Get Ready to 'Run TrackTown'

Published by TrackTownUSA on January 30, 2014

The Eugene Marathon is undergoing a makeover this year.

The date was changed from spring to summer to anchor a week-long celebration of running in TrackTown USA.

Prize money was boosted to attract and support more elite U.S. athletes targeting 2016 Olympic Trials Marathon qualifying standards.

And finally, the July 27 race was paired with the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships, starting just hours before the final day of competition of that prestigious meet in an ongoing effort to bridge the gap between runners and track and field fans.

What hasn’t changed is the flat, fast and scenic 26.2-mile course which travels through 12 parks, parallels the Willamette River for nine miles, and ends with an inspirational 200-meter stretch on the track in front of family and friends at historic Hayward Field.

It’s all part of the festival known as Run TrackTown.

“One of our fundamental goals is to bridge the gap between people who run and people who are track and field fans,” said Eugene Marathon race director Richard Maher.

“There are more people who participate in running in this country than any other sport, yet track and field is still somewhat of a niche sport. That’s the challenge we’ve been facing for a long time.”

In an effort to chip away at that disconnect, the Run TrackTown concept was developed to bring those two groups together with the hope that the thousands of runners participating in the Eugene Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K will become track fans once they’re able to witness the passion and excitement of a meet at Hayward Field.

“We’re trying to be innovative by tying an emerging major marathon into elite track and field competition,” Maher said. “That’s the model we’re going to carry forward.”

CHASING OLYMPIC QUALIFYING STANDARDS

One of the common threads among successful marathons around the world is a strong field of elite runners.

With that in mind, this year’s Eugene Marathon sweetened the pot for the top three finishers in the men’s and women’s races. Cash bonuses will also be earned by American runners that hit the “A” or “B” qualifying standards for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon.

“The goal is to qualify as many athletes for the Olympic Trials marathon as possible,” said Ian Dobson, elite athlete coordinator for the Eugene Marathon. “We want to provide a platform for raising the bar on American marathoning by providing support for a level of athlete that is often neglected.”

Here’s the prize money structure for the 2014 Eugene Marathon:

For both men and women, first place is worth $3,000, second place $2,000 and third place $1,000. In addition, $3,000 will be given to Olympic Trials Marathon “A” qualifiers, and $1,500 for “B” qualifiers.