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Marathon Details - Humboldt Redwoods Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > CA > Weott > Humboldt Redwoods Marathon

Humboldt Redwoods Marathon

Humboldt Redwoods Marathon & Half Marathon, 5K

Weott, CA USA

October 13, 2024

http://www.redwoodsmarathon.com

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Race Details

Celebrating our 36th Year! These spectacular courses in Humboldt Redwoods State Park run along the beautiful Avenue of the Giants, home to the world's tallest trees. The courses are paved, shaded and fast. The marathon is a certified and sanctioned Boston Marathon qualifier. The half marathon is the USA Track & Field Pacific Association's championship in all divisions. $3000 in prize money will be awarded to USAT&F Pacific residents in the half marathon, $100 in prize money will be awarded to the 1st man and 1st woman in the marathon, and medals will be given to all marathon and half marathon finishers. Unique, locally crafted commemorative awards will be given in all divisions, and all participants receive a long sleeve t-shirt featuring original artwork.

Contact Information

Name:	Nancy Flannery
Address:	Humbold Redwoods Marathon PO Box 4989 Arcata, CA 95518-4989
Phone Number:	(707) 845-6111
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (31)

Course 4.6

Organization 4.4

Spectators 2.6

Write a review

Number of comments: 31 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 > ]

Scott Campbell from San Diego, CA (11/5/2016) "A Unique Experience......but not sure I'd repeat" (about: 2016) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 To be honest, I feel bad that I couldn't give it a bit higher rating. And in all fairness, my experience might not be typical of other runners' experience. I was looking forward to this race as I favor the smaller more intimate races over the larger races. The organization was fine. It was nice being able to arrive 30 minutes before race start, get my shirt and bib (in separate locations), take my pre-race potty break and still have time to stretch and start on time. The bagpipe player was great. Spectators, though essentially non existent except for the start line and finish line (the same location) and the volunteers at the mile markers were vocal and supportive. The course was, well......a mixed bag. Yes, the scenery was great. Running with all those trees everywhere was great. And the racers were eventually spread out enough to give one the feeling of running alone through this amazing landscape (I'm a solitary runner so this was nice). One deceptive thing about this race is the hills. My Garmin Forerunner informed me after the race that the elevation gain was about 1800 feet, which I believe is quite high compared to a lot of marathons (I've ran 9). There was a lot of short ups and downs. The first half was pretty good, but the the second half was more grueling. The course is two different out and backs. The 2nd half of the course was more hilly and filled with a lot of potholes. I had a really big problem with this towards the end of the race. I was fatigued late in the race and it was made worse by my fear of rolling my ankle with all the potholes on the road. This year it rained a lot so the holes were filled with water, which made it harder to see them. One other issue I had was the limited amount of food. I read before the race that there was food at approximately mile 17 and 21. When I came to the mile marker at 17 I didn't see any food. On my return to 21 (same spot) I decided to ask. The guy said 'oh, yeah, here you go'. Good thing I asked. I could have used it at 17 though, and was pretty bummed that I had to ask for the food that was sitting at a table behind where the volunteers were standing. It rained quite a bit and this made things more difficult. The extra weight from a completely drenched shirt and shoes really took its toll. I realize this is no fault of anyone's but did make my overall experience more harsh. In short, if you like the more intimate running experience in a beautiful setting, and don't mind the hills and potholes then this might be a really good race for you. Just make sure to find out where the food is offered and ASK FOR IT!!
K. K. from Eureka, CA (9/17/2015) "Gorgeous!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 As others mentioned, this course is a double out-and-back. The first half is with the half marathon along the Avenue of the Giants. Then the marathon goes along Bull Creek Rd. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the course had about 90% new asphalt. Of course, the hill is still there, but it was nice to be able to look up at the trees rather than watching my footing the whole time. The course is pretty fast. The first half feels downhill both ways (how is that even possible?!) and then the second half climbs a bit, but you get a nice overall downhill to the finish from about mile 21. The marathon field is very small, so it's a great race to pad your ego and come in top 5, but you'll have to do a lot of self-cheering to come away with a blazing fast time. Six Rivers Running Club does a fantastic job with this race. Organization is superb and everything you'd hope for in a smaller event.
F. D. from AZ (10/20/2014) "A once-in-a-lifetime run!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 A beautiful course! I've been wanting to do this one for years.
S. S. from Canada (10/24/2012) "Surreal Beauty... Unforgettable Marathon!" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 'The redwoods once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always...' John Steinbeck I loved this course. I ran the marathon and Humboldt was my eighth. It is my favorite to date. A few minutes from the gun, I ran over a small hill and was greeted with open arms by friendly prehistoric giants. I was enveloped by their dense, protective canopy for most of the course and when filtered sunlight cascaded through the treetops, it was like all the runners were worshipers in an outdoor cathedral. The protective canopy of the trees made for no wind and an almost eerie quiet. The air was saturated with oxygen and smelled oh so good. I enjoyed going out fast during the first half with the half-marathoners and then slowing down during the more solitary second half. This is a fast course if you want to run it that way. I doubt few marathons could match the natural beauty contained here. My spectators for this race were the mammoth redwoods and so I give this course the highest ranking. Human spectators were seen at the start, half and finish and so this marathon is best suited for those whose performance or enjoyment does not hinge on the support of many boisterous spectators. Six Rivers Running Club organizers and volunteers did a fantastic job. I would love to come back and run the half marathon. It's gonna take me a few weeks to put this marathon to bed. It truly is unforgettable and highly, highly recommended! PS Check out 'hookedonhumboldt.org' to get a sense of the area ;).
B. T. from Maine (10/24/2010) "A Beautiful Race" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The beauty and serenity of the redwood forest makes this race worth traveling to. It's a low-key race that is well organized with a definite down-home feel to it. As mentioned by others on this site, the marathon is two out-and-backs and this makes it really nice if you know others who are running as you can get a sense of where they are in the race relative to you. The half-marathon has many more runners than the marathon, so when I passed the half-way point, most of the crowd dropped off and I found myself running mostly alone and surrounded by these magnificent trees. If you are a person who doesn't need a cheering section and enjoys beautiful forest scenery, then this is the race for you! Other people have posted that the pavement is rough on the second half of the course. Parts of that road have been repaved, so it was a pleasant surprise for me to be running on new pavement. Even the rough parts of the road weren't that bad. The hills weren't bad either as I had beeen training on hills all year and these hills weren't too severe. Most of the course is in a redwood forest and is shaded, so the temperature is really comfortable for running. Parts of the second half take you out into somewhat open country, so we were running out in the sunshine and it got warmer. Flying in and out of the Eureka/Arcata airport puts you at the mercy of the foggy weather on the coast. This isn't the place to visit if you do not have flexible travel plans or a ground transportation option. I probably wouldn't plan to fly in here again. Overall, this is a great low-key race in a beautiful location. It is one of my favorites to date.
Stephen ONeal from Klamath Falls, Oregon (10/23/2010) "Beautiful course, well organized race" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first running of this race. My wife and I both ran the marathon course. The course was, of course, beautiful and inspiring. The event was well organized but laid back and fun. The aid stations were great with lead-up signs and Boy Scouts. They really seemed to care that you received what you needed. The only negative I found with the race experience was the pictures. It seemed unfortunate that the race was run in one of the most beautiful places on earth but the photos did not attempt to capture the feel of the race. Most all the photos were taken on the bridge or with an interstate bridge in the background. Overall, the race was great and I would recommend this as a rewarding small-marathon experience.
C. P. from San Antonio, Texas (7/26/2010) "Most Scenic run in the USA" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my second marathon and I ran it with my 3-month pregnant wife. We LOVED IT!! The Ave. of the Giants is the the most scenic drive in the USA and the most scenic marathon. The giant Redwoods are amazing. The temperature is perfect for marathon running since it's about 50 degrees and in the shade. Take a camera with you while you run; it's great.
B. S. from San Francisco (10/23/2009) "Nice, local marathon" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This marathon is two out-and-backs. The first out-and-back is run with the half-marathon, and has many, many more people than the full marathon. The second out-and-back was excellent: quiet, beautiful, but never quite lonely. Good race support. Excellent local running community. Average finishing time is probably higher than for most other marathons I have run. In 2009, we had great running weather. A great rural, beautiful, low-key, well-run race. I would run it again.
E. P. from Boise, Idaho (10/22/2009) "Perfect" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Perfect. I found myself smiling through the entire second half. A great course, and a well-supported and well-organized race.
C. A. from Washington (10/20/2009) "Serenity Now!" (about: 2009) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Thanks to the Humboldt Redwoods Marathon crew. The Bull Creek Road section (second half of the course) was by far the best part of the course in regard to the scenery and tranquility. There was great parking access and wonderful aid stations, and the 200-yard notices previous to each aid station were very helpful. Well done and thank you!

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 > ]



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Scott Campbell from San Diego, CA (11/5/2016) "A Unique Experience......but not sure I'd repeat" (about: 2016) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 To be honest, I feel bad that I couldn't give it a bit higher rating. And in all fairness, my experience might not be typical of other runners' experience. I was looking forward to this race as I favor the smaller more intimate races over the larger races. The organization was fine. It was nice being able to arrive 30 minutes before race start, get my shirt and bib (in separate locations), take my pre-race potty break and still have time to stretch and start on time. The bagpipe player was great. Spectators, though essentially non existent except for the start line and finish line (the same location) and the volunteers at the mile markers were vocal and supportive. The course was, well......a mixed bag. Yes, the scenery was great. Running with all those trees everywhere was great. And the racers were eventually spread out enough to give one the feeling of running alone through this amazing landscape (I'm a solitary runner so this was nice). One deceptive thing about this race is the hills. My Garmin Forerunner informed me after the race that the elevation gain was about 1800 feet, which I believe is quite high compared to a lot of marathons (I've ran 9). There was a lot of short ups and downs. The first half was pretty good, but the the second half was more grueling. The course is two different out and backs. The 2nd half of the course was more hilly and filled with a lot of potholes. I had a really big problem with this towards the end of the race. I was fatigued late in the race and it was made worse by my fear of rolling my ankle with all the potholes on the road. This year it rained a lot so the holes were filled with water, which made it harder to see them. One other issue I had was the limited amount of food. I read before the race that there was food at approximately mile 17 and 21. When I came to the mile marker at 17 I didn't see any food. On my return to 21 (same spot) I decided to ask. The guy said 'oh, yeah, here you go'. Good thing I asked. I could have used it at 17 though, and was pretty bummed that I had to ask for the food that was sitting at a table behind where the volunteers were standing. It rained quite a bit and this made things more difficult. The extra weight from a completely drenched shirt and shoes really took its toll. I realize this is no fault of anyone's but did make my overall experience more harsh. In short, if you like the more intimate running experience in a beautiful setting, and don't mind the hills and potholes then this might be a really good race for you. Just make sure to find out where the food is offered and ASK FOR IT!!
K. K. from Eureka, CA (9/17/2015) "Gorgeous!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 As others mentioned, this course is a double out-and-back. The first half is with the half marathon along the Avenue of the Giants. Then the marathon goes along Bull Creek Rd. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the course had about 90% new asphalt. Of course, the hill is still there, but it was nice to be able to look up at the trees rather than watching my footing the whole time. The course is pretty fast. The first half feels downhill both ways (how is that even possible?!) and then the second half climbs a bit, but you get a nice overall downhill to the finish from about mile 21. The marathon field is very small, so it's a great race to pad your ego and come in top 5, but you'll have to do a lot of self-cheering to come away with a blazing fast time. Six Rivers Running Club does a fantastic job with this race. Organization is superb and everything you'd hope for in a smaller event.
F. D. from AZ (10/20/2014) "A once-in-a-lifetime run!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 A beautiful course! I've been wanting to do this one for years.
S. S. from Canada (10/24/2012) "Surreal Beauty... Unforgettable Marathon!" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 'The redwoods once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always...' John Steinbeck I loved this course. I ran the marathon and Humboldt was my eighth. It is my favorite to date. A few minutes from the gun, I ran over a small hill and was greeted with open arms by friendly prehistoric giants. I was enveloped by their dense, protective canopy for most of the course and when filtered sunlight cascaded through the treetops, it was like all the runners were worshipers in an outdoor cathedral. The protective canopy of the trees made for no wind and an almost eerie quiet. The air was saturated with oxygen and smelled oh so good. I enjoyed going out fast during the first half with the half-marathoners and then slowing down during the more solitary second half. This is a fast course if you want to run it that way. I doubt few marathons could match the natural beauty contained here. My spectators for this race were the mammoth redwoods and so I give this course the highest ranking. Human spectators were seen at the start, half and finish and so this marathon is best suited for those whose performance or enjoyment does not hinge on the support of many boisterous spectators. Six Rivers Running Club organizers and volunteers did a fantastic job. I would love to come back and run the half marathon. It's gonna take me a few weeks to put this marathon to bed. It truly is unforgettable and highly, highly recommended! PS Check out 'hookedonhumboldt.org' to get a sense of the area ;).
B. T. from Maine (10/24/2010) "A Beautiful Race" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The beauty and serenity of the redwood forest makes this race worth traveling to. It's a low-key race that is well organized with a definite down-home feel to it. As mentioned by others on this site, the marathon is two out-and-backs and this makes it really nice if you know others who are running as you can get a sense of where they are in the race relative to you. The half-marathon has many more runners than the marathon, so when I passed the half-way point, most of the crowd dropped off and I found myself running mostly alone and surrounded by these magnificent trees. If you are a person who doesn't need a cheering section and enjoys beautiful forest scenery, then this is the race for you! Other people have posted that the pavement is rough on the second half of the course. Parts of that road have been repaved, so it was a pleasant surprise for me to be running on new pavement. Even the rough parts of the road weren't that bad. The hills weren't bad either as I had beeen training on hills all year and these hills weren't too severe. Most of the course is in a redwood forest and is shaded, so the temperature is really comfortable for running. Parts of the second half take you out into somewhat open country, so we were running out in the sunshine and it got warmer. Flying in and out of the Eureka/Arcata airport puts you at the mercy of the foggy weather on the coast. This isn't the place to visit if you do not have flexible travel plans or a ground transportation option. I probably wouldn't plan to fly in here again. Overall, this is a great low-key race in a beautiful location. It is one of my favorites to date.
Stephen ONeal from Klamath Falls, Oregon (10/23/2010) "Beautiful course, well organized race" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first running of this race. My wife and I both ran the marathon course. The course was, of course, beautiful and inspiring. The event was well organized but laid back and fun. The aid stations were great with lead-up signs and Boy Scouts. They really seemed to care that you received what you needed. The only negative I found with the race experience was the pictures. It seemed unfortunate that the race was run in one of the most beautiful places on earth but the photos did not attempt to capture the feel of the race. Most all the photos were taken on the bridge or with an interstate bridge in the background. Overall, the race was great and I would recommend this as a rewarding small-marathon experience.
C. P. from San Antonio, Texas (7/26/2010) "Most Scenic run in the USA" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my second marathon and I ran it with my 3-month pregnant wife. We LOVED IT!! The Ave. of the Giants is the the most scenic drive in the USA and the most scenic marathon. The giant Redwoods are amazing. The temperature is perfect for marathon running since it's about 50 degrees and in the shade. Take a camera with you while you run; it's great.
B. S. from San Francisco (10/23/2009) "Nice, local marathon" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This marathon is two out-and-backs. The first out-and-back is run with the half-marathon, and has many, many more people than the full marathon. The second out-and-back was excellent: quiet, beautiful, but never quite lonely. Good race support. Excellent local running community. Average finishing time is probably higher than for most other marathons I have run. In 2009, we had great running weather. A great rural, beautiful, low-key, well-run race. I would run it again.
E. P. from Boise, Idaho (10/22/2009) "Perfect" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Perfect. I found myself smiling through the entire second half. A great course, and a well-supported and well-organized race.
C. A. from Washington (10/20/2009) "Serenity Now!" (about: 2009) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Thanks to the Humboldt Redwoods Marathon crew. The Bull Creek Road section (second half of the course) was by far the best part of the course in regard to the scenery and tranquility. There was great parking access and wonderful aid stations, and the 200-yard notices previous to each aid station were very helpful. Well done and thank you!

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Marathon Details - Humboldt Redwoods Marathon