Race: Eugene Marathon
Runner: Coach Jonathan Cheng
Race Date: 04/26/2026
Location: Eugene, OR
Results: 3:34:33
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/18270176253
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- The race was extremely well organized! There were a plethora of porta-potties that didn’t require waiting in line, aside from lines that formed 10 minutes before race start.
- The community. With the race being in the Track Town of the US, the running community is extremely strong here! The spectators came out in full cheering mode, so running through the streets of Eugene felt like a breeze. On top of that, there are restaurants that hand out discounts to those who race that weekend.
- The finish on Hayward Field is iconic! It really is a spectacular finish.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The first half of the race is through the town of Eugene, so there’s a ton of support through the neighborhoods, but as you make your way towards the second half, it’s on a scenic trail, which means there wasn’t much crowd support. If you don’t do well with quiet environments, this is something to keep in mind!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I like that the first half of the course has larger hills, so it forces you to slow down in the beginning. Because I didn’t try to push the pace on these hills, I naturally had more energy in my legs by the end and avoided a major blow-up!
Grant Fisher was spectating along the course! It was a pleasant surprise to pass by him at mile 3.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Don’t force the larger hills in the beginning! There are undulations and rolling hills throughout, so make sure you train hills and reserve energy for the second half of the race.
There are a ton of pace groups for virtually every pace up to 2:55. It makes it really easy to find a group and share miles with them, as marathons can be mentally tough when running solo.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Train for more hills during your runs! I wish I had more strength in my legs to handle the rolling hills, so I’d definitely improve on my lower-body strength by incorporating more strength training or hill sprints.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Miles 14-24 are pretty quiet as you approach Springfield and the trail. Make sure that you’re mentally prepared for this, as it can be a stark contrast from the beginning of the race, where crowd support is plentiful.
Miles 4 and 8 bring the two biggest hills, so make sure you’re prepared for them. Knowing this in advance will help you stay calm when you see your pace slow.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes, it’s a very pretty course! You get to see the entire town of Eugene through the first half and run along a trail in nature for the second half.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I wouldn’t say that it’s a very tough course, but the Eugene Marathon is often classified as a flat marathon, which I disagree with. There are definitely rolling hills throughout and ~500 ft. of elevation gain total, so be mindful of that.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well organized! The expo was a smooth in-and-out operation, and the start line corrals were very well split up. There was no pushing or shoving to get into the corral at the beginning. Lines for the porta-potties can stack up closer to the race start, so make sure to go early if you need to!
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes, there’s a very strong field! A lot of people this year were gunning for the Olympic Trail Qualifying (OTQ) time, along with runners also trying to qualify for Boston.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
There are a lot of hotels throughout the city, and there are convenient shuttle stops at popular hotels, so just make sure you plan your booking and shuttle stops accordingly. Having a rental car is ideal, as you can drive around and out of the city.
Although people said the race typically sells out closer to April, the race sold out in January this year. I imagine that it might sell out even quicker next year, so if you want to sign up, do it in advance!
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
There are a plethora of aid stations – about one aid station with restrooms every 2 miles. There’s only one aid station in the course (around mile 17), where there is no restroom.
Weather and typical race conditions
The weather this year was amazing! It started around 45 F° and only reached the 60s about 3 hours into the race. Based on what I’ve seen from older pictures, it’s typically cloudy, but this year was sunny.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes! The first half of the race goes through Eugene, so it’s easy to find a spot to spectate. There’s also a point where runners pass by twice on the trail, so that’s another good spectating spot. Lastly, the finish is in Hayward Field, where there are plenty of seats to watch, record, or take pictures of your runner’s finish.
How’s the Swag?
The swag was pretty cool! The free t-shirt was a standard Nike Dri-Fit shirt. The merchandise at the expo had really great designs this year, so I was able to snag a hoodie.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
10/10! I LOVED this race because of how well organized it was and the course difficulty being on the easier end. I’d highly recommend the Eugene Marathon!
Jonathan is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.
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Weather and typical race conditions