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Marathon Details - Avenue of the Giants Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > CA > Eureka > Avenue of the Giants Marathon

Avenue of the Giants Marathon

Avenue of the Giants Marathon & Half Marathon, 10K

Eureka, CA USA

May 4, 2025

http://www.theave.org

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Contact Information

Name:	Cindy Timek
Address:	The Ave P.O. 214 Arcata, CA 95521
Phone Number:	707-443-1226
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (69)

Course 4.7

Organization 4.0

Spectators 3.2

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Number of comments: 69 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > ]

B. D. from Clinton, Missouri (5/6/2024) "Celebrating a 50 year old record!" (about: 2024) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The date was May 5, 1974. I was a 19 year old sophomore at the University of Oregon having transferred from Eastern Michigan University (Gordon Minty era). Pre was still alive. Rudy Chapa and Alberto Salazar were still high school students, not arriving at UO until 1976. Nike had barely begun its existence. The 1974 Avenue of the Giants Marathon would be my 4th attempt at the distance. My first marathon, while a senior at Silverthorn Collegiate (high school) in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, was the Boston Marathon in 1972 (2:50:55). In February of 1974 I had placed 17th in 2:31:03 at the Trail's End Marathon in Seaside, Oregon. The Ave race started west of Avenue of the Giants at the Albee Creek Campground on Lower Bull Creek Flats Road, going west briefly, then returning to the starting point and continuing farther east to the Avenue. We then crossed over the south fork of the Eel River on the Dyerville bridge and headed south on the Avenue towards Weott. It was somewhere along this stretch that I heard a loud cracking sound a little distance into the forest on my left. As I watched, a large redwood tree fell to the ground with a heavy thud. For the next several miles I was on the lookout for any more dying redwoods that might decide to drop onto the course itself! From Weott, we headed farther south towards Myers Flat until we turned around to begin the north bound return. Crossing the south fork of the Eel River again, we turned west to finish at our original point of departure. Chuck Smead was the overall winner in 2:21:06. I successfully achieved my goal of running under 2:30, placing 4th overall in a 19 and under course record of 2:29:40. Yesterday, again on May 5th, I celebrated 50 years of holding the under 19 course record by running the 10K, placing 4th yet again, only this time in the 60-69 division. What a beautiful day to run under the lush, evergreen redwood forest: 40 degrees, fog rising through the trees, the Eel River running strongly from recent rains and the sun breaking through at the end with its warming embrace. This is definitely one of the most beautiful marathon courses in the US, run under the canopy of the Northern California coastal redwoods. Put this one on your marathon bucket list - you will not be disappointed!
F. E. from Philadelphia, PA (5/13/2023) "Beautiful course, hilly if you're not used to it" (about: 2023) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a gorgeous race, a bucket list item for me and well worth the wait. We only ran the second half twice out and back, because the Bull Creek Trail portion was washed out. Either way, it did end up being overall fairly hilly, with rolling hills and, oddly, with the strange feeling that you are going downhill (an optical illusion, referenced by another reviewer as well). Some parts of the course are steeply cambered and hard on knees, etc. Getting to the Ave of the Giants area is no picnic, especially for me, coming from East Coast (5hr drive from SFO), but once there, it was very easy bib pickup, easy and well organized parking right at the start/end, and really great volunteers. I didn't sample any food after the race, and carried my own. There was one stop for gels (clif shot) along the way at the 1/2 marathon mark, and aid stations had water and gatorade. It is a smaller race so fewer spectators for sure. Plan your lodging well ahead of time. We stayed in an AirBNB in Fortuna, but there are overall slim pickings and you'll certainly have to drive a bit the morning of race to get here. We spent the next day after the race sightseeing and walking on nearby trails. One odd thing: I had signed up for a medium Tshirt and received a tank, which was not what I'd expected. The large sizes for women came in T-shirt model rather than tank top, so I sized up, but the short or long sleeve is standard for marathon swag. Thanks for a great race!
T. N. from Minneapolis, MN (7/31/2016) "Few spectators but that doesn't matter" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was by far the most gorgeous and peaceful marathon I have ever run. I chose not to wear a garmin because I didn't want to be preoccupied with pace, I wanted to just run and enjoy the scenery. Running in the forest on a paved road is a very rare combination and if you want it can be a fast course, some hills, but nothing like Big Sur. The entire race (except the end) was cool and calm and dark. Sign were put out noting that there would be a water stop in 200 yards, which was awesome because you could start taking your gels/nutrition before hand in time to wash it down with water. Great volunteers, great expo. There are few spectators, mostly hikers passing by, but you don't want anything to distract you when running in such a beautiful place. Will definitely do again.
G. G. from Portland, Oregon (5/9/2016) "Gorgeous (of course), but caution is required" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The first out-and-back is, admittedly, on a paved road, but it hasn't been paved in a LONG time. Very uneven for most of the first half, which made enjoying the scenery dangerous, because you had to watch the road surface continuously to avoid potholes and other trip hazards. By contrast, once we got into the second half, the pavement was smooth and lovely to run on. I was glad to have finished the tricky foot-work part early! The scenery is beautiful and it was nice to have a small contingent of racers. I was never running all by myself, but it could have felt like it at times. (Disclaimer: I finished in 5 hours, so am hardly a front-of-the-pack runner) By the end the water stations were skimpy, and food at the finish was very minimal. The last bit of the race was in the sun and on concrete, and was pretty overwhelming. The finish area had no shade other than the tents that had food and other supplies. It wasn't as if you could escape the heat/sun. A hose/mister station would have been very welcome at that point. The volunteers were very polite and helpful, but I didn't feel that the race was all that well organized. All in all, I was glad to have participated, but won't be returning. I will recommend the race with serious caveats about the rough road and the need to bring your own food/drink.
A. Y. from Ontario Canada (5/12/2015) "What a great race!" (about: 2015) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I really enjoyed this race. It is not flat however. It constantly rolls but the hills are gentle. There is a steep-ish hill about a mile from the finish but it is short. The first out-and-back section is beautiful and with only marathoners on it there is a lot of open space. The second out-and-back section has half-marathoners and 10k racers and can get quite crowded. This makes it difficult to get water at times. There are not a lot of spectators on course but you don't miss them because The course is absolutely beautiful! Some hill training would be beneficial.
B. B. from Pittsburgh, Pa (5/7/2015) "Relaxed fun" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 A relaxed race through a majestic redwood forest. We arrived an hour and a half prior to the race and avoided any traffic and was able to park within 100 yards of the start/finish line. Race-day packet pick-up was very much appreciated. I thought that the various races were very well staged and staggered effectively. I enjoyed running along side the 10K and half marathon racers through the second half, except for a couple groups of half marathon finishers who created a moving barricade toward the end. The course was very nice, I enjoyed the double out and back especially. I know it was an illusion, but it seemed as if every hill went downhill both ways. I wonder if anyone else had that impression. No difficult uphills throughout the entire course. The finish area was fine with sufficient food and drink. The medal is colorful and solid and I really like the t-shirt. Overall, a low-stress, logistically simple race through beautiful country.
D. P. from VA (5/6/2015) "Can't beat running in the forest" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 What a beautiful course. You really can't beat running in the forest. And not just any forest, but among the majestic Redwoods. So much of the course is in the shade, the few times that I did see the sky it actually was nice to feel the warmth of the sun. The first half of the course was filled with up hills and down hills. Save something for later, much later. That's because the second half is one nearly continuous uphill (never very steep) until the turn around near mile 20 when it now becomes one nearly continuous downhill to the finish. If you saved something (I didn't save that much), you have a chance for a very strong finish. As an out of towner, out of state even, I didn't know where to go until receiving the race confirmation email with my bib number. Then I knew, I was headed for exit 667 on U.S. 101, and then taking Avenue of the Giants several miles to the staging area. Or, if you arrive early enough, you can still take exit 663 before it is closed to traffic. The staging area is just off exit 663. Great run support on the course. Always plenty of water and gatorade at the water stops, as well as orange and banana slices after half-way. Maybe as a result of finishing in the middle of the marathon pack, and after most half-marathoners and 10K runners, the food at the finish was sparse, although the PBJs wrapped in tortillas were awesome. Definitely add this to your list of marathons to run.
R. S. from Germany (5/6/2014) "Small, Green, Bling" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Highly recommended. Small race with amazing scenery, great volunteers, and good course support. Hardly any spectators, as it is quite remote. Look around and listen! Rolling hills, but not steep at all (except for that one highway overpass at mile 25. You will remember it from mile 14. Not a big one either, but at that point, I wished it had not been there). Most beautiful medal. Arrive early for parking, and bring your own food and recovery drinks. Since you will park almost next to the start line, I did not mind that there were only few post-race snacks (oranges, bananas, and tortilla chips).
K. K. from California (12/19/2013) "Small, scenic marathon" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Avenue of the Giants Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The race is in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, not in Eureka, like MarathonGuide states. Year after year, this race has perfect weather. Even if it gets warm in the sun, the shady course (about 24 of the 26 miles) doesn't really warm up. It is a double out-and-back course and really beautiful the entire way. First half has some tricky pavement sections, the second half is freshly paved. It is gorgeous. The only issue I had with this marathon is that when I got tired and the scenery didn't change, it felt like I was running and not going anywhere. Organization is wonderful and volunteers very helpful. Parking was fine. The medal was nice, the shirt a little too flimsy feeling.
D. G. from Michigan (11/19/2013) "Majestic & Inspiring" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The trees are just amazing. I found myself energized by the beauty of the course. There were a decent number of runners, so I was never alone, but never crowded either. The second out-and-back is easier than the first, and the road is in better shape. I prefer the cotton T-shirt and also bought a hoodie (and was given a free leftover t-shirt from the prior year when I did so). Very nice folks running the event, and good organization.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > ]



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B. D. from Clinton, Missouri (5/6/2024) "Celebrating a 50 year old record!" (about: 2024) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The date was May 5, 1974. I was a 19 year old sophomore at the University of Oregon having transferred from Eastern Michigan University (Gordon Minty era). Pre was still alive. Rudy Chapa and Alberto Salazar were still high school students, not arriving at UO until 1976. Nike had barely begun its existence. The 1974 Avenue of the Giants Marathon would be my 4th attempt at the distance. My first marathon, while a senior at Silverthorn Collegiate (high school) in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, was the Boston Marathon in 1972 (2:50:55). In February of 1974 I had placed 17th in 2:31:03 at the Trail's End Marathon in Seaside, Oregon. The Ave race started west of Avenue of the Giants at the Albee Creek Campground on Lower Bull Creek Flats Road, going west briefly, then returning to the starting point and continuing farther east to the Avenue. We then crossed over the south fork of the Eel River on the Dyerville bridge and headed south on the Avenue towards Weott. It was somewhere along this stretch that I heard a loud cracking sound a little distance into the forest on my left. As I watched, a large redwood tree fell to the ground with a heavy thud. For the next several miles I was on the lookout for any more dying redwoods that might decide to drop onto the course itself! From Weott, we headed farther south towards Myers Flat until we turned around to begin the north bound return. Crossing the south fork of the Eel River again, we turned west to finish at our original point of departure. Chuck Smead was the overall winner in 2:21:06. I successfully achieved my goal of running under 2:30, placing 4th overall in a 19 and under course record of 2:29:40. Yesterday, again on May 5th, I celebrated 50 years of holding the under 19 course record by running the 10K, placing 4th yet again, only this time in the 60-69 division. What a beautiful day to run under the lush, evergreen redwood forest: 40 degrees, fog rising through the trees, the Eel River running strongly from recent rains and the sun breaking through at the end with its warming embrace. This is definitely one of the most beautiful marathon courses in the US, run under the canopy of the Northern California coastal redwoods. Put this one on your marathon bucket list - you will not be disappointed!
F. E. from Philadelphia, PA (5/13/2023) "Beautiful course, hilly if you're not used to it" (about: 2023) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a gorgeous race, a bucket list item for me and well worth the wait. We only ran the second half twice out and back, because the Bull Creek Trail portion was washed out. Either way, it did end up being overall fairly hilly, with rolling hills and, oddly, with the strange feeling that you are going downhill (an optical illusion, referenced by another reviewer as well). Some parts of the course are steeply cambered and hard on knees, etc. Getting to the Ave of the Giants area is no picnic, especially for me, coming from East Coast (5hr drive from SFO), but once there, it was very easy bib pickup, easy and well organized parking right at the start/end, and really great volunteers. I didn't sample any food after the race, and carried my own. There was one stop for gels (clif shot) along the way at the 1/2 marathon mark, and aid stations had water and gatorade. It is a smaller race so fewer spectators for sure. Plan your lodging well ahead of time. We stayed in an AirBNB in Fortuna, but there are overall slim pickings and you'll certainly have to drive a bit the morning of race to get here. We spent the next day after the race sightseeing and walking on nearby trails. One odd thing: I had signed up for a medium Tshirt and received a tank, which was not what I'd expected. The large sizes for women came in T-shirt model rather than tank top, so I sized up, but the short or long sleeve is standard for marathon swag. Thanks for a great race!
T. N. from Minneapolis, MN (7/31/2016) "Few spectators but that doesn't matter" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was by far the most gorgeous and peaceful marathon I have ever run. I chose not to wear a garmin because I didn't want to be preoccupied with pace, I wanted to just run and enjoy the scenery. Running in the forest on a paved road is a very rare combination and if you want it can be a fast course, some hills, but nothing like Big Sur. The entire race (except the end) was cool and calm and dark. Sign were put out noting that there would be a water stop in 200 yards, which was awesome because you could start taking your gels/nutrition before hand in time to wash it down with water. Great volunteers, great expo. There are few spectators, mostly hikers passing by, but you don't want anything to distract you when running in such a beautiful place. Will definitely do again.
G. G. from Portland, Oregon (5/9/2016) "Gorgeous (of course), but caution is required" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The first out-and-back is, admittedly, on a paved road, but it hasn't been paved in a LONG time. Very uneven for most of the first half, which made enjoying the scenery dangerous, because you had to watch the road surface continuously to avoid potholes and other trip hazards. By contrast, once we got into the second half, the pavement was smooth and lovely to run on. I was glad to have finished the tricky foot-work part early! The scenery is beautiful and it was nice to have a small contingent of racers. I was never running all by myself, but it could have felt like it at times. (Disclaimer: I finished in 5 hours, so am hardly a front-of-the-pack runner) By the end the water stations were skimpy, and food at the finish was very minimal. The last bit of the race was in the sun and on concrete, and was pretty overwhelming. The finish area had no shade other than the tents that had food and other supplies. It wasn't as if you could escape the heat/sun. A hose/mister station would have been very welcome at that point. The volunteers were very polite and helpful, but I didn't feel that the race was all that well organized. All in all, I was glad to have participated, but won't be returning. I will recommend the race with serious caveats about the rough road and the need to bring your own food/drink.
A. Y. from Ontario Canada (5/12/2015) "What a great race!" (about: 2015) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I really enjoyed this race. It is not flat however. It constantly rolls but the hills are gentle. There is a steep-ish hill about a mile from the finish but it is short. The first out-and-back section is beautiful and with only marathoners on it there is a lot of open space. The second out-and-back section has half-marathoners and 10k racers and can get quite crowded. This makes it difficult to get water at times. There are not a lot of spectators on course but you don't miss them because The course is absolutely beautiful! Some hill training would be beneficial.
B. B. from Pittsburgh, Pa (5/7/2015) "Relaxed fun" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 A relaxed race through a majestic redwood forest. We arrived an hour and a half prior to the race and avoided any traffic and was able to park within 100 yards of the start/finish line. Race-day packet pick-up was very much appreciated. I thought that the various races were very well staged and staggered effectively. I enjoyed running along side the 10K and half marathon racers through the second half, except for a couple groups of half marathon finishers who created a moving barricade toward the end. The course was very nice, I enjoyed the double out and back especially. I know it was an illusion, but it seemed as if every hill went downhill both ways. I wonder if anyone else had that impression. No difficult uphills throughout the entire course. The finish area was fine with sufficient food and drink. The medal is colorful and solid and I really like the t-shirt. Overall, a low-stress, logistically simple race through beautiful country.
D. P. from VA (5/6/2015) "Can't beat running in the forest" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 What a beautiful course. You really can't beat running in the forest. And not just any forest, but among the majestic Redwoods. So much of the course is in the shade, the few times that I did see the sky it actually was nice to feel the warmth of the sun. The first half of the course was filled with up hills and down hills. Save something for later, much later. That's because the second half is one nearly continuous uphill (never very steep) until the turn around near mile 20 when it now becomes one nearly continuous downhill to the finish. If you saved something (I didn't save that much), you have a chance for a very strong finish. As an out of towner, out of state even, I didn't know where to go until receiving the race confirmation email with my bib number. Then I knew, I was headed for exit 667 on U.S. 101, and then taking Avenue of the Giants several miles to the staging area. Or, if you arrive early enough, you can still take exit 663 before it is closed to traffic. The staging area is just off exit 663. Great run support on the course. Always plenty of water and gatorade at the water stops, as well as orange and banana slices after half-way. Maybe as a result of finishing in the middle of the marathon pack, and after most half-marathoners and 10K runners, the food at the finish was sparse, although the PBJs wrapped in tortillas were awesome. Definitely add this to your list of marathons to run.
R. S. from Germany (5/6/2014) "Small, Green, Bling" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Highly recommended. Small race with amazing scenery, great volunteers, and good course support. Hardly any spectators, as it is quite remote. Look around and listen! Rolling hills, but not steep at all (except for that one highway overpass at mile 25. You will remember it from mile 14. Not a big one either, but at that point, I wished it had not been there). Most beautiful medal. Arrive early for parking, and bring your own food and recovery drinks. Since you will park almost next to the start line, I did not mind that there were only few post-race snacks (oranges, bananas, and tortilla chips).
K. K. from California (12/19/2013) "Small, scenic marathon" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Avenue of the Giants Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The race is in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, not in Eureka, like MarathonGuide states. Year after year, this race has perfect weather. Even if it gets warm in the sun, the shady course (about 24 of the 26 miles) doesn't really warm up. It is a double out-and-back course and really beautiful the entire way. First half has some tricky pavement sections, the second half is freshly paved. It is gorgeous. The only issue I had with this marathon is that when I got tired and the scenery didn't change, it felt like I was running and not going anywhere. Organization is wonderful and volunteers very helpful. Parking was fine. The medal was nice, the shirt a little too flimsy feeling.
D. G. from Michigan (11/19/2013) "Majestic & Inspiring" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Avenue of the Giants Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The trees are just amazing. I found myself energized by the beauty of the course. There were a decent number of runners, so I was never alone, but never crowded either. The second out-and-back is easier than the first, and the road is in better shape. I prefer the cotton T-shirt and also bought a hoodie (and was given a free leftover t-shirt from the prior year when I did so). Very nice folks running the event, and good organization.

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Marathon Details - Avenue of the Giants Marathon