Pacific Northwest Marathon Half Marathon & 5K

For those running the half marathon, the course is equally as beautiful, scenic and fast as the 26.2-miler — you’ll begin the race just north of Eugene and the small town of Coburg, along North Coburg Road, and it’s a USATF (USA Track & Field) certified course. Portland Marathon Featured Half Marathon Once you leave the starting line, you’ll start heading north and follow the Williamette River as it flows downriver in the direction of Harrisburg, the small town where you’ll cross the finish line. In between the start and the finish, people living in the communities along the race course will be out to cheer you on, organizers note. This time of year also offers the perfect climate for running, they add: “It’s cool in the morning, [with a] slim chance of rain, and lower pollen count than in the spring… Of course, being at only 400 feet above sea level helps, too.” The half marathon starts at an elevation of about 380 feet above sea level and gradually descends throughout your 13.1 miles, dropping only to about 315 feet by the time you cross the finish line in Harrisburg, on 9th Street next to Harrisburg High School.