Marathon
Sunday, March 17 @ 7:00am
NEW COURSE JUST ADDED (12/6)!
COURSE DETAIL
- Miles 1–5: You’ll start near the historic and newly remodeled Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, head out through Oakland’s Little Saigon neighborhood and around the east side of Lake Merritt before enjoying Grand Avenue and its Grand Lake Theater as well as the Piedmont Avenue neighborhood.
- Miles 6–10: As you approach the Half Way milestone, you’ll experience Downtown Oakland, Telegraph Avenue and its famous Fox Theater before looping around Lake Merritt’s north and west banks.
- Miles 11–20: New for 2024 is the joy of running on the Bay Area’s Bay Bridge with epic views on an out-and-back to Yerba Buena Island.
- 21 to the Finish: Coming off the Bay Bridge and its downhill miles, you’ll pass near Jack London Square prior to celebrating your finish right back in front of the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts.
COURSE INFO
The Marathon will start at 7:00am. When at the starting line, please position yourself near the sign closest to your expected finish time.
The National Anthem will take place at approximately 6:50am.
There is a 7-hour time limit for the Marathon. Participants unable to keep up with a continuous pace of 16:00 minutes per mile may be redirected as the course closes to allow regular vehicular traffic to resume.
The following items are not permitted on the course: Dogs or any pets, skateboards, bicycles, roller blades, baby joggers, and any other type of vehicle (other than official Marathon vehicles). These regulations are for your safety and the safety of the other participants in the race. The Oakland Marathon reserves the right to disqualify and remove anyone from the course who has any of the above items.
To enjoy all that our race has to offer and for the safety of all participants, the Oakland Marathon encourages a headphone-free environment during the running of all of our races. You must be able to hear any verbal instructions or commands from race staff.
Please be mindful of the other participants and respect the race personnel to ensure a safe and enjoyable race for everyone.
Accessibility: Onsite registration areas, bathroom facilities, and the course are wheelchair accessible. Note that on the course, there are a few curbs to go up/down with a slight uphill finish. When you register online, the registration form will ask if you are a wheelchair participant. We do have a wheelchair division. The wheelchair division starts a few minutes before the main start of the race.
For questions about accessibility or to request accommodation, please e-mail: [email protected]. Requests should be made at least two weeks prior to the event. We will do our best to accommodate you.
MARATHON PACE TEAM
Thanks to the Lake Merritt Joggers and Striders as well as On Pace, we will have pacers in 10-minute increments to support runners aiming for a 3 hour finish time goal to six hours. Learn more on our Pace Team page.
BIKE LEADS
Bike leads for the leading male and female for all race distances will be provided.
YOUR FINISH LINE
Each participant will receive at a minimum a medal as well as fruit, water, electrolytes, and healthy snacks.
’24 Oakland Marathon Experiences & Collection
Stay tuned for event drops as well as additional experiences, including the 2024 Medal & Shirt Collection designed by a local artist.
2023 Collection below for reference…
AID STATIONS
On the Course, we will have participant support at the below locations (mile markers listed below are approximate). Portable restrooms will also be available at each aid station.
- Start: Water / Electrolytes / Aid Station
- Mile 2: Water / Electrolytes
- Mile 4: Water / Electrolytes / Aid Station
- Mile 6: Water / Electrolytes / GU
- Mile 8: Water / Electrolytes
- Mile 10: Water / Electrolytes / Aid Station
- Mile 12: Water / Electrolytes
- Mile 13.5: Water / Electrolytes / GU
- Mile 15: Water / Electrolytes
- Mile 17: Water / Electrolytes / Aid Station
- Mile 19: Water / Electrolytes / GU
- Mile 21: Water / Electrolytes
- Mile 23: Water / Electrolytes/ Aid Station
- Mile 25: Water / Electrolytes
- Finish: Water / Electrolytes / Snacks / Aid Station
BIB NUMBER REQUIREMENTS
- All registered participants will receive bib numbers that must be worn on race day.
- Please fill in the necessary medical and emergency contact information on the back of the bib number with a pen or waterproof marker.
- Please do not alter the bib in any way.
- The bib must be visible and worn on the front outside of all clothing during the entire race.
- Make sure your bib number is clearly visible for the race photographers.
- Bib numbers are non-transferable and must be worn by the registrant to whom it has been assigned.
CHIP TIMING
B-Tags are attached to the participant’s bib and clearly marked with the corresponding bib number. You do not need to return your bib or b-tag chip.
Tips to have your time accurately recorded:
- Race bib is clearly visible on the front of the torso
- Race bib is unaltered and unmodified (Do not fold or wrinkle)
- Race bib is pinned in all four corners
- Race bib is not covered (jackets, runner belts, water bottles, etc.)
2023 COURSE MOTIVATION
We’ll have the energy going all morning long throughout downtown Oakland. Featured groups include:
Batalá San Francisco – Start, Mile 13.5 & Finish
Batalá San Francisco is a community band that plays samba reggae, an Afro-Brazilian genre of music developed in Bahia, Brazil. Founded in 2012, Batalá San Francisco is the Bay Area contingent of the international drumming organization Batalá Mundo, founded by Giba Concalves in 1997.
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir – Mile 1.25 & 14.5
The mission of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir is to inspire joy and unity among all people through Black gospel and spiritual music traditions.
Emeryville Taiko – Mile 3 & 16
Since founding Emeryville Taiko on January 1, 1998, Susan Horn has taught and facilitated numerous new local Taiko groups and after school programs, including teaching over 20 years at Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp.
The Crucible x DJ Odiaka – Mile 6 & 19
Our staff, students, and faculty share what makes The Crucible in West Oakland different from other art schools. With over nineteen different art departments, including welding, blacksmithing, glass flameworking, and more, this 56,000-square-foot space is waiting for you to come find your next creative adventure.
2023 VOLUNTEERS
In addition to the featured entertainment, hundreds of volunteers from the Oakland community will support and cheer you along your journey! Go ahead…give ’em a high five and share the love! Some of the groups on course include:
- Cal Hermanas Unidas
- East Bay Front Runners & Walkers
- Heart in Motion
- November Project
- Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association
- Oakland Triathlon Club
- Squash Drive
AWARDS
Awards are provided in three categories: Men, Women and Non-Binary+.
Overall Winners
Top 3 overall in each category (Men, Women and Non-Binary+) will be honored at the Ronald McDonald House Celebration Village at 11:30am.
Masters
1st place Masters (40+ years old) in each category (Men, Women and Non-Binary+) will also be honored at the Ronald McDonald House Celebration Village at 11:30am.
Age-Groups
Stay tuned for 2024 details.
The age groups are: 18 & Under, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
