Saturday, August 12, 2017 • Oakland, CA • Course Map
Part of this city’s annual RunOak festival, The Town’s Half Marathon is the marquee running event of the weekend, and features a loop course that takes runners around the city, including stretches through Chinatown and past Jack London Square — with a slow, gentle climb until just past the halfway point and then a (mostly) downhill finish.
You’ll also run through Lakeside Park and nearly all the way around Lake Merritt before crossing the finish line and enjoying the post-race festival that’s open to the public.
The course begins on Clay Street and runners will head south through Old Oakland and towards the harbor. A loop on 4th and 2nd Streets will complete the first 2 miles of the race. Runners will then head north back through Old Oakland and along Broadway. The course continues through Temescal and tops out at elevation on Pleasant Valley Avenue.
As runners begin their descent and the second half of the race, the course heads south down Grand Avenue and through the neighborhood of Grand Lake.
At mile marker 9, runners will pass through Adams Point and run the top perimeter of Lakeside Park. This section of the course takes runners through Lakeside Park and offers plenty of scenic views of Lake Merritt.
Just past mile marker 11, runners will continue along the course out of the park, but staying along the perimeter of Lake Merritt until just beyond mile marker 12. Once racers get to 14th Street, it is time for the final kick as the course heads to the finish line on Clay Street.
There is a 3-hour course limit for the half marathon, which means you’ll need to keep a pace of 14 minutes per mile or faster. Runners who complete the race will a finisher’s medal, tech T-shirt, a commemorative mason tasting jar, and almond butter sandwiches and berries from Whole Foods Market.
There’ll be live music plus food, beer and wine waiting for you at the post-race festival, which starts at 8:00 AM and features a concert on the steps of Oakland City Hall.
Race Weather & Climate
Like much of the Bay Area, Oakland is known for its temperate, seasonal Mediterranean climate, with dry, warm summers that are usually a little warmer than in nearby San Francisco. In August, highs average in the lows 70s while average lows are in the 50s, and rainfall is rare here this time of year.
On race day (Aug. 12), the average low is 58ºF and the average high is 73ºF.
Past Results
- 2016 The Town’s Half Marathon Results
- 2015 The Town’s Half Marathon Results
- 2014 The Town’s Half Marathon Results
Course Map
See the race route map for the The Town’s Half Marathon here.
Starting Time
- 7:00 AM – half marathon
- 7:15 AM – 5K
Fees
- $70 for the half marathon
- $35 for the 5K
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2017 running of Oakland’s The Town’s Half Marathon or 5K race, register online at imATHLETE.com here.
Official Race Website
Facebook Conversations
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