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Marathon Details - Humboldt Bay Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > CA > Eureka > Humboldt Bay Marathon

Humboldt Bay Marathon

Humboldt Bay Marathon & Half Marathon

Eureka, CA USA

August 11, 2024

http://www.humboldtbaymarathon.com

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Race Details

A mostly flat and very scenic loop encircling Humboldt Bay finishing on the Eureka waterfront

Contact Information

Name:	Rich Baker
Address:	PO Box 450 Eureka CA 95502
Phone Number:	707-502-7518
Email:	Email the organizers

Race Organizer

An Amazing Place to Run! (10/1/15)

Rich Baker

The Humboldt Bay Area combines spectacular scenery with the perfect climate for year-round running. 2016 will be our 2nd race, and we are eager to build on our successes from 2015! New for 2016 will be a marathon team relay event.

August is a dry month with an average high temperature of only 62.6 degrees (17 Celsius), so ideal conditions for this race are almost guaranteed.

Whether you are trying for a Boston qualifying time (USATF Certification number CA-15003-KY), striving for another personal record, or just looking for a uniquely beautiful place to run, the Humboldt Bay Marathon, Half Marathon and Marina Mile races are exactly what you're looking for!

Runner Reviews (18)

Course 4.7

Organization 4.7

Spectators 4.2

Write a review

Number of comments: 18 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

B. M. from San Francisco Bay Area (10/12/2019) "Great Small Town Race Beautiful Northrn California" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have run the Half three different years and will do it again next year. The race organizers are amazing and the community really does a great job welcoming runners. The marathon is even a BQ! If you love small town races organized like a big race, this is the one to do! I absolutely enjoyed the scenery and running the bridges in the half! There are only a few races that I have repeated more than once and this is one of them. I have run 40+ marathons and countless half marathons and next year I will run the full course. I have run Avenue of the Giants but this is my favorite run. The last two years I have spent extra time on the Northern Coast which made for a great vacation. The swag, unique medal, scenery, organization and community support make this a great destination race!
C. A. from Visalia (8/25/2019) "Perfect summer marathon" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Humboldt Bay Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The Humboldt Bay Marathon and Half may not be as reputable or picturesque as The Avenue of the Giants or Big Sur marathons, but the cool summer weather, fresh unpolluted air, easy access, small field, and the BQ-friendly course makes this event a must-do on California's northwest coast. The marathon has been around for only five years and for anyone looking for a summertime marathon or half, this is it. I recommend this event to any runner wishing to visit a different part of California. I've run this race four of its five years of existence. Unfortunately, the course route changed since its inaugural year, which tends to be somewhat less scenic in my estimation. Far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities of central and southern California, the state's north coast offers a diverse assortment of birds, wildlife, hiking, fishing, Victorian architecture and many other outdoor activities in the coastal redwoods - and don't forget the famous Samoa Cookhouse for hearty meals of comfort food after your run. The USATF sanctioned marathon begins in the city of Eureka and completes a counter-clockwise loop around Humboldt Bay through the agricultural lands of Arcata Bottoms and across the signature part of the course, the Samoa Bridge, returning to Eureka's maritime-themed boardwalk for a memorable finish. The bridge segments can be tough, but with proper pace management, the crossing can become less torturous. The half marathon portion of the course begins at Klopp Lake at the city of Arcata's marsh and wildlife refuge two hours after the marathon start and completes a half loop of the bay, across the bridge and to the finish on the boardwalk. Runners are shuttled from the marathon start area in Eureka to the wildlife refuge located on the north side of Humboldt Bay. Finisher's medals are adorned with a unique design. Participant swag bags include a tech shirt with unique designs by a local artisan, only found in Humboldt County, hemp seed protein bars and a packet of hemp seeds to drizzle on food. Hey, it's Humboldt County.
S. A. from California (8/23/2019) "Nice summer marathon with the summer heat" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Humboldt Bay Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Humboldt Bay Marathon gets better every year & nice summer marathon without the summer heat. A small quaint race with a big majestic course that gives runners a peaceful run along the bay for much of the race. The course takes runners on a tour of the area beginning and ending at the waterfront. The middle portion gives a taste of country life & a billy goat jumped through a fence and was my running entertainment for a moment. The running trail leads runners through a wildlife marsh and along eucalyptus lined 101 before heading into farm life for a while & old fashioned sprinklers spraying the fields, piglets squealing in the barns and wildflowers in the fields. What better way to experience the nooks and crannies of a small Northern California community is there than to run through it on foot. The race gets better every year, the race directors truly care about this event. It is Boston certified each year and the race medals are hand painted creations done by a local artist depicting a different wildlife scene each year along with the shirt. The last miles run over a series of bridges before returning into downtown Eureka's waterfront. The volunteers at the aid stations are welcoming and enthusiastic. I look forward to my peaceful self-reflective run at this race each year.
K. K. from Bay Area, CA (8/17/2018) "Beautiful and well-run small race" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The 2018 race was just great! The organizers and volunteers did an excellent job with course marking and support for this small (~80 runners) marathon. Not many spectators, but those we saw cheered loudly. The course is rural and lovely -- bay and farm views. More cows than runners, for sure! Perfect weather for running, and a unique medal design. Highly recommend this race for a great small marathon experience.
A. F. from kentucky (8/20/2017) "disappointed" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 This is a fairly fast, mostly flat course that allows for a runner to make the most of their day. I was running at a PR speed hitting the 13 mile marker 12 minutes quicker than any previous event and well on my way to Boston. As I passed this distance, I could not see a runner in front or behind me. The cones had thinned considerably from the first part of the course. I asked a volunteer who was standing in the middle of the road which way to go, he pointed me down a side street. As I got to the bottom on a very busy 4 lane street I realized no one else was around. I panicked and then turned back the way I had come. I asked why he sent me that way, he shrugged, smirked and said 'I thought you were leaving the race.' At that point I was a mile off course and the wind was out of my sails. I felt that this was a deliberate misguidance as I dropped several positions from the 3rd place I had been in. Very disappointed by the volunteer, this took a potentially great day to a poor experience.
T. M. from FL (8/18/2017) "The absolute best race for a late BQ" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you are considering a marathon for a late BQ, this is a perfect race to achieve it. There is a near 100% chance of perfect marathon weather as the temperature ranges from low 50's to mid 60's in August. I really liked the 7:00am start, giving an extra hour of sleep and time to digest breakfast. The course itself is not perfectly flat, but there are not many hills and they are very gradual. My range of my splits was only 30 seconds per mile fastest to slowest. I was able to run sub 2:50 and did not feel that hills or wind slowed me down much and the 50 degree temperature in August provided an opportunity to go relatively fast. Even though it is a small race, with just over 100 racers in the full marathon, there are plenty of volunteers. I ran the last 15 miles completely solo and never had to worry about being off course as it is well marked and there is someone posted at every turn. There were plenty of aid stations along the course, probably every two miles. The course is scenic enough to keep yourself entertained, even if you end up running much of it solo. As you finish the race, they do a very nice job of announcing every finisher and where they are from. The award ceremony was small, but the award itself is a keeper (hand made). There are plenty of small hotels near the finish line, which made the logistics pretty easy. The race director is a very nice and approachable guy and I hope to see this race grow in size in the coming years.
T. P. from Maple Grove MN (9/19/2015) "Great First Time Marathon" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Great first time marathon. It was fun pacing the 3:55 group and meeting nearly 1/3rd of the runners along the course due to the small size of the marathon. It was great to see some first time marathoners on the course. The course is definitely not flat and fast and the one out and back section in the fields should be eliminated. Make sure you have some leg strength left for the last 5K as you need to go across a few bridges. The volunteers were great and the spectators that were out there were helpful. The watermelon on the course was fantastic. They do need to add bathrooms at least at every other aid station. Some of the marathoners that were starting to struggle early in the race were having a tough time with the half-marathoners flying by them and then passing them closer to the finish as well. Great medal, shirt, and age group awards. Definitely do a visit to the Lost Coast Brewery if you like microbreweries. Disappointing though that they had problems with the beer at the finish, but when I went to the microbrew they took our beer tickets. Nice move on their part.
V. L. from California (9/3/2015) "Great race" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I did the half and everyone was great. I was on the slow side and wherever there was a water stop the people were still there and cheering me on. Lots of water and snacks were available also. I think my only complaint would be that there were no 'porta'potties' at the beginning of the marathon. I went to see a friend off and there was nothing available and people were peeing behind bushes.
K. H. from California (8/30/2015) "5/5 would run again" (about: 2015) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 My first marathon, was great. A few minor organizational hiccups but overall very smooth and well-run.
S. K. from california (8/28/2015) "really great race" (about: 2015) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great course, nice people, and easy logistics ie. parking, start line, finish...only suggestion would be to have bathrooms along the marathon course. Was told only bathroom stop was at mile 13 at a grocery store.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]



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B. M. from San Francisco Bay Area (10/12/2019) "Great Small Town Race Beautiful Northrn California" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have run the Half three different years and will do it again next year. The race organizers are amazing and the community really does a great job welcoming runners. The marathon is even a BQ! If you love small town races organized like a big race, this is the one to do! I absolutely enjoyed the scenery and running the bridges in the half! There are only a few races that I have repeated more than once and this is one of them. I have run 40+ marathons and countless half marathons and next year I will run the full course. I have run Avenue of the Giants but this is my favorite run. The last two years I have spent extra time on the Northern Coast which made for a great vacation. The swag, unique medal, scenery, organization and community support make this a great destination race!
C. A. from Visalia (8/25/2019) "Perfect summer marathon" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Humboldt Bay Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The Humboldt Bay Marathon and Half may not be as reputable or picturesque as The Avenue of the Giants or Big Sur marathons, but the cool summer weather, fresh unpolluted air, easy access, small field, and the BQ-friendly course makes this event a must-do on California's northwest coast. The marathon has been around for only five years and for anyone looking for a summertime marathon or half, this is it. I recommend this event to any runner wishing to visit a different part of California. I've run this race four of its five years of existence. Unfortunately, the course route changed since its inaugural year, which tends to be somewhat less scenic in my estimation. Far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities of central and southern California, the state's north coast offers a diverse assortment of birds, wildlife, hiking, fishing, Victorian architecture and many other outdoor activities in the coastal redwoods - and don't forget the famous Samoa Cookhouse for hearty meals of comfort food after your run. The USATF sanctioned marathon begins in the city of Eureka and completes a counter-clockwise loop around Humboldt Bay through the agricultural lands of Arcata Bottoms and across the signature part of the course, the Samoa Bridge, returning to Eureka's maritime-themed boardwalk for a memorable finish. The bridge segments can be tough, but with proper pace management, the crossing can become less torturous. The half marathon portion of the course begins at Klopp Lake at the city of Arcata's marsh and wildlife refuge two hours after the marathon start and completes a half loop of the bay, across the bridge and to the finish on the boardwalk. Runners are shuttled from the marathon start area in Eureka to the wildlife refuge located on the north side of Humboldt Bay. Finisher's medals are adorned with a unique design. Participant swag bags include a tech shirt with unique designs by a local artisan, only found in Humboldt County, hemp seed protein bars and a packet of hemp seeds to drizzle on food. Hey, it's Humboldt County.
S. A. from California (8/23/2019) "Nice summer marathon with the summer heat" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Humboldt Bay Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Humboldt Bay Marathon gets better every year & nice summer marathon without the summer heat. A small quaint race with a big majestic course that gives runners a peaceful run along the bay for much of the race. The course takes runners on a tour of the area beginning and ending at the waterfront. The middle portion gives a taste of country life & a billy goat jumped through a fence and was my running entertainment for a moment. The running trail leads runners through a wildlife marsh and along eucalyptus lined 101 before heading into farm life for a while & old fashioned sprinklers spraying the fields, piglets squealing in the barns and wildflowers in the fields. What better way to experience the nooks and crannies of a small Northern California community is there than to run through it on foot. The race gets better every year, the race directors truly care about this event. It is Boston certified each year and the race medals are hand painted creations done by a local artist depicting a different wildlife scene each year along with the shirt. The last miles run over a series of bridges before returning into downtown Eureka's waterfront. The volunteers at the aid stations are welcoming and enthusiastic. I look forward to my peaceful self-reflective run at this race each year.
K. K. from Bay Area, CA (8/17/2018) "Beautiful and well-run small race" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The 2018 race was just great! The organizers and volunteers did an excellent job with course marking and support for this small (~80 runners) marathon. Not many spectators, but those we saw cheered loudly. The course is rural and lovely -- bay and farm views. More cows than runners, for sure! Perfect weather for running, and a unique medal design. Highly recommend this race for a great small marathon experience.
A. F. from kentucky (8/20/2017) "disappointed" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 This is a fairly fast, mostly flat course that allows for a runner to make the most of their day. I was running at a PR speed hitting the 13 mile marker 12 minutes quicker than any previous event and well on my way to Boston. As I passed this distance, I could not see a runner in front or behind me. The cones had thinned considerably from the first part of the course. I asked a volunteer who was standing in the middle of the road which way to go, he pointed me down a side street. As I got to the bottom on a very busy 4 lane street I realized no one else was around. I panicked and then turned back the way I had come. I asked why he sent me that way, he shrugged, smirked and said 'I thought you were leaving the race.' At that point I was a mile off course and the wind was out of my sails. I felt that this was a deliberate misguidance as I dropped several positions from the 3rd place I had been in. Very disappointed by the volunteer, this took a potentially great day to a poor experience.
T. M. from FL (8/18/2017) "The absolute best race for a late BQ" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you are considering a marathon for a late BQ, this is a perfect race to achieve it. There is a near 100% chance of perfect marathon weather as the temperature ranges from low 50's to mid 60's in August. I really liked the 7:00am start, giving an extra hour of sleep and time to digest breakfast. The course itself is not perfectly flat, but there are not many hills and they are very gradual. My range of my splits was only 30 seconds per mile fastest to slowest. I was able to run sub 2:50 and did not feel that hills or wind slowed me down much and the 50 degree temperature in August provided an opportunity to go relatively fast. Even though it is a small race, with just over 100 racers in the full marathon, there are plenty of volunteers. I ran the last 15 miles completely solo and never had to worry about being off course as it is well marked and there is someone posted at every turn. There were plenty of aid stations along the course, probably every two miles. The course is scenic enough to keep yourself entertained, even if you end up running much of it solo. As you finish the race, they do a very nice job of announcing every finisher and where they are from. The award ceremony was small, but the award itself is a keeper (hand made). There are plenty of small hotels near the finish line, which made the logistics pretty easy. The race director is a very nice and approachable guy and I hope to see this race grow in size in the coming years.
T. P. from Maple Grove MN (9/19/2015) "Great First Time Marathon" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Great first time marathon. It was fun pacing the 3:55 group and meeting nearly 1/3rd of the runners along the course due to the small size of the marathon. It was great to see some first time marathoners on the course. The course is definitely not flat and fast and the one out and back section in the fields should be eliminated. Make sure you have some leg strength left for the last 5K as you need to go across a few bridges. The volunteers were great and the spectators that were out there were helpful. The watermelon on the course was fantastic. They do need to add bathrooms at least at every other aid station. Some of the marathoners that were starting to struggle early in the race were having a tough time with the half-marathoners flying by them and then passing them closer to the finish as well. Great medal, shirt, and age group awards. Definitely do a visit to the Lost Coast Brewery if you like microbreweries. Disappointing though that they had problems with the beer at the finish, but when I went to the microbrew they took our beer tickets. Nice move on their part.
V. L. from California (9/3/2015) "Great race" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I did the half and everyone was great. I was on the slow side and wherever there was a water stop the people were still there and cheering me on. Lots of water and snacks were available also. I think my only complaint would be that there were no 'porta'potties' at the beginning of the marathon. I went to see a friend off and there was nothing available and people were peeing behind bushes.
K. H. from California (8/30/2015) "5/5 would run again" (about: 2015) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 My first marathon, was great. A few minor organizational hiccups but overall very smooth and well-run.
S. K. from california (8/28/2015) "really great race" (about: 2015) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Humboldt Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great course, nice people, and easy logistics ie. parking, start line, finish...only suggestion would be to have bathrooms along the marathon course. Was told only bathroom stop was at mile 13 at a grocery store.

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Marathon Details - Humboldt Bay Marathon