Oakland Marathon

Oakland Marathon brings five distances to the streets of Oakland, California, on March 21, 2027. The marathon (26.2 miles) and half marathon (13.1 miles) both start at 7:00 a.m., with about 790 feet of climbing in the marathon and 490 feet in the half; the 10K (6.2 miles) follows at 8:30 a.m. with roughly 80 feet of gain, the 5K at 9:00 a.m., and a Kids Fun Run over 1 mile at 11:00 a.m. The urban route runs through the city's busy avenues with changing views over the San Francisco Bay area, and part of every entry goes to local nonprofits.

That elevation profile is worth reading carefully. The marathon is not flat, so build hills into your long runs and hold something back for the second half. First-time marathoners will want an 18-week block with a weekly long run reaching 20 miles; the half is the better bet if you have less runway.