Oakland Run Week 2025 Highlights Local Community

March 14, 2025

Oakland Run Week kicks off Monday, March 17, with daily events celebrating the city and supporting local businesses

• Oakland Marathon Health & Wellness Expo, presented by the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, starts Friday, March 21 and continues through Saturday, March 22
• Eat. Learn. Play. Kids Fun Run, presented by Kaiser Permanente, welcomes 1,000 young runners on Saturday, March 22
• nday, March 23, features the Oakland Marathon presented by Kaiser Permanente, Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K and PLEZi Post Race Festival

OAKLAND, Calif. (March 14, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The 16th Oakland Marathon presented by Kaiser Permanente benefiting Eat. Learn. Play., has expanded into a full week of events starting Monday, March 17. The newly minted Oakland Run Week invites the community to participate in a series of free events that highlight local businesses and organizations each day.

The week-long celebration culminates in the Oakland Marathon and its related races at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, overlooking Lake Merritt. Event organizers anticipate record participation, with over 10,000 runners expected across 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 (¼-mile to 1-mile distances).

While race participation requires registration, all Oakland Run Week events—including the Oakland Health & Wellness Expo on March 21-22 and the PLEZi Post Race Festival on March 23—are free and open to the public.

Organizers also encourage the Oakland community to come out and cheer on the runners. Designated Cheer and Entertainment Zones will be staffed by hundreds of local volunteers and groups, bringing energy and excitement to downtown Oakland on race day.

Complete schedule of events and fast facts are below.

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

Schedule of Events

Please see instagram accounts linked below or oaklandmarathon.com for updates; schedule/locations are subject to change.

Monday, March 17

• Women’s Run Club East Bay (@wrceastbay)
  • Bay Bridge Bike Path – 6:15pm
  • Run is 4-8 miles
  • Pizza & music after

Tuesday, March 18

• Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders (@lmjs_run)
  • Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts – 10 10th St. Oakland, CA 94607 – 6:00pm
  • Run around Lake Merritt
  • Food & DJ post run

Wednesday, March 19

• Oakland Track Club (@oaklandtrackclub) x Town Strides Collab (@townstrides)
  • Meet at Fairyland – 6:00pm
  • Run around Lake Merritt
  • Post run hangout with DJ & food at NOSSO Bar – 532 8th St, Oakland, CA 94607

Thursday, March 20

• Jueves de Tacos hosted by Oakland Track Club (@oaklandtrackclub)
  • Los Cantaros – 336 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610 – 6:15pm
  • Run around Lake Merritt

Friday, March 21

• Renegade Running Shakeout & Sign Making (@renegade_running)
  • Renegade Running – 45 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA – 6:15pm
  • Run on Grand Ave, 3-4 miles
  • Post- run pizza, beer music & signmaking
• Oakland Health & Wellness Expo presented by Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts
  • Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts – 10 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
  • 1:00pm – 7:00pm
  • Participant Pack Pick-Up & Vendors
  • Free & open to the public

Saturday, March 22

• Official Shakeout Run hosted by Under Armour
  • Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts – 10 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
  • 8:30am – 10:00am
  • Free, pre-registration highly encouraged
  • 5K Run + Giveaways
• Oakland Health & Wellness Expo presented by Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts
  • Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts – 10 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
  • 10:00am – 4:00pm
  • Participant Pack Pick-Up & Vendors
  • Free & open to the public
• Eat. Learn. Play. Kids Fun Run presented by Kaiser Permanente
  • Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts – 10 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
  • 10:00am – 2:00pm
  • Kids Activities, Bay Area Sports Teams, Music & More
  • Activities are free and open to the public
  • Quarter Mile to 1-Mile races require pre-registration

Sunday, March 23

• Oakland Marathon presented Kaiser Permanente
  • Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts – 10 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
  • 5:30am – 2:00pm
    • Marathon Start – 7:00am
    • Half Marathon Start – 7:00am
    • 10K Start – 8:30am
    • 5K Start – 9:00am
• PLEZi Post Race Festival
  • Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts – 10 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
  • 8:00am – 2:00pm
  • Vendors, Beer Garden, Food Trucks & Music
  • Free & open to the public

FAST FACTS

• 16th Edition
• Oakland’s largest participatory endurance event
• 1,000 Kids expected in the Eat. Learn. Play. Kids Fun Run presented by Kaiser Permanente. OUSD students were invited to participate for free.
• 10,000+ registered runners expected across all events
• 40 local Bay Area elite runners expected to compete in the Marathon and Half Marathon representing Under Armour as the Flow Elite Team
• 1,000+ volunteers and staff
• 200+ participating with local youth club, Running for a Better Oakland
• 60+ person strong Marathon & Half Marathon Pace Team powered by On Pace and Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders
• Produced Locally, Enjoyed Globally.
  • 90%+ travel from within 100 miles of Oakland
  • 36 states and territories as well as 10 countries represented
• 50% Female, 48% Male, 2% Non-Binary+ / Prefer not to disclose across all events
• Youngest / Oldest
  • Youngest – 1 year 8 months (Eat. Learn. Play. Kids Fun Run)
  • Oldest – 90 years 2 months (Half Marathon)
• 16 entertainment and cheer zones, including the Start & Finish at Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts
• 13 Aid Stations, including the Start & Finish at Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts

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 presented by Kaiser Permanente (March), San Jose Half & 8K presented by Kaiser Permanente (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.