Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
Ample water/electrolyte stations, with more than generous drinks and snacks from different sponsors at the finish line. The support from Oaklanders was high energy! Route included historic, downtown, residential and scenic routes and views that made the race memorable and exciting. The finish area celebrated the rich Oakland community with DJ and live band, along with more sponsor giveaways. Best marathon support and experience!
Take advantage of every water and electrolyte station for an enjoyable race.
Use nearby parking lots for event parking.
Having participated in the Oakland Marathon since 2018, I’ve witnessed firsthand how much the event has declined since transitioning away from Corrigan Sports Enterprises (CSE) management. To their credit, the bib pickup process was straightforward and easy to navigate. However, Run Local has cut corners significantly in almost every other area — there are few quality vendors or sponsors, and the race-day refreshments are deeply disappointing. This year, there was no fruit whatsoever at the finish line — not even bananas, which are a basic staple at any road race. Instead, runners were handed bags of Lay’s, Ruffles, and chocolate filled brioche rolls — not exactly what anyone wants after miles on the road. A better approach would be offering bananas alongside creative, healthy options like coconut water pouches, energy date balls, açaí packs, or savory roasted chickpeas — snacks that actually support recovery. To put it in perspective, last year they were cutting bananas in half, and this year they eliminated them altogether. The race-day shirts have also noticeably decreased in quality since Run Local took over. Compared to the shirts received under Corrigan Sports Enterprises, the current shirts are significantly sheerer, suggesting a lower thread count, looser weave, or reduced material — all hallmarks of cost-cutting measures that result in a lighter, cheaper garment. What’s more, every participant — whether they ran a 5K, 10K, half, or full marathon — received the same medal with the same ribbon. Under Corrigan Sports Enterprises, each race distance had its own unique medal and ribbon, which made the achievement feel special and distinct.
This course is hilly, and if your training has been mostly flat, you'll feel it. Incorporate plenty of elevation work into your prep well in advance of race day. It's also worth setting realistic expectations about the course itself. This isn't a particularly scenic route, so don't count on picturesque views to carry you through the tough miles. Similarly, spectator support along the course is quite thin, so you'll need to rely on your own mental strength and the energy of fellow runners to stay motivated.
When it comes to accommodation, you really can't go wrong with either the Oakland Marriott City Center or the Courtyard by Marriott Oakland Downtown. Both hotels are walkable to the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, making race morning stress-free — no scrambling for parking or dealing with rideshares. The central location also puts you within easy reach of a great selection of restaurants, which is a huge bonus when you're thinking about both pre-race fueling and post-race recovery meals. Speaking of which, one of the best post-race traditions you can adopt is walking over to Chinatown for dim sum — it's only about a 5 to 10 minute walk and the perfect way to celebrate and refuel after miles on the road. On the parking front, staying at one of these hotels eliminates the headache entirely — but if you're commuting in on race day, plan ahead as street parking near the start will fill up fast.
I live in Oakland, and I'm glad I ran it. I don't think I'll run the full again, and I can't recommend traveling for it. There's one hill between miles 2 and 7 that the course takes you over twice. Living here, I could train for it, and it wasn't that bad. I also like gentle ascents/descents, and that'S what the Bay Bridge segment is (miles 15-21).
The 3 miles before and after the bridge are exposed, running through industrial, shipping container yards. There's also no way the race is 26.2. Based on my watch time, talking to others, and just my sense, it's about 0.4 mi long. There was also a spot within a mile of the finish where police had runners stopped to let cars get onto the interstate; I ignored them and froggered my way between traffic.
Do some hill training, and I wouldn't plan on using it for a BQ.
Start/finish is pretty easy to get to. Plenty of parking in Oakland.
The bridge portion was brutal and I would have paced myself for it if it were indicated on the elevation chart. Unlike the vast majority of races that have accurate elevation charts, Oakland used map my run, and maybe it went by car travel and not the pedestrian portion.
There were not enough portapotties at the start.
Start was delayed by about 26min. All the elevation gain is concentrated into the mile 3-5 and 16-18.. both at brutal segments making it a tough course. Ideally, the gains are weaved in as rolling hills.. Oakland is anything but rolling. Some sections of the course are boring industrial and rundown..
Weather was awesome.. Scenery of bay bridge is stunning...
Train for hills.. they will get you... 200ft gain per mile early on and ~100mile/day again at mile16 js not a joke. Prepare for it.
The course was changed in 2018 to be a very flat course around the more industrial and commercial areas of Oakland. Not as scenic as when it went up into the Oakland Hills but definitely made it a much faster course.
Big problem in 2018 was that they mismeasured the course by .5 miles making the total 26.7. I and many others knew right at the end there was an issue and told them about it and they offered no apology or guarantee to make sure it didn't happen in the future even though I assume they will be sure it's correct. Luckily I wasn't going for a BQ at the time but if I had and had lost out because of that I would have been plenty pissed.
Pacing strategy is the same as always. Start with a slower pace group than you think you should them move up after about 10 miles.
One very weird thing that this race does is start the half marathon TWO HOURS after the marathon. A friend of mine was doing the half and had no idea so he started with the marathoners and ended up completely messed up on the course, coming back to the finish line after about 15 miles. He was disqualified.
As usual, get there in plenty of time. It will be dark and the staging area is all grass. it was very muddy and hard to see in 2018. Hopefully they will have more lights in the future.
Great support at the end but lifeless in the first few miles. Killer hill but is mostly flat.
Hill train.
The climb the first 10.5 miles was not as bad as it looks on the elevation chart. Running up the Oakland hills was nice and it had a great view at the top. The start of the downhill was a little steep. The locals seemed to set-up their own water stations giving out bottles of water. Churches and restaurants also set-up their own aid stations. Friendly and encouraging, felt like a small-town marathon. I will do it again next year. Well organized at the start line and well-attended finish area. It begins and ends at a park next to Lake Merritt.
There was plenty of street parking near the staging area. Just be aware of road closures.
Did not like the course. A very steep downhill. Runs through unattractive areas. Pot holes. Locals not friendly.
Run San Francisco and not Oakland. Safer, cleaner and much prettier