The Oakland Marathon offers runners a certified, world-class race with a uniquely local character. Starting and finishing at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, the course takes participants on a one-loop journey through the heart of Oakland. Runners pass Lake Merritt, the Grand Lake Theater, and the Fox Theater before heading onto the Bay Bridge for an out-and-back section with sweeping views of the San Francisco skyline and Yerba Buena Island. The final miles return through Jack London Square before a celebratory finish back at the Kaiser Center and the lively PLEZi Post Race Festival. The event is a qualifier for both the Boston and New York City Marathons, part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group Rankings, and is USATF and World Athletics certified. Known for its diversity and community energy, the Oakland Marathon blends fast racing conditions with a deep connection to the city’s culture and history.