How do I register for the Portland Marathon?

The Portland Marathon uses open registration through RunSignup. You can sign up directly at the official race website. No lottery or qualifying standard is required.

Is the Portland Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the Portland Marathon is a certified Boston qualifier. The course is USATF certified, so a qualifying time here counts toward your Boston application.

What is the course like? Is it hilly?

The course is a loop through Portland with modest total elevation gain and a highest point under 200 feet. The climbing is spread out rather than concentrated in one section, making it one of the flatter marathon options in the Pacific Northwest.

What is the weather typically like on race day?

October race day conditions in Portland are generally cool and mild. Expect temperatures in the mid-40s at the start rising into the mid-60s by late morning. Rain is possible but conditions are typically favorable for running.

How large is the field?

Recent editions have seen around 3,000 finishers, making it a mid-sized marathon with a manageable feel on race day.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the Portland Marathon course is USATF certified, which means times recorded here are valid for qualifying purposes including Boston.

Sun, Oct 4 · 2026Portland, ORSince 1972

Portland Marathon

Portland's fall marathon runs a loop through the city on a course that stays low and honest, with cool October air and just enough crowd support to keep you moving through the back miles.

FlatOpen

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PORTLAND · US

Portland

SUN, OCT 4

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 1972

Portland in October is about as good as fall racing gets in the Pacific Northwest. The course is a loop through the city, staying low for most of its length. You'll find the terrain honest and manageable. The weather usually cooperates too, with temperatures in the mid-40s at the start and climbing only into the mid-60s by mid-morning. Don't overdress. You'll warm up faster than you think once you're moving.

This is a solid course if you have a time goal. The elevation gain is modest, spread across the loop rather than stacked in one brutal section. You won't get a net-downhill gift, but there's nothing here designed to break you either. Be patient in the first half and you'll have legs for the back stretch. Entry is open registration through RunSignup, so there's no lottery stress or qualifying standard to worry about. Sign up, train well, and show up ready to run.

Field size

~3k

3,009 finishers

BQ rate

5%

Below national average

Time limit

6:33

Standard cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:17:21

Uli Steidl

1997

Women

2:36:40

Hiromi Yokoyama

1991

The Course

300 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑300 ft

Total descent

—

Net elevation

—

Highest point

178 ft

Lowest point

36 ft

Course shape

Loop

Start and finish in one place

The course is a loop with modest total elevation gain and a highest point under 200 feet, making it one of the flatter options in the Pacific Northwest. The profile is not dead flat, but the climbs are short and spread out rather than concentrated in one punishing stretch. With the hardest climbing done early, runners can settle into a steady rhythm through the middle miles. Cool October temperatures typically support sustained effort. The relatively low total gain and absence of any major late-race climb make this a reasonable target for runners chasing a time goal, provided pacing discipline holds through the first half.

DIFFICULTYFLATPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

View official course map Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

46°F

High

66°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Early October in Portland usually means a cool, damp morning in the mid-to-upper 40s at the gun and a pleasant afternoon that climbs into the mid-60s by the time most runners are finishing. You'll want a throwaway layer for the corral. The cool start is a gift, but if you're out there past the halfway point, the day warms up enough that you'll feel it. It's generally a favorable window for racing, though Portland can surprise you with rain, so don't leave the poncho at home.

Entry

OPEN

The Portland Marathon uses open registration through RunSignup. Runners can register online at the official race website.

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Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

PDX

7 mi

from the start

≈ 11 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into PDX, about 7 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 11-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Portland, OR so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.

Frequently Asked

6 questions

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