18. Eugene Marathon

The Eugene Marathon will take place on Sunday, April 26, 2026 – the 19th edition since its inception in 2007. As the largest marathon in the Pacific Northwest, the event attracts running enthusiasts to Eugene and Springfield in Oregon every spring season. The start traditionally takes place in front of the renovated Hayward Field, the most spectacular stadium for athletics, with the finish on the iconic track inside. In previous years, particularly in 2025, the event set a new record with over 14,000 runners from 50 U.S. states and 29 countries ([eugenemarathon.com](https://www.eugenemarathon.com/news/registration-for-the-2026-eugene-marathon-is-open?utm_source=openai)).

The history began in 2007 – since then, the popularity of the race has been continuously growing. 2025 was the highest participation year to date with over 14,000 participants across all disciplines, including marathon, half marathon, 5 km run, and kids' duck dash (“Kids Duck Dash”) ([eugenemarathon.com](https://www.eugenemarathon.com/news/registration-for-the-2026-eugene-marathon-is-open?utm_source=openai)). Participation is without a lottery; all distances were sold out in 2024 and 2025, making early registration for 2026 highly recommended ([eugenemarathon.com](https://www.eugenemarathon.com/news/registration-for-the-2026-eugene-marathon-is-open?utm_source=openai)).

The weather in the previous year (2025) mostly provided mild April conditions – typically cool in the morning (around 8–9 °C), pleasantly warm during the day (15–19 °C) with partly cloudy skies and light rain – ideal conditions for good running performances ([marathons2025.com](https://marathons2025.com/marathon/eugene-marathon?utm_source=openai)).

The marathon course has a total elevation gain of 487 feet (approximately 148 meters), which means a moderate topography on a largely flat course ([eugenemarathon.com](https://www.eugenemarathon.com/marathon?utm_source=openai)). Registration is currently open; the entry fees increase in several phases from $150 (marathon) or $120 (half marathon) up to $190 or $160 shortly before the event ([eugenemarathon.com](https://www.eugenemarathon.com/pricing?utm_source=openai)). Additionally, there is a “Doublestack Challenge” offer, where for an extra $30, one can combine a 5 km run with either the marathon or half marathon over two days.

Marathon (42,195 km), Halbmarathon (21,1 km), Eugene 5K, Kids Duck Dash