Eugene Marathon Returns to Hayward Field in 2021
Eugene, OR—In April of 2021, the Eugene Marathon will return to Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
The event will take place April 24-25, 2021 and consists of the Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K and Kid’s Duck Dash; all races will finish on the track at the newly renovated and always iconic Hayward Field.
“Our event is all about celebrating the legacy of track & field and running in our community and there is nowhere better to do that than at Hayward Field,” Race Director Ian Dobson said. “In 2021 – if all goes as planned – our participants will get the opportunity to cross the finish line at Hayward Field and we all know there is nothing quite like that.”
With Hayward Field under construction in the spring of 2019, the Eugene Marathon reconfigured its course and moved the finish line to Autzen Stadium, which gave participants the opportunity to finish on the 50-yard line. In 2020, Autzen was once again the finish venue, but like many other mass gatherings, the event was forced to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic just 38 days before the race.
“Since the moment we canceled the 2020 race back in March, we have dedicated our time and effort to looking forward to 2021 and doing all that we can to make it the finest and safest Eugene Marathon yet,” Dobson said. “Our team is working with our partners – including Lane County Public Health, the City of Eugene, the University of Oregon and PeaceHealth – to develop plans for a safe, accessible and exciting event.”
The final race courses for 2021 are still in the development process. Additionally, taking into consideration the context of COVID-19, the race is also offering the option to sign up for a virtual experience. It will include top-notch virtual race technology, a live-streaming virtual expo, sponsor benefits, and all the swag of a traditional Eugene Marathon. In the event that an in-person event cannot take place, all 2021 registrants will be transferred to the 2021 virtual event.
“We know there is a possibility that an in-person event may not be accessible for everyone, so alongside our planning for the traditional race, we are developing an innovative virtual racing experience,” Dobson said. “And if the pandemic continues to affect our ability to host a safe, in-person event in 2021, we will have a great virtual event to offer our participants.”
ABOUT EUGENE MARATHON
Established in 2007, the Eugene Marathon features a marathon, half-marathon, 5-kilometer race and 1-kilometer kids run. Runner’s World magazine named it a “Best of the Best” race four times and also recognized it as one of the 10 Greenest Races in North America. The event is committed to sustainability and has been twice awarded Gold Level Certification by the Council for Responsible Sport. The Eugene Marathon is an LLC that not only brings an annual estimated economic impact of over $1.5 million to the local region but also works as a vehicle for philanthropic giving and fundraising for charities and youth groups – raising over $40,000 in 2019.
