2026 Eugene Marathon celebrates Global Reach, $16.2M in Economic Impact and $627K Raised by Charities
EUGENE, Ore. — On the final weekend in April, the 2026 Eugene Marathon welcomed over 15,000 registered participants from across the globe to experience the community of Track Town, USA and the magic of Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
More marathoners than ever before crossed the iconic finish line on Sunday, April 26, 2026 for the 19th edition of the Eugene Marathon. And the sold-out weekend of races welcomed participants from all 50 US states plus Washington, D.C. and two US territories, along with 29 countries from Canada and Mexico to as far away as the tiny island of Mauritius.
In the marathon race, Jax Siddall of Monument, Colo. claimed first place in a course-record time of 2:15:02 (in his debut marathon), while Amanda Martin of Salt Lake City secured victory in the women’s division with a time of 2:34.20. Both were running Eugene for the very first time and both led fields that were faster than ever, with 802 runners getting their BQs on April 26.
But the success of the 2026 event was not just in performance or in participation numbers, it was also in overall community impact. The Run for a Reason program presented by Ronald McDonald House tripled its charity fundraising dollars over 2025. Bolstered by an earlier-than-ever sell out this January, the event’s 2026 charity teams tripled in size with nearly 1400 participants who fundraised over $627,000 for 20 local and national charities.
In all, the 2026 Eugene Marathon generated an estimated economic impact of $16.2 million, as reported by Travel Lane County. With 40% of 2026 participants residing outside of Oregon, the weekend saw a huge influx in overnight visitors — including both runners and their support teams.
The race also encouraged first-time Eugene visitors and residents alike to patronize local businesses during race weekend through its Show Your Bib program. 35 local businesses — from restaurants to wineries to wellness shops — took part in the program by offering runners and volunteers the opportunity to receive discounts.
“It’s inspiring to see so many runners from across the globe not only choosing Eugene as their spring marathon, but choosing to come here with their family and friends to get the full Track Town, USA experience," said Ian Dobson, Eugene Marathon Race Director. “We know we have something special here and we are excited and honored to be able to share it with so many people from the global running community.”
“We are also extremely proud of the impact that this event has on our local community, local businesses, and non-profit organizations through our Run for a Reason program,” Dobson added. “To see the Run for a Reason program grow over the past four years — from raising $75,000 in 2022 to over $600,000 this year — is amazing.”
The 2027 Eugene Marathon will be the 20th running of the event, taking place on the final weekend in April next year — April 23-25, 2027. Registration for 2027 will open late this summer.