WCH OREGON22 Road Events Information

 

For Eugene and Springfield residents, businesses, and commuters: 

Click here for specific information about how the marathon events may impact you, including road closures, traffic delays, alternate routes and more.

 

Marathon

 

Below is the marathon course for the World Athletics Championships Oregon22. Spectators will be able to line the course and experience the world-class competition for free.

 

 

The men’s and women’s marathons, taking place at 6:15 a.m. PDT on July 17 and July 18, 2022, respectively will be contested on a mostly flat 14-kilometer looped course that will run through Eugene and Springfield. They will start and finish in front of the University of Oregon’s Autzen Stadium.

 

“The opportunity to run a marathon at a World Athletics Championships right here on U.S. soil would be an experience of a lifetime,” said Emma Bates, 2nd-place finisher and top American woman at the 2021 Chicago Marathon. “The looped course gives runners the ability to learn and adapt as the race develops, and I think that will result in some fantastic, strategic competition.”

 

The course follows long sections of the iconic marathon course used for the 1972 and 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials, while also being routed to showcase the beauty and history of Oregon through the landmarks and landscapes of Eugene and Springfield.

 

“Our objective was to design a course that prioritizes the athlete experience while honoring Oregon’s natural landscape, indigenous people, and long-held passion for running,” said WCH Oregon22 Road Events Course Manager Ian Dobson. “As members of this community, we're proud to give the world’s best runners the opportunity to compete on a course that holds so much history and potential. These marathons will write a new chapter in Oregon’s running story, creating new legends in the footsteps of Frank Shorter, Jacqueline Hansen, Kenny Moore, Joan Benoit, and countless others who raced these roads as they helped inspire and redefine what road racing could be – not only in the U.S., but globally.”

 

The loop begins on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, named after the American Civil Rights leader. From there, it moves into Alton Baker Park, a 413-acre natural area in Eugene.

 

While on Day Island Road within Alton Baker Park, the route will follow alongside Pre’s Trail. Designated as a City of Eugene historic landmark in 2019, Pre’s Trail is a bark running trail that celebrates University of Oregon track and field legend Steve Prefontaine.

 

Another feature of this part of the course are the Kalapuya Talking Stones. Showcased in the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park, these 15 basalt stones are carved with Kalapuya words and their English translations. More information on the Kalapuya Talking Stones, the Kalapuya people, and the history and impact of indigenous peoples in this area can be found here.

 

The course will cross over the stunning Willamette River, considered the lifeblood of the Willamette Valley, and then move into the City of Springfield. Competitors will traverse Main Street before running along W D St. and Rainbow Dr. on their way back to the finish.

 

“Springfield, Oregon couldn't be more proud to host the best runners in the world,” said Sean VanGordon, Mayor of the City of Springfield. “It will be so exciting to see a world championship event with the backdrop of Springfield, Oregon’s historic downtown and our iconic river views in Glenwood. TrackTown USA has long been woven through the story of Springfield, and I am glad we continue to contribute to the legacy of the World Athletics Championships.”

 

WCH Oregon22 will be taking place July 15–24, 2022. The entire competition schedule can be viewed here. Tickets are currently on sale here for those sessions taking place at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

 

*Note as of April 29, 2022: An earlier iteration of the marathon course was shared in October. This page has the most up-to-date version of the course. The updates represent adjustments made to better serve athletes, fans, and our communities, and to maximize efficiencies in course operations and logistics. There are now parts of the 3-loop course where fans will be able to experience the world’s best marathoners pass by them six times during each race.

 

Race Walk

The Women's and Men's 20km and 35km Race Walks will take place on a 1km looped course starting and finishing on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in front of Autzen Stadium. Food and beverages will be available for purchase in the Fan Zone on the north side of the course. The Fan Zone will operate during all three Race Walk days.

 

Women’s 20 Kilometers Race Walk – 1:10 p.m. PDT, 15 July

Men’s 20 Kilometers Race Walk – 3:10 p.m. PDT, 15 July

Women’s 35 Kilometers Race Walk – 6:15 a.m. PDT, 22 July

Men’s 35 Kilometers Race Walk – 6:15 a.m. PDT, 24 July

 

The entire competition schedule can be viewed here.

 

ASICS Uplift Oregon 5K

 

In partnership with ASICS, WCH Oregon22 announced the ASICS Uplift Oregon 5K, a mass participation race set to take place during the World Athletics Championships.

 

The ASICS Uplift Oregon 5K will take place on Sunday, July 17 during the men’s marathon competition. An anticipated 2,000 runners will have the chance to race in the footsteps of the WCH Oregon22 competitors, running a 5K section of the same course on the same morning as the world's finest marathoners. ASICS will also play host to a two-day fan festival just steps from the finish featuring prime viewing, food vendors, athlete appearances and more. The men’s and women’s marathons will start and finish outside of Autzen Stadium on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

 

Registration is now live and interested runners can register for the ASICS Uplift Oregon 5K here. The entry fee for the race will be $50 and each runner will receive an ASICS Uplift Oregon 5K race T-shirt and bib. Participating runners are encouraged to use ASICS curated 5K training plans and guided workouts led by ASICS elite athletes. Training plans and guided workouts can be found here.

 

Once runners complete the race, they will be ushered into the ASICS Uplift Oregon 5K Fan Festival, which will be located adjacent to the finish line. The fan festival is set to feature a big screen viewing experience, interactive recovery stations, post-race food and beverage options, social and shareable moments and much more. The fan festival will be open to the public during both the men’s and women’s marathons and fans are encouraged to take advantage of this one-of-a-kind experience for witnessing those Championships races.