event Operations, Jon Marx as Marketing & Content Coordinator and Courtney Heily remains Executive Director.

“Ian’s contributions to the marathon have been huge over the past two years,” Heily said. “We know he’ll do an excellent job as Race Director and I have no doubt that with the team we have, along with all the key volunteers who have worked on this race since the beginning, that the marathon will continue to grow.”

A decorated marathoner in his younger years, Maher is planning to use his extra time to start training again and says he’d like to run the half-marathon in 2020 and the full in 2021.

(12/31/2019) Views: 1,915 ⚡AMP

Kyle King a 29-year-old marine won the men’s race at the Eugene Marathon clocking 2:18:04

The Eugene Marathon had to alter its course to accommodate a start and finish at Autzen Stadium this year.Organizers might want to make the change permanent.

Between the men’s and women’s Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, there were 18 new names added to the event’s all-time top-10 lists. And on a cool, sunny morning when it seemed so many were running fast, Kyle King and Jennifer Bigham proved to be the fastest.

King, a 29-year-old marine competing in just his second marathon and first since 2014, won the men’s race in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 4 seconds. It was a 45-second victory and the third fastest time in the 13-year history of the Eugene Marathon.

It was also well below the Olympic Trials ‘B’ standard of 2:19.00 (the ‘A’ standard is 2:15:00).Bigham, a 37-year-old mother of three children under the age of 10, got her first win after running “15-20” marathons since her first in 2004. She also reached the finish line inside unchallenged in 2:41:37 — the fifth fastest finish all-time in Eugene, and also easily met the Olympic Trials ‘B’ standard of 2:45:00 (the ‘A’ standard is 2:37:00).“I’ve been trying for the Trials standard for eight years,” Bigham said.

“This is a dream come true.”It was also the only pre-race goal she set for herself. So imagine her surprise when the Pittsburgh resident found herself in the lead once the half marathoners went off in another direction.

“When they cut off, people started saying ‘You’re the first woman,’ and I was kind of shocked,” said Bigham, a steeplechaser and cross country runner during her collegiate career at Ohio State. “It gave me some confidence but it also made me say ‘Keep it cool, chill out.”

Seattle’s Claire DeVoe was second in 2:42:46 (sixth all-time), Perry Shoemaker of Vienna, VA. was third in 2:43:33 (eighth all-time) and Meaghan Nelson of Boise was fourth in 2:44:36.King, an artillery officer based at Buckley Air Force Base outside of Denver who ran distance at Eastern Washington at Oklahoma, said he didn’t know what to expect in his race after only recently beginning to train for the 26.2-mile race.

“Honestly, it went way better than expected,” King said. “I hadn’t been seriously training for like six years. I really had no idea what type of shape I was in so I guess I was in better shape than I thought.”So much so that he struggled at times to stick to his desired pace.

“I really wasn’t too experienced with the marathon so right around miles 10-13 I was chomping at the bit to start going, but I kept telling myself ‘Wait, wait, it’s too early,’” King said. “Then at mile 15 my legs just wanted to go so I opened it up a little bit.

”Second-place finisher Anthony Tomsich of Vancouver, British Columbia finished in 2:18:49 (fifth all-time), and Patrick Richie of Portland was third in 2:19:16 (seventh all-time).

(04/29/2019) Views: 2,520 ⚡AMP
by Chris Hansen

Camille Hicks will be running Eugene 5K to honor brother with Down syndrome

Thirteen-year-old Camille Hicks loves to run because she says it makes her feel powerful and strong.

With that in mind, she's taking on the 5K race at the 2019 Eugene Marathon.

Camille was also a winner of the marathon's 12 Days of Wishes program.

"My wish was to get a certain amount of money donated to the Down syndrome association and get an entry in the 5K," the Pleasant Hill middle school student said.

Camille is running in support of her brother Cade, who has Down syndrome.

She asked for a specific $321 donation to the association.

That's because a child with three copies of chromosome 21, rather than the usual pair, is said to have "Trisomy 21" - also known as Down syndrome.

Marathon organizers were intrigued by her submission.

"It was super inspiring, you know, the reasons why she's running," said Justin Hanes, director of communications for the Eugene Marathon. "The reasons that she's getting involved in the running community is awesome, and I love finding people like that and being able to support runners and their dreams and goals."

Hanes added that the move represents the essence of the event.

"Which makes this race super hometown-y and super local and so to do this 12 Days of Wishes program and really support families like Camille means a lot to us," he said.

Camille plans to finish the race with her family - and her message is clear.

"People with Down syndrome, they can do it, they are very capable of great things just the same as everybody else," she said.

(04/24/2019) Views: 2,126 ⚡AMP
by Christelle Koumoue

The Eugene Marathon is changing courses for 2019, with a new finish line and a new stadium experience

Now the marathon and half-marathon will start just outside Autzen Stadium on Leo Harris Parkway, and end inside the stadium with the finish at the 50-yard line.

With race organizers unveiling necessary changes to its long-established course because of the renovation of Hayward Field, which had been the location of the start and finish line.

“Once Hayward was gone, our dream course was Autzen,” race director Richard Maher said. “We didn’t want it anywhere else.”

Of course, moving the start and finish to the other side of the Willamette River forced some reshaping of the 26.2-mile marathon course and the 13.1-mile half-marathon course.

The race will now go from Autzen to the Ferry Street Bridge, crossing in the northbound lanes into downtown where it will weave from Seventh Avenue to Eighth Avenue before heading south on Willamette Street to 13th Avenue and east to Agate Street where it will pick up its former pattern to south Eugene and back.

The early portion of the race through downtown is a highlight for race organizers, who envision sidewalks lined with spectators on race morning. It also means closing down some streets typically busy with traffic, though maybe not so much on an early Sunday morning.

“A marathon is going to be disruptive to a community; hopefully it’s a good disruption,” assistant race director Ian Dobson said. “When you look at that course, it’s really designed with two things in mind: It’s going to be cool for runners and also, it doesn’t land lock big chunks of the community.

“We have to get from the north side of the river to the south side of town and back. There’s only so many places you can cross and there’s only so many places that can handle the volume, especially at the beginning.”

The racers will return to the north side by crossing the Autzen Footbridge, with the half-marathoners heading back to the stadium and the marathoners completing the second half of the race on the bike path, though the course no longer goes into Springfield.

Runners will enter Autzen Stadium on the east side, go down the tunnel through the end zone and finish at midfield.

The Finish Line Festival, previously held on the turf fields behind Hayward Field, will be on the south concourse of Autzen.

Maher said despite the changes, the course will still maintain its reputation as being flat, fast and the perfect race for those trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

(03/07/2019) Views: 2,054 ⚡AMP

The Eugene Marathon is changing it´s course for 2019

The Eugene Marathon is changing course for 2019, with a new route, a new finish line and a new stadium experience. Registration opened Wednesday for the 13th annual race scheduled for Sunday, April 28, 2019 with race organizers unveiling necessary changes to its long-established course because of the renovation of Hayward Field, which had been the location of the start and finish line. Now the marathon and half-marathon will start just outside Autzen Stadium on Leo Harris Parkway, and end inside the stadium with the finish at the 50-yard line. “Once Hayward was gone, our dream course was Autzen,” race director Richard Maher said. “We didn’t want it anywhere else.” Of course, moving the start and finish to the other side of the Willamette River forced some reshaping of the 26.2-mile marathon course and the 13.1-mile half-marathon course. The race will now go from Autzen to the Ferry Street Bridge, crossing in the northbound lanes into downtown where it will weave from Seventh Avenue to Eighth Avenue before heading south on Willamette Street to 13th Avenue and east to Agate Street where it will pick up its former pattern to south Eugene and back. The early portion of the race through downtown is a highlight for race organizers, who envision sidewalks lined with spectators on race morning. It also means closing down some streets typically busy with traffic, though maybe not so much on an early Sunday morning. “A marathon is going to be disruptive to a community; hopefully it’s a good disruption,” assistant race director Ian Dobson said. “When you look at that course, it’s really designed with two things in mind: It’s going to be cool for runners and also, it doesn’t land lock big chunks of the community. (08/16/2018) Views: 1,674 ⚡AMP

Justin Gallegos has cerebral palsy and completed a half marathon but it was not easy

For many with cerebral palsy, the mere thought of running, let alone running a half marathon, would seem like an impossible dream. However, for Justin Gallegos, that dream became a reality on April 29 as he crossed the finish line at the 2018 Eugene Half Marathon in Eugene, Oregon. A huge NASCAR fan, Gallegos grew up idolizing Dale Earnhardt Jr. However, he could only dream of racing around the track and competing as an athlete. As a child, he had to use a walker to assist him until he was in kindergarten, and he went through years of physical therapy to straighten his gait. Little did he know that he would one day be competing on a race track of his own, in custom-made Nike running shoes. Gallegos, 20, was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects muscle coordination and body movement. For Gallegos, while he is able to walk and even run, his path to become one of the few able-bodied people with cerebral palsy to complete a half marathon certainly did not come easily. (05/17/2018) Views: 1,756 ⚡AMP

Kate Landau win's Eugene Marathon after being forced to drop out of Boston

Two weeks after hypothermia forced her to drop out of the Boston Marathon, Tacoma's Kate Landau added another big win to her resume. Landau, 41, won the Eugene Marathon on Sunday morning in a personal-best time of 2 hours, 35 minutes, 44 seconds. Her time was the second best for a woman in the 12-year history of the event.  She beat the second-place woman (Becki Spellman of Ohio) by more than six minutes. Only six of the more than 800 male runners were faster than Landau. Landau's time earned the top qualifying standard for the 2020 Olympic Trials in Atlanta.  Eugene's historic Hayward Field seemed like a fitting place for Landau to accomplish this goal. It was there in 1996, that she finished second in the 10,000-meter race and sixth in the 5,000 at the NCAA championships while running for Georgetown. She went on to compete at the trials for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.  (04/30/2018) Views: 2,764 ⚡AMP

Shaluinn Fullove is running the Eugene Marathon not letting a double mastectomy get in her way

Shaluinn Fullove has been running competitively since she was five years old. After growing up in Los Angeles, she became an athlete at Stanford University, where she ran three cross country races during the 1996 NCAA Championships before graduating with an American studies degree in 2000 and landing a job at Google in 2002. Today, Fullove still works in human resources for Google in Palo Alto, California, where she lives with her husband and daughter. The past few years have tested Fullove’s commitment and perseverance. In 2017, she underwent a double mastectomy, followed by a breast reconstruction surgery. Between the two procedures, her dad and aunt both passed away. “Running is always the common thread — it is always the thing you can come back to. It’s an anchor…” said Fullove. The pain from that season of life was sharp, but it didn’t extinguish her drive. Fullove is planning to run the Eugene Marathon on April 29. She has embraced the difference that her new shape and circumstances bring, and she admits that her training cycle this time around has been different. In 2008, she qualified for the Olympic Trials as a way to prove to herself that she had beat thyroid cancer. Though she has the potential to qualify again, her focus has shifted this year. She said this race is a celebration of her ability to rebuild and condition her body to withstand the rigorous workouts that are required when training for a marathon. “To define success for the Eugene Marathon so narrowly to the Olympic Qualifier, I think that would be a missed opportunity,” she said. (04/23/2018) Views: 1,902 ⚡AMP

It´s Not Too Late To Get Running for Eugene Marathon Weekend

Runners will be flooding the streets of Eugene and Springfield in late April, taking part in the Eugene Marathon weekend. It's not too late to start training for this year's races, especially the 5K or even half marathon. The Eugene Marathon is less than three months away. The three distances to choose from in this year’s race weekend are 26.2 miles, 13.1 miles, or 3.1 miles. "The half-marathon or 5k is still a great option for people that have some experience with running or walking but that hasn’t officially started a training program yet,” says assistant race director Ian Dobson. (02/17/2018) Views: 2,035 ⚡AMP

Nick Symmonds Next Marathon Will Be Eugene

Nick Symmonds posted this on twitter today. He has been a world class track runner and decided to run one marathon. That was his plan until he just missed breaking three hours in Honolulu. He wrote, "I will race the Eugene Marathon, finishing at one of my favorite places in the world, Hayward Field. My goal is to break 3 hours and, if successful, it will likely be the last race I ever run. I hope to see you all there for one last party!" (01/19/2018) Views: 1,630 ⚡AMP