OAKLAND MARATHON
Runners alert: Grab your shoes!

The 26.2 mile trek begins for 1,500 marathoners.

The 2012 Oakland Running Festival will take place March 24 and 25 and will once again feature five races: marathon, half-marathon, four-person team relay, 5k and kids' fun run. New for 2012 will be the 5k, taking place on Sunday, with all the harriers in this event using the same finish line as everyone else. In addition, runners will go past the new "Remember Them" statue near the Fox Theater.

The first two years of the event have been a huge success for Corrigan Sports Enterprises and the city of Oakland. For the second straight year, all five races sold out, with 7,300 people registered for the 2011 Oakland Running Festival. Again, the race received rave reviews from the participants as being scenic and well-supported by fans; 98 percent of the runners said they would recommend the race to a friend and it shows, as registrations are pacing ahead of where they were last year at this time.

Through two years, the ORF has generated nearly $5 million for the city of Oakland and almost $500,000 for local charities. This event could not be possible without the support of the city of Oakland, the sponsors and the thousands of volunteers who help out on race weekend. For more information on the Oakland Running Festival, visit oaklandmarathon.com.