Oakland Marathon Running Festival - Race Reviews

This was a top notch event! Beautiful course, which gave a really great tour of the city. Wonderful traffic control by the police and volunteers. Plentiful aid stations. Expo was great - everything you needed, but easy to get around. The medal is beautiful! I loved the theme of 'Rooted in Oakland.' The pride in the city was obvious and deserved! Really nice event!

The beer garden sucked! They ran out of beer and there is no excuse.

This was my third Oakland Marathon. I love the course and the varied scenery. I do not like that the course is over measured. I had 26.8. The shirt has improved - it was beautiful this year. Course marking has improved, but still could use better marking in the last few miles.

True to comments posted by others, this is a hilly course in the first half with relatively flat terrain the second half. The downhill at mile 11 is 11% grade...very steep! Pros: easy logistics to get to and from since this race is still relatively small; the volunteers and crowd that did come out to support were enthusiastic; the finish around the lake the final three miles was great. Plenty of porta-potties before, during and after; easy to navigate race expo. Cons: course markings were inadequate...a number of us in the top 50 went off course around mile 7.5, and it almost happened again later in the race. Water stations by neighbors had to help make up for places where official water stations weren't located; course took runners through many neighborhoods where race had few if any spectators. All in all I'm glad I ran it but it's not one I plan to run again.

Challenging hilly course in the first half and flat as a pancake in the second. Makes for a challenging course where pacing yourself on the up and downhill is important. Pros: Well organized, lots of portapotties, decent support all through the course. Locals seemed genuinely excited to have runners going through their part of town. Lots of hi-fives, cheers, and other good fun. I'd do it again. Cons: Having all the hills in the first section makes it interesting, just don't go out too fast!

Course was varied and challenging, traffic was very well organized, the spectators were great along the course, and Lake Merritt was a pleasant addition.

It's a solid and worthwhile big-city race. Some scenic stretches on the backside of the course (in the hills) and a spectacular view as you drop most of your elevation around mile ~11. Has a community-building feeling that is super cool. Crowd support was great, way better than expected based on my experience at the SF Marathon. Probably the best I've seen. Lots of spectators cheering and bands. Super friendly police, even. I have nothing against the police, but I think it's the first time I've been so resoundingly and consistently cheered on by the police at the intersections. Frequent, fast aid stations. Overall, a great feel Oh be forwarded: it's hilly. ~990 feet of elevation gain. :-)

This was my first full, I had run a few half marathons in the past couple years. Pros... -great weather, especially compared to winter training in Boston MA -easy course for a 1st marathon: one long / big hill early but downhill / flat for the last half with some great views at the top of the hill -bands, performances in the last third of the race and at the park at the finish line provided a good atmosphere -very accessible to BART and San Francisco. Cons... only one -The last 7 or so miles merged with the half marathon race and the route got clogged. I had to dodge past hundreds runners going much slower and finished at 4:00:01, so I can't help but be a bit frustrated thinking I could have gotten < 4 hrs. Overall great time, would definitely run it again.

I loved this race! It was extremely well organized, had great crowd support, and the course was challenging but very scenic and fun. The race traverses through so many different neighborhoods in Oakland that you get a good feel for the makeup of the city, probably similar to the NYC marathon, but with less glamour and on a smaller scale. The course is reasonably tough, particularly the climbs from miles 6-11 or so. After a steep decline from miles 11-12.5 or so it's pretty much flat as a pancake, though. I would say it isn't impossible to set a PR here. I finished only a little over four minutes off of mine, and with better training possibly could have beaten it. The post-race amenities generally don't matter much to me, but there were some nice snack foods for runners, as well as two free premium beers (21st Amendment, for example) and a nice looking festival. Overall, I had a blast and hope I can run Oakland again next year!

The course was well planned and well supported, and ran through all of Oakland. The volunteers were great, and I've never seen so many people come out to cheer just because. Houses along the course had their stereo speakers pointed at us and whole neighborhoods seemed to be throwing a party. The energy was amazing. Like bay to breakers, without all the booze. I didn't use bag check in and I'm a beer snob, so avoided the bud light, but the medals and shirts are great. Everything was easy to get to and find. A very fun day. I'll definitely be back next year!

Since running the inaugural edition of this race, I can say it has only gotten better. The full marathon course is still quite hilly, but very do-able. What I love most about this race is getting to run through the various neighborhoods in Oakland. The spectators are great, and you can see how proud they are to have this race here. Running down International Boulevard reminded me of being at the NYC Marathon, with all its sights, sounds, and aromas. The only part of this race I truly did not enjoy was the unpaved section around Lake Merritt, where the toll of the latter miles made it too easy to trip. I especially loved this year's black marathon zip pullover with the Raider-esque design. Oh, and being able to get 2 free beers at the post-race party was definitely appreciated (the last time I did this race they had run out by the time I finished).

Just ran the Oakland Half Marathon and was extremely impressed. I flew in from Vancouver for this event and although Oakland would normally not be considered as a 'destination race', I believe it should be. A summary of the pros and cons: Pros: 1. The half has a relatively flat course with smallish rolling hills in some places. The course takes you through scenic and not-so-scenic parts of downtown Oakland. The full marathon elevation chart looked a little scary however. 2. This is a small to moderate race size (i.e. under 10,000 runners). There is no crowding and the corrals were easy to get into and everyone was well-behaved. 3. The organizers did a great job getting everyone pumped up at the beginning. Lots of excitement before the start. 4. There are plenty of water / gatorade stations that are well-staffed with friendly volunteers. 5. Lots! of toilets at the race start. I think I waited no more than 2 minutes. 6. Very easy bag drop off that was 1 minute from the race start. No wait on drop off or pick up. 7. The communication / social media in the months and weeks leading up to the race was amazing. These guys really know how to keep people informed and happy. They really created a Oakland Running Festival online community through massive interaction with runners online. Questions were answered same-day! A case study on how to use social media for any business. 8. Nice race shirts and finisher medals. 9. The expo was relatively small but adequate in my opinion. A well-stocked race merchandise store. 10. They had free beer post-race (x2). Ok, it was Coors Light, but it still was beer. 11. Their was a good party atmosphere post-race in Snow Park. Lots of music and people having fun. 12. Some quirky cheering stations on the course including a mechanical horse that breathed fire (so cool). 13. Pretty good crowds cheering you on in certain places. Even the Oakland Police were cheering runners. Cons: 1. The post-race food was a bit lacking in selection although not in quantity. Standard bananas, oranges, bagels, granola bars and gatorade. 2. The virtual race bag was a bit of a waste. Nothing of much value to a runner in there. I know they were trying to go green, but I still prefer the old school free samples of things. 3. The final few minutes before the finish line was uphill! I know a minor point but it was sure painful. Overall, an extremely well organized smallish race. There was a ton of community pride and it showed. Highly recommended.

This was my 10th marathon and it ranks at the top for me. The course was challenging but very interesting and at times scenic. The best smelling marathon I ever ran as we did runs through all sorts of ethnic neighborhoods. Lots of people scattered along the way, but they never felt overwhelming like at some races I've done. The finishing area is nice, as is the beer you get, though the food wasn't anything special. No real goody bag, not that I care. But otherwise, well supported and lots of fun.

Some of my comments are more specific to people competing for top 5 finishes, others are more general. Pros: 1) I actually liked the course for the most part, even with the hills. 2) The pre- and post-race organization seemed good. 3) Nice medals. 4) Good Oakland spirit. Cons: 1) Course was terribly marked, not a big deal if you can follow others, but it sucks if you're all alone. The volunteers directing traffic and telling runners where to go during the first half did a good enough job to make up for the lack of signs/arrows. However, during the last half the volunteers seemed un-focused and unprepared to direct traffic and runners. At about mile 16.5 the person directing traffic failed to stop cars for me, then proceeded to direct me the wrong way. None of the officials during the second half pointed me which way to go until I asked them. 2) There were enough water stops, but they were oddly placed and inconsistent in quality. I think there were 3 water stops between about 22.5 and 24.5, but I think there was a stretch of 3-4 miles without water before that. Actually, there was a water stop, but nobody was there to work it. It was just a bunch of gallon jugs on a table. 3) There was no live tracking and apparently they didn't get all of the timing mats out in time, since none of the top finishers have 20 mile splits. 4) The prize structure for the relay was ridiculous. I ran the full marathon and beat every relay team except one, yet the winning relay team got 8 (4 pairs) free tickets to Hawaii? Why not split up the free tickets and give them all out to the top few finishers in the far more competitive marathon and half marathon? The half doesn't have any prizes at all. The goal may have been to increase the number of elite entries to the relay, but there was not enough notice to accomplish that.

This is a great new option for local Bay Area marathons. The good: Extremely well organized Great communication Easy to get to and park 'Late' start at 7:30 Wonderful race shirt Pacers easy to spot and follow The bad Tough course, first half being much harder than San Francisco No finish line food to speak of Finish line crowded Half marathon and marathon convergence really crowded Expo small and not interesting

After having done almost a hundred marathons I can recognize a GREAT one when I see it. In only it's third year this one is a real keeper!! The course was challenging but fair..the organization was awesome...and the support was first rate. Thanks to Gene and his crew for providing such a quality experience to the thousands that participated...WELL DONE...I will be back next year.

This is now a must-run for me and, yes, I live in Oakland, but the event is just so pleasant, fun, and well organized that its become my favorite marathon (hometown influence acknowledged). I have some rather stiff reviews out there when organizers have dropped the ball, but Corrigan Sports does a great job in Oakland. The previous reviews give a good feel for the Oakland Marathon. I especially agree with R.G.'s comments on the race shirt; this is the second year where the race shirt deserves special accolades. The course: Big Sur has nothing on San Francisco when it comes to hills, and San Francisco has nothing on Oakland. I've run all three and found I enjoy a little challenge other than miles. You run Oakland and you can hold your head high among marathoners. That said, I came within 5 minutes of inadvertently posting a P.R. this year. (Wish I'd been paying more attention!) Yes, the finish area was crowded, but unlike at Big Sur, there was no line to get my free beer! Also, a really good pork sandwich at The Streatery was easy to get. BTW: their naturally multicolored potato chips are perfect for Oakland! (Thanks, Kat!) Post-race food of different kinds seemed abundant, and the ease of getting a quick hit of something good to eat made the experience (and the rest of the day) much nicer. The race organizers are without peer when it comes to pre-race organization (instructions, web, keeping in touch, etc.). It's great. Parking: I drove to the start, and parked in a lot within two blocks; it was free, and easy. The best thing is the feeling you get while the course takes you through the many districts of Oakland. You get to see what a special and varied place this is. Even in the economically depressed areas, there are locals out there thanking you for running Oakland. True, for the most part, hordes of spectators there are not, but there are enough to lift your spirits. The dull later miles common to so many urban marathons are more interesting and lively here, especially when compared to the SFM. If this and the other reviews sound good to you, then I'm sure you'll be happy you gave it a try.

This was my first Oakland Marathon. Many good reviews from the year before. The overcast weather made the temperature much cooler, and the water stations seemed to be about 1.5 miles apart, which helped me along. The crowd support seems to pick up in the last third of the race, which was helpful. Also, there was ample food on the course to enjoy. I never have seen much of Oakland, and I also enjoyed the many different neighborhoods. The big hill in the first half did not seem so tough, as I trained for it and took my time going up and down. I would recommend this marathon.

The course changes were to ease some traffic problems, and most of them were fine by me. The only change that I didn't like very much was to have us on the path alongside of Lake Merritt. This would be fine if there weren't so many half marathoners on the course. It was a bit narrow and getting by them was not an easy task. Until the price goes up too much I will continue to run this one. One of the other changes took us off of Fruitvale Ave. There were fewer fans out on the new section we ran on. Of course this isn't something the race organization has any control over.

I thoroughly enjoyed this marathon. The first half takes you through some great neighborhoods that I didn't even know existed in Oakland. First half is a little hilly, but the last half is almost completely flat. The volunteers were great and many of the fans were absolutely fantastic. There was a rapper at mile 8, a gummy bear guy in a costume singing at like mile 16, randomly distributed Oakland A's and Raiders fans in full dress throughout the race and multiple bands along the way. Even the police officers at the beginning of the race were extremely nice and encouraging. The fire department had music playing from their firetruck. Oakland has a lot of pride and enthusiasm and they really impressed me and showcased it during this marathon. It was the perfect size in my opinion. Not too small, but not too big. If you wanted, you had plenty of space at the start and could really really get a great time and start. It was nothing like the bigger marathons I have run, but I have a feeling more and more people will register for this race once word gets around. I think they could even increase the marathon size and be okay. I would love to see this marathon get to a huge size. Port-a-potties were enough, aid stations were placed every mile or two and there was plenty for all. I really can't think of anything to complain about. They had about a full week straight of rain which made running around Lake Merrit at the end a little muddy, but that was absolutely outside of the organizers control, and they did an outstanding job despite the weather. I would definitely do this marathon again, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I am a new Oakland fan.

If you're looking for a spring marathon in the Bay Area, this is a great choice. It's a nice course going through lots of different types of neighborhoods. It's never boring. Awesome crowd support and interesting things to see. There are tons of people along the course in the last few miles. A great atmosphere. This is really a strong addition to the California marathoning scene and I hope the race is around for a long time. I'll be back. One other thing: the race shirt for the marathon was really nice... a plain, white and black, zip-up, technical shirt with long sleeves and without tons of ads on it. Just a simple logo on the back. It looks like something you'd actually buy yourself.

Well organized, but I would like to see this race get bigger (only 1,400 marathoners at present), as well as fewer hills and more spectators. The hills and lack of spectators is really what made this a 3-star race (otherwise, it might get 5 stars). Pros: 1. Great organization 2. Easy packet pick-up 3. Great volunteers on the course 4. PLENTY of aid stations (official and unofficial) 5. Nice that they use Gatorade (and not Cytomax) and GU (top brands) 6. Start line was easy to line-up and cross the mat 7. Great communication leading up to the event 8. Unlike what people think of Oakland, this is NOT a dangerous course. Oakland is beautiful and the view at mile 10 is breathtaking. 9. They handed out actual bottles of water and not Dixie cups at the finish (nice touch) 10. Great weather this year Cons: 1. Crowds are VERY, VERY thin. I would not say this is a well spectated event. 2. The course is VERY hilly. I found it harder than Big Sur. Brutal hills. 3. They said they had a reunion area, only for me to find out that they didn't set it up on race day leaving many wandering around for loved ones 4. Expo was small - nothing to see there 5. Finish area was a crowded mess 6. Finish shirts run VERY SMALL 7. No online tracking of athletes 8. It was AWFUL making the runners run on the muddy path at Lake Merritt single file (what were they thinking!) I would consider this race again. I'll hope for more spectators next year to help the runners get up those hills.

This was a great race - very well organized. I loved the idea of doing a 5K the night before. It was pretty light and easy. Thanks to all for the great job, and the great organization. Every detail was fully covered!! Way to go!

I loved running this marathon! The people of Oakland MADE this event stand out! Every neighborhood had a charm and uniqueness all its own. This is my 7th marathon and, although they have all had crowds, spectators and volunteers, none had the enthusiasum like that of Oakland - none. Organization was great, course support/aid stations awesome, and traffic control perfect (for the runners, of course). The highlights were; the drum bands playing along the course, the kids of the community setting up their own tables of refreshments, the scenery and topography on various parts of the course, and the people. I can't even count how many times I was thanked for coming out to run Oakland. How cool is that? A very perfect day, and great experience. I only have 2 suggestions for next year. The finish area could have been bigger, and it would be nice if the medal for finishing the FULL marathon was bigger than the half and relay. I know the latter suggestion is a little shallow, but hey, I'd like something other than a different color ribbon/medal to denote the fact that I ran 26.2 miles - but maybe that's just me. :)

I'm so glad that a marathon is now an option in Oakland. I look forward to it growing and plan to run it every year. A top-notch event, and the race director is to be highly commended for it. This is a great urban marathon, which truly highlighted the city well.

This was my 18th full marathon and I really enjoyed it. Since my training was not up to par, I decided to just run and enjoy the sights along the way. The weather was great, the neighborhoods were welcoming, and the police and cadets did a great job with traffic flow. The view coming down the hill past the Mormon temple was spectacular. I lived and worked in Oakland for years, but had never been to some of the areas that we ran through. I loved that the race began and ended in Ogawa Plaza - a perfect setting. Although the expo was small, it was nice. I didn't understand the need for pre-registered runners to stand in the long lines to get into the expo, as it wasn't crowded at 9:10 a.m. I hope that Oakland does this again next year and I will encourage others to run it. I ran the Baltimore Marathon in October and enjoyed that one too. The course was flat, and I was better trained, and, of course, had a faster time.

I loved this race! It was really well organized and showed all of Oakland. The course is harder than any I have run - even harder than San Francisco or Boston, as the first 10 miles are pretty much all uphill. I still managed to PR, though. Pacers were amazing; I ran with the 3:20 pacer, and he was so supportive and helped a great deal. The spectator support was wonderful, especially considering that this was the first year of the marathon. Even the volunteers and police were cheering. I also really enjoyed the 7:30 start time and easy parking right at the start line. The only negative I can think of was that, when the half marathon joined the full, so many slow people crowded the flow. The pacer helped to get us through. Highly recommended! Great race.

What a wonderful day to run in Oakland. Weather conditions were nearly perfect (just a bit on the warm side), and residents showed up in force to do Oakland proud in cheering on the runners. The first half of the course is hilly, but very doable, especially since the trees provide shade aplenty. The second half is mostly flat, and passes through some gritty areas. I only have 2 gripes: 1 - Why does gear check shut down 6 1/2 hours after the start time when the time limit is 7 hours? 2 - They ran out of beer just before I finished. When organizers know the total number of runners and each runner has 2 beer coupons, this should not happen. Did the beer distributor goof up?

Because this is my 9th inaugural marathon (of 141 I have completed), I had some apprehensions. After all, they don't know the problems until they have gone through it at least once. But Oakland managed to put on a wonderful event, and I found no problems in their planning. The course is tough for the first half, but not as hard as I anticipated. The crowds were fabulous. I know it helped me hold my pace - how can you slow down or walk in front of people cheering you on? I applaud the decision to delay the start of the half - it minimizes contention both for porta-potties and the start of the race for both groups. The expo was small - that was expected for a first-time race - and well managed. The finisher shirt and medal were high quality. The police were great at maintaining traffic, and for encouraging runners (something I don't often see in a race). Congratulations, Oakland! You pulled off a good one!

I ran the half. The number and enthusiasm of the spectators was astounding. San Francisco should be so fortunate. Maybe the half could start a bit earlier. It was warm in the sun. Consider another aid station or two. However, an impressive effort. Way to go, Gene!

I live in the Bay Area, but never spend much time in Oakland. I was very pleased to get a chance to tour the entire city. It was wonderfully organized and supported by the city. The marathon only had 1,000 runners and still had many spectators on the streets cheering for us - much more than SF or some other bigger-city marathons I have run.

I never cared about spectator ratings. But after this race, I might change my mind! Oakland really came out and cheered for this race, and it was great. Logistics: It started on time, and there were enough porta-potties. This was likely party a result of the half, with many more runners, starting 1.5 hours later;  for us marathoners, we had the run of the start area for a much bigger race to ourselves, which was nice. Along the course, there were well stocked aid stations (I'm mid-pack), and a lot of impromptu neighborhood aid stations, some of which were so extensive that I at first mistook them for official aid stations. They had GU on course, as well porta-potties on course - usually with no waiting (except at the relay exchange points, of course - avoid those for any necessary potty stops). The finish area was a little tight (the reverse of the morning - now it was halfers and marathoners all together) and they'd either run out of bottled water, or I didn't find it. On a warm day like we had, I would have really appreciated someone cramming a bottle in my hand as soon as I stepped into the chute. Instead all I found was a table with Dixies of Gatorade. (March in Oakland... now, this week it's supposed to be cool and rainy). Anyway, when I found my family, they had water for me. The marathoner shirts are long-sleeve, and are separately sized for men and women, which is great. I loved that the course went through so many different neighborhoods. The hills at the beginning are daunting (the particularly good crowd support along there helps); but, hey, it's a chance to experiment with pacing strategy. I didn't find any portion of the course dull, although there were some short stretches where you're transitioning from one neighborhood to another. Full disclosure: I'm a local, so I knew what to expect there, which is just the nature of cities. Looking forward to this event in the future!

I had a great run yesterday and am no longer intimidated by the number "26.2." Though the cramping towards the end was wrenching, it's just something small I need to work on. The organization, the fans that came out in support, the musicians that performed (loved the 8-foot long alp horns and the Emeryville Taiko Dojo), and the businesses that showed their colors made it clear that this is an excellent race not just for the organization, but for the amount of community support it received. I did feel bad for the drivers who don't read the news and didn't know about the road closures though. Whoops! The event took us through many different neighborhoods, supporters were all over spread out thick and thin. The first 10 miles were up hill, followed by a quick descent, which I really enjoyed (chin down, hips back, and just fly). I'll definitely be doing this race again next year and I hope the organizers continue it year after year. I'm browsing this site right now looking for my next marathon in about 2 months.

I was very surprised by the number of spectators that turned out for this marathon. There were a lot of people thanking you along the course for running Oakland. Tons of police were on the route for traffic control, and as one of the other reviewer said, they were cheering for us! I have not seen that very often. The Oakland hills were very scenic. True, some parts were were a little rough and gritty, but that added to the experience. The first 10 miles are hilly, followed by a fast, quad-busting, 2-mile downhill. From mile 12 on, the course was relatively flat. Only negative comment is that they need to make the water stations longer and have them staffed by more volunteers. Aside from that, I had a wonderful time. I'd do it again.

This is an excellent course for the first 13 miles, as well as the last 4 miles. Broadway, Rockridge, Montclair Village and Fruitvale make for a wonderful first half. But the 9-10 miles between the halfway point and the final 4 are sort of blah, with some charming spectator supporters being the only bright side to an uninspiring 10-mile stretch. As for the final 4 miles, they are outstanding, with a beautiful circle around the 3-mile Lake Merritt shore (with amazing crowd support) followed by a thunderous sprint back to the downtown finish. The last half-mile features a 4-deep crowd cheering like it is the final lap of the Olympic Marathon. Then the Raiderettes at the finish!! Great stuff. Overall, this is a wonderful community event that has the potential to grow in stature to a destination marathon. Regarding feedback, I would encourage the organizers to explore different routes that would avoid the Mandela Parkway and warehouse areas. There must be better routes for that 10-mile stretch. BUT KUDOS TO THE ORGANIZERS FOR AN INCREDIBLE INAUGURAL EVENT... I'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR!!!!

When I heard that Oakland was putting the marathon back after some quarter-century of absence, I knew I wanted to be a part of history. It could not have been any better with the perfect weather, the enthusiastic Oakland residents coming out to cheer us runners on, the beautiful medal, and the wonderful volunteers. The best souvenir for me is the tech sweat-wicking zip shirt. This is the best shirt I've gotten out of all of my 15 marathons. Good job, Oakland! Here's to next year and many more to come!

For an inaugural marathon, kudos to the organizers and the spectators. Well organized, well supported race with enthusiastic spectators. The course goes through quite an eclectic group of neighborhoods, from affluent Montclair to gritty Fruitvale. West Oakland was the only boring part. The first half was a little tough (especially the downhill) while the second half was fairly flat. The best part of the marathon was the spectators. They were amazing and very supportive. They put San Francisco to shame (having run the San Francisco Marathon for the last 10 years). Furthermore, even the cops directing the traffic were cheering and clapping! Oakland, keep up the good work!