Humboldt Bay Marathon

I have run the Half three different years and will do it again next year. The race organizers are amazing and the community really does a great job welcoming runners. The marathon is even a BQ! If you love small town races organized like a big race, this is the one to do! I absolutely enjoyed the scenery and running the bridges in the half! There are only a few races that I have repeated more than once and this is one of them. I have run 40+ marathons and countless half marathons and next year I will run the full course. I have run Avenue of the Giants but this is my favorite run. The last two years I have spent extra time on the Northern Coast which made for a great vacation. The swag, unique medal, scenery, organization and community support make this a great destination race!

The Humboldt Bay Marathon and Half may not be as reputable or picturesque as The Avenue of the Giants or Big Sur marathons, but the cool summer weather, fresh unpolluted air, easy access, small field, and the BQ-friendly course makes this event a must-do on California's northwest coast. The marathon has been around for only five years and for anyone looking for a summertime marathon or half, this is it. I recommend this event to any runner wishing to visit a different part of California. I've run this race four of its five years of existence. Unfortunately, the course route changed since its inaugural year, which tends to be somewhat less scenic in my estimation. Far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities of central and southern California, the state's north coast offers a diverse assortment of birds, wildlife, hiking, fishing, Victorian architecture and many other outdoor activities in the coastal redwoods - and don't forget the famous Samoa Cookhouse for hearty meals of comfort food after your run. The USATF sanctioned marathon begins in the city of Eureka and completes a counter-clockwise loop around Humboldt Bay through the agricultural lands of Arcata Bottoms and across the signature part of the course, the Samoa Bridge, returning to Eureka's maritime-themed boardwalk for a memorable finish. The bridge segments can be tough, but with proper pace management, the crossing can become less torturous. The half marathon portion of the course begins at Klopp Lake at the city of Arcata's marsh and wildlife refuge two hours after the marathon start and completes a half loop of the bay, across the bridge and to the finish on the boardwalk. Runners are shuttled from the marathon start area in Eureka to the wildlife refuge located on the north side of Humboldt Bay. Finisher's medals are adorned with a unique design. Participant swag bags include a tech shirt with unique designs by a local artisan, only found in Humboldt County, hemp seed protein bars and a packet of hemp seeds to drizzle on food. Hey, it's Humboldt County.

Humboldt Bay Marathon gets better every year & nice summer marathon without the summer heat. A small quaint race with a big majestic course that gives runners a peaceful run along the bay for much of the race. The course takes runners on a tour of the area beginning and ending at the waterfront. The middle portion gives a taste of country life & a billy goat jumped through a fence and was my running entertainment for a moment. The running trail leads runners through a wildlife marsh and along eucalyptus lined 101 before heading into farm life for a while & old fashioned sprinklers spraying the fields, piglets squealing in the barns and wildflowers in the fields. What better way to experience the nooks and crannies of a small Northern California community is there than to run through it on foot. The race gets better every year, the race directors truly care about this event. It is Boston certified each year and the race medals are hand painted creations done by a local artist depicting a different wildlife scene each year along with the shirt. The last miles run over a series of bridges before returning into downtown Eureka's waterfront. The volunteers at the aid stations are welcoming and enthusiastic. I look forward to my peaceful self-reflective run at this race each year.