Most people have no idea how much fun a marathon can be. “Dumb runners,” they say. But if they ran the Eugene Marathon, they might understand why we do these races (even if we are slow AF). Or maybe not. Either way, I can’t picture life without running at this point, and that’s one reason why we came back for round 3 of the Eugene Marathon in 2025.

The 2025 Eugene Marathon: Race #12 is in the Books

I used to think running was pointless torture. Then I hit 40. And everything else hit me too, health-wise. So in 2018 I bucked up and sucked it up, laced up some running shoes, and got my ass moving. Twenty lost pounds later, we just wrapped up our twelfth distance race at Track Town USA.

This event was a record for us. We just finished three long-distance races in five months. We’ve never put so many miles on in such a short amount of time. Maybe it’s the chaotic state of the world right now, and even though it was just six weeks after our 50k race, something in me felt like we had to do this one. Thankfully, Jim went along with my crazy scheme to drive 1,000-miles out of our way for more fun on the streets of our favorite West Coast hippie town.

This time we ran for a cause, Community Supported Shelters

This year was even better, because we signed up to run on behalf of a Eugene charity, Community Supported Shelters. They build these cool “Conestoga Huts”, then set them up in small communities around Lane County. Our race entry fee and additional donations went to this worthy non-profit.

The micro-housing communities give unhoused Eugene people a safe place to live while they connect with social services to get back on their feet and find permanent housing. The idea is one of the most innovative solutions to help the unhoused! Why aren’t more cities doing this?

The Eugene Marathon is my favorite race. Here’s why.

Eugene is far different than others we’ve done, like the Colorado Marathon and the Bizz Johnson. Those are all about the cerebral experience of soaking in the gorgeous scenery. Then there’s the Las Vegas Marathon, which is all about enjoying the moving party on foot.

And even our previous 2025 race, the Old West Ultra can’t compete, because that trail race is far more brutal and mental than any we’ve done. OK, maybe with the exception of the Sven Erikson in Alaska. Of course, nothing can compete with the great white north.

But either way, I feel like no other race fills my heart with immense feeling of pride and confidence that comes from running in the footsteps of track and field legends like Steve Prefontaine, hometown hero and immortal god of the sport. We visited his memorial marker and crazy runners leave so many things there, even their hard-earned race medals! That’s how important he was and is to track and field.

Even if you’re a slow AF 55-year old runner like me, running a marathon in Eugene always makes you feel like a champion. In fact, most marathoners are in the 4 to 5 hour finishing time range, so you never really feel like a lonely turtle out there.

I also love this race because the spirit of running is embraced by what feels like everyone in the entire city. People come out all day long to cheer on runners, even the five hour finishers like us! The back of the pack is who needs it the most, and Eugene comes through every time.

When you’re exhausted and ready to bonk, there’s nothing like random strangers cheering you on to keep your spirits high and your feet moving in the right direction.

And when you set foot on historic Hayward Field, where Olympians are born and celebrated again and again, there is an incredible mental reward of joy and accomplishment like no other race can give back. All the time spent training is worth it when you run on that magical track to cross the finish line.

I love this race, and as painfully slow as I was, I’m just grateful that I didn’t die crossing the finish line. Sadly, there was one young runner who really did die while crossing during this year’s half-marathon. Runner deaths sometimes happen during an event, which is why you sign a massively long waiver when you commit to a race. All you can do is your best to avoid a sad ending and hope for the best. I’m grateful that’s what we got once again.

Running is torture sometimes. But the rewards are anything but.

Yeah, I’m a Dumb Runner. And happy to be part of the club.