Course Map
About this Race
The Oakland Running Festival Marathon is a spirited, mostly flat course circling Lake Merritt and threading the diverse neighborhoods of the East Bay city. The terrain has a few honest rises but stays largely runnable, with the course's community energy as much a draw as the racing itself. Held in March, it typically offers mild spring conditions. The lakeside and city sections showcase Oakland's varied character. It suits runners who want an authentic, community-driven urban race with genuine local pride over big-event scale.
Course Insight
Oakland is an urban March marathon around Lake Merritt and the city's diverse neighbourhoods, mostly flat with a few honest rises. Pace the rollers by effort and let the energy of the route carry you without pulling you out too fast. Spring conditions are generally mild. The lakeside and city sections are scenic and varied. Run it with restraint and the course stays manageable to the finish.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to tough late hills.
Course Details
- Course type
- Loop
- Elevation gain
- 240m
- Elevation loss
- 242m
- Highest point
- 56m
- Net elevation
- -2m
- Start
- Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts
- Cutoff time
- 6h 0m
Race History
The Oakland Running Festival Marathon was first held in 2010 as a spirited course through the diverse neighborhoods of the East Bay city, circling Lake Merritt. Its rolling terrain and strong local pride gave it an authentic, community-driven character. From its founding it became the area's signature marathon. Held each spring, it draws a field celebrating Oakland's vibrant identity.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Oakland (OAK), San Francisco (SFO) & San Jose (SJC)
- Best area to stay
- The Lake Merritt area for proximity to the route, Jack London Square for waterfront stays, and Uptown for trendy, value options.
- Getting to the start
- The start is downtown near Lake Merritt; take BART to 12th Street/Oakland City Center and walk to the start.