Races Marathon · Oakland, USA
Oakland Marathon
Oakland Marathon is a hilly marathon in Oakland, USA, held each March. A single loop with an out-and-back on the Bay Bridge to Yerba Buena Island between miles 11 and 20. Race reports from 2025 and 2026 describe short, steep hills around miles 3 to 6. March mornings in Oakland are cool and often dry, with temperatures of 7 to 17°C. A course as hilly as Oakland Marathon must be trained for specifically — long-run routes should mimic its climbs and descents.
Page rebuilt 2026-11-14 · race facts not independently verified — confirm dates and entries on the official race site
When
March
next: Sunday 21 March 2027
Course
hilly
Marathon
Conditions
March mornings in Oakland are cool and often dry, with temperatures of 7 to 17°C.
Racing this course well
A single loop with an out-and-back on the Bay Bridge to Yerba Buena Island between miles 11 and 20. Race reports from 2025 and 2026 describe short, steep hills around miles 3 to 6.
A course as hilly as Oakland Marathon must be trained for specifically — long-run routes should mimic its climbs and descents.
Getting a place
- How you get in
- Open entry: first come, first served
Official Oakland Marathon site →Checked November 2026
Race day
- Next race
- Sunday 21 March 2027
- Start time
- 07:00
- Time limit
- 7 hours
- Also on the day
- half-marathon, 10k, 5k
The course in numbers
Short, steep climbs come early. The Bay Bridge out-and-back to Yerba Buena Island fills miles 11 to 20.
- Layout
- Loop
- Surface
- Paved road
- Course status
- USATF certified and World Athletics certified
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
Pick your goal for Oakland
Pace charts, weekly structure and timelines for the most common marathon goals:
The date shown is the one the organiser has announced. Change it if yours differs.
Build your training around Oakland Marathon.
RunV works backwards from race day to today. Your plan adapts when life interrupts, and you approve every change. It does not adapt to this specific course — the pacing guidance above is where the course knowledge is.
Everything above stays free and complete — this is an optional next step, not a paywall.
Asked often
- When is the Oakland Marathon?
- The next Oakland Marathon is on Sunday 21 March 2027 in Oakland, USA. It is held each March.
- Is the Oakland Marathon course flat?
- A single loop with an out-and-back on the Bay Bridge to Yerba Buena Island between miles 11 and 20. Race reports from 2025 and 2026 describe short, steep hills around miles 3 to 6.
- How do I enter the Oakland Marathon?
- Open entry: first come, first served.
- Is the Oakland Marathon a Boston qualifier?
- Yes. The Oakland Marathon is run on a certified course, so a time set here can be used to apply for the Boston Marathon.
- How should I train for the Oakland Marathon?
- Match your preparation to Oakland Marathon's profile and the March weather, then protect consistency — with RunV Premium you can adapt your plan to fit your week, so one bad week never derails the block.
Not sure what to target? Predict your marathon time from a recent race →
More marathon races
Supplements research for this distance
Build for Oakland — around your actual life
RunV engineers your block backwards from race day in March — and adapts it when training doesn't go to script. You approve every change.
