2025 Oakland Marathon Set to Electrify the Bay Area

February 28, 2025

Expected sell-out & record registrations of 10,000+ for March 21-23 event; Oakland Running Week to celebrate the East Bay’s running culture; Eat. Learn. Play. Kids. Fun Run to welcome 1,000 students from the Oakland Unified School District

OAKLAND, Calif. – (February 28, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/– The 2025 Oakland Marathon presented by Kaiser Permanente, is just one month away from its 16th edition. The event, operated by Bay Area organizers, Run Local^®, takes place March 21–23 at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts and is expected to sell out at a new participation record, surpassing 10,000 registered runners. This year’s theme, “Choose Your Challenge,” invites runners from around the world to take on a race that suits them, with options including the Marathon (26.2 miles), Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), 5K (3.1 miles), and the Eat. Learn. Play. Kids Fun Run, presented by Kaiser Permanente.

The excitement kicks off with Oakland Running Week, taking place March 17–23. This community-driven celebration will highlight local running crews and businesses throughout Oakland each day, leading up to the opening of the Oakland Health & Wellness Expo presented and hosted by the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts on March 21. The two-day expo, free and open to the public, will feature an exclusive Under Armour pop-up store, wellness products and services, Bay Area sports teams, music, and more.

“The Oakland Marathon is more than just a race—it’s a celebration of the Oakland community, and the incredible energy that makes The Town special. Whether you’re running your first 5K, taking on the full marathon, or cheering from the sidelines, this event is about challenging yourself and embracing the journey,” commented Run Local Ventures, Managing Partner, J.T. Service. “We can’t wait to welcome runners from all over the world to experience Oakland’s vibrant streets, passionate crowds, and one-of-a-kind race atmosphere.”

On Saturday, March 22, Under Armour will also host its annual Oakland Marathon UA Shakeout Run, featuring a warm-up run around Lake Merritt and product giveaways. This free community event welcomes runners of all levels.

Later that morning, at 11:00 a.m., the Eat. Learn. Play. Kids Fun Run presented by Kaiser Permanente, will turn the exterior of the expo into a celebration for Oakland students and families. Young competitors can challenge themselves with a quarter-mile, half-mile, or one-mile course around the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts. The event will also feature sports activities, games, art, and music to engage kids of all ages. The fun run is free for all OUSD students and is expected to reach its 1,000-participant capacity.

“At Eat. Learn. Play., we believe every child deserves the opportunity to be active, healthy, and inspired. With the support of Kaiser Permanente, the Kids Fun Run is a chance for Oakland’s youth to challenge themselves, build confidence, and experience the joy of movement,” said CEO of Eat. Learn. Play., Chris Helfrich. “We’re proud to partner with the Oakland Marathon to bring this incredible event to life and to support the next generation of runners in our community.”

On Sunday, March 23, the Oakland Marathon will welcome thousands of runners from across the country and the world to the start line on Lake Merritt Blvd. As they race through Oakland’s vibrant neighborhoods, runners will experience an electric atmosphere, complete with live music and enthusiastic cheer stations. Full Marathon participants will also have the unique opportunity to run across the Bay Bridge—the only marathon to offer this experience all year.

The celebration doesn’t end at the finish line. The PLEZi Finish Line Festival will greet every participant with live entertainment from Bay Area artists, as well as food and beverages from local vendors. This free event is brought to you by PLEZi Nutrition, a new beverage company founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama. PLEZi brings big flavor to healthier living with refreshing beverages that have added nutrients and no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. The company will be sampling its better-for-you beverages at this unforgettable post-race event, which is open to the public.

To learn more and to register, visit: oaklandmarathon.com

About Run Local^®

Founded in 2012, Run Local’s mission is to inspire movement in your community^™. It has produced events in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout California, including the Oakland Marathon (March), San Jose Half & 8K (June) and the Santa Barbara Half presented by HOKA & 5K (November). Each of its events celebrate the local running community, artists and the unique diversity of each region. For more information, visit runlocalevents.com and also join us on social @runlocalevents.

About Eat. Learn. Play.

Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation is an organization dedicated to unleashing the potential of every child, paving the way for amazing kids and opening doors to bright futures. Founded by Stephen and Ayesha Curry in 2019, Eat. Learn. Play. launched with a focus on improving the lives of kids and families in Oakland, the Bay Area and across the country. Rooted in three of the most vital pillars for a healthy childhood—nutrition, education and physical activity—Eat. Learn. Play. is working to ensure that every child in Oakland has access to the nutritious food they need to be healthy and thrive; resources to learn and love to read; and safe places and equitable opportunities to play. Follow Eat. Learn. Play. on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.