Race Information
- Name: Eugene Marathon
- Date: April 26, 2026
- Distance: 13.1 miles
- Location: Eugene, OR
- Website: https://www.eugenemarathon.com/
- Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/18268340197
- Time: 1:29:57
Goals
| Goal | Description | Completed? |
|---|---|---|
| A | Sub 1:30 | Yes |
| B | No injury | Yes |
Splits
| Mile | Time |
|---|---|
| 1 | 7:02 |
| 2 | 7:00 |
| 3 | 6:55 |
| 4 | 6:54 |
| 5 | 7:03 |
| 6 | 6:37 |
| 7 | 6:46 |
| 8 | 6:46 |
| 9 | 6:58 |
| 10 | 6:42 |
| 11 | 6:56 |
| 12 | 6:36 |
| 13 | 6:33 |
| 14 | 1:10 |
Training
Previous PR was 1:39:31 about 2.5 years ago in September 2023. Since that race, I got into triathlon and doing Ironman 70.3's. I got really close to breaking that PR at 70.3 Santa Cruz last September but fell a bit short going 1:40:12. I've been doing a lot of biking, and decent amount of swimming, but my running mileage has always lacked, typically hanging around 18-24 mpw. After that Santa Cruz 70.3 I really wanted to boost my 5k time before Thanksgiving, so I started hitting 4x1k repeats for a week or two and then 5x1k. Also doing some 3x1mile workouts. Right before Thanksgiving I sent it on a test and clocked 18:26 for the 5k. I was hyped! Sometime in January I got Jack Daniels book and really wanted to increase my volume and set a goal to break 5min mile. I increased my volume and intensity and after 2 weeks, (peaking at a 37 mile week) I had a post tib flare up that made it difficult to even walk. TYPICAL! Note this is off what I now realize is quite low mileage when looking at monthly volume... July 2025 43.4 miles, August 66.3 miles, September 62.8 miles, October 68.6 miles, November 57.4 miles, December 103.5 miles, January 105 miles, February 19.8 miles, March 79.1 miles, April 61.4 miles (here we are now). So after that injury, I had to decrease my mileage drastically and reset my goals to now hopefully even being ready to go for race day in April. I've never had a post tib injury and it was seeming to linger for a long time. I kept up the hope, and thought if I could just get around 4 intensity sessions in before the race, I could still hit a solid time. During my peak month in January, I was feeling pretty good and felt I was capable of a sub 1:25, but I chose to change that goal in hopes of coming away from the race uninjured and still progressing the rest of the season. From Feb up until the race my longest outdoor run was 7.3 miles and only two other times I went for an hour on the treadmill for 7 miles. The 3 solid intensity sessions I was able to get in over the past few weeks were 1) 8x400 with 90"-2min rest. 2) 4x4min @ 6:15 pace on treadmill on 90"-2min rest. 3) ~20min tempo @ 6:35 pace on treadmill. I was definitely a bit nervous about how I'd hold up over the full 13.1 miles.
Pre-race
5am wake up 2 hrs before race start. I drank 5 raw eggs, chased with applesauce, made some coffee with cream and maple syrup (daily routine), and ate a banana. Went to the bathroom a couple times. I brought some wet wipes in a ziplock for the porta potty at the race start as I always have to go a 3rd time on race day it seems, grabbed all my gear and sent it off with my lady who was also doing this race. I had 5 homemade gels of 40g carb pure maple syrup. 1 of which I took right before the race start. This is a really big race so many people show up they assign corrals based on entry time in which to go. I had a plan to run with the 1:30 pacer group but I couldn't even get up that far before the race so I had to settle in around the 3:05 marathon pacer.
Race
This race is absolutely awesome. It starts right outside Hayward Field right on the campus streets of the University of Oregon. The entire road is closed off so it starts out as a massive pack run taking up the entirety of the road on both sides. It's so cool. As we curved around some neighborhoods on a perfect morning and pristine weather, people cheer on from the side of the streets until you get a little more out of the town to climb up a steady hill around mile 4 on the outskirts of town and then loop back around back toward the university. I started the race quite conservative as I wanted to limit my injury risk while also conserving for the end of the race. I was trying to make sure I stuck with the 3:05 marathon pacer group until around mile 7 before pushing on past them as I realized if I got stuck with them too long there's no way I'd break 1:30. It would have been nice being around the 1:30 pacer group but they started the race probably 20-30 seconds ahead of me as everyone was shuffling through the start line, and with my conservative start they were just so far ahead. After leaving that group I was feeling pretty solid and then we hit another punchy hill around mile 9 right at the high point of campus, and back down passing through the starting line going the opposite direction. I was trying to take a gel every 20 minutes or so. I took my last one right before the 1/2 and full marathon split point around mile 10.5. After the split, the half goes over a bridge across the Willamette River offer stunning views and a now I was all alone it seemed. Now on the bike path after crossing, far in the distance I could see the person holding the 1:30 pacer sign. Suddenly in my head I thought wow it's still possible that I can catch them I can still close the gap! They were so far ahead but even just a momentary glimpse in the distance gave me the hope. I thought just catch the next person up the road I can see and take it one piece at a time. Slowly caught him and pushed on toward the next. Caught him and pushed on again, we had one turn before crossing back over the bridge and at this moment someone really fast in a purple tank passed me and I thought wow I've gotta try and hang on this pace to pull me in toward the finish. I made it about 20 yards realizing his pace is so hot I'll be walking by the finish I let him go. Then about to cross the bridge this happened with one more person passing me and I tried to pick up the pace just a tad to hop on their tail and had to let him go too. We then approach the final stretch of road, you can see the other runners turing in toward the stadium to finish at Hayward. 8 years ago when I first ran this race it was at this point I had to walk. I ended up going 1:59:55 that race. Such fond memories. I knew I couldn't stop now. I just had to hang on until I hit the track and I new I'd be just pulled into the finish like a magnet. Which is just what happened. I love this part. You enter onto the track and just feel super cool. They had potted plants all down lane 1, so I was in lane 2. Coming down the home stretch just enjoying the feeling of pushing myself to the end. I cross the line, stop the garmin to see 1:29:59. Sheesh cut that one close! Chip time of 1:29:57!! Got a throw up bag from a volunteer and let a little out. Always a good sign for me that I pushed the end to my absolute limit. As I pulled the plug on the pain, I'm now filled with pride. So much fun! I didn't take on any water during this race. I usually do but for whatever reason I never went for it.
Post-race
Got my medal and finisher bag which included a sweet water bottle which smartly already had water in it which I drank super quick and needed a refill. I got my stuff from gear check and then went to spectate my partner finish. She also hit a PR of 1:53:50! Yahoo! Was cool being in the stands watching everyone finish strong! This is such a cool course and experience. If you're a fan of running, this race is one to attend. It's set up so well. So much free stuff at packet pickup, cool shirt and medal, the weather was perfect, you get a cool finish line on the track where huge races are held and so many champions have run on the same track. It's just a great race. Maybe next year I'll run the full marathon! Thanks for reading! Happy running!
Made with a new race report generator created by u/herumph.