Eugene Marathon

The Eugene Marathon, is a marathon established in 2007, which takes place in Eugene, Oregon, a city considered to be the mecca of track and field in the American running community. The main event, accompanied by a half marathon, 5K and kids run, became in 2007 the first major marathon to be held in Eugene since 1982, when the last OTC-Nike marathon was staged. Touted for having a "fast, flat, scenic course," the Eugene Marathon traverses the regulation 42.195-kilometre (26.219 mi) marathon distance, and is certified by USA Track and Field, the sport's governing body in the US. Nearly 5000 entrants participated in the inaugural 2007 marathon events, which featured about thirty elite athletes, many of whom were shooting for qualifying marks for the US Olympic Trials, which were held in New York City in November.

The event features live music performed along the marathon and half-marathon routes, and at the finish as well. The course is laid out primarily on city streets and bike paths along the Willamette River, following many of the roads and trails used by Oregon's many running legends, a roster that includes Steve Prefontaine, Alberto Salazar, Bill McChesney and Mary Decker Slaney.

The tagline for the event is "Running in the Footsteps of Legends." in honor of the Eugene area's history in the sport, as well as the University of Oregon's tradition of producing great runners. The Eugene area boasts many quality running venues, and regularly hosts high caliber track and field championship events, which in the past have included several National Collegiate Athletic Association track championships and US Olympic Marathon Trials in 1972, 1976 and 1980.

The event benefits various community causes, including Team in Training, American Cancer Society, Bolder Options, Food for Lane County, Eugene Education Fund, over 20 local clubs and organizations and Pre's Trail.

Course

The Eugene Marathon begins on Agate Street, in front of Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus, and will finish on legendary Hayward Field.

From Hayward Field, the marathon course circles around Amazon Park, past South Eugene High School and through the University of Oregon area for nine miles (14 km). Runners then begin an eight mile (13 km) loop through Alton Baker Park East and into Springfield. The course returns to Eugene's bike paths at mile fourteen, for about ten miles (16 km) of scenic river trails, before finishing on track of Hayward Field. The marathon is a Boston Marathon and US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier event, and its certification allows record breaking performances to qualify as new world records.

Leadership

• Founder/Principle: Andy Heily
• Race Director: Richard Maher
• Sponsor Director: Andy Downin
• Marketing Director: Courtney Heily
• Director of Course/Logistics: Marc Lyda
• Operations Manager: Nicole Teter (also a two-time Olympian)
• Office Manager: Tate Kelley

Board

• Cathie Twomey Bellamy, three time US Olympic trials veteran and former 20k world-record holder
• Frank Gagliano, Oregon Track Club Elite Team head coach
• Andy Downin, former US 1,500 meter Champion, seven-time All-American in cross-country at Georgetown University
• Matt Downin, former All-American at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Joe Henderson, running coach, author of 23 books on running, and writer for Marathon and Beyond

External links

• EugeneMarathon.com - Official website
• MarathonGuide.com - 'Eugene Marathon & Half Marathon, 5K, Kids Run - Eugene, OR USA'
• OregonLive.com - ' Eugene Marathon to honor city's past', Doug Binder, The Oregonian (January 8, 2007)
• RunnerSpace.com - Fan site with Highlight video and start/finish videos