LOCAL RUNNING
Oakland marathon 2012

When the morning began, it was unclear whether runners would be greeted with rain, sunshine or both. With rainy days leading up to the third annual Oakland Running Festival, hopes were high for a dry race day. Thankfully the raindrops would take a day off and grant over 8,000 runners ideal race conditions: cool and overcast.

With five ways to participate in the Oakland Running Festival — marathon, half-marathon, four-person marathon relay, 5k, and kids' fun run — the city came alive to welcome runners and encourage them along the way. The full marathon started at Snow Park and headed up Broadway toward Lake Temescal. After that, runners climbed the hills up Montclair for several miles, the pinnacle being a breathtaking view near the Mormon temple. The course then took a steep decline all the way toward Fruitvale before it headed west along International back into downtown Oakland. With turns near Chinatown, Jack London Square, Mandela Parkway before circling back to Lake Merritt, runners would complete the grand tour of Oakland and experience a race that is different from most.

On any given race day you'll find various people along the course. Most include runners' friends and family there to give their loved ones support as they embark on a running adventure that will test the limits of human endurance. Although this is also true on race day at the Oakland Running Festival, there is something that is less common in typical road races and just as inspiring and motivational, if not more: the community.

Signs that normally read "Go Sarah!" were replaced with "Welcome to Rockridge." Screams from spectators were filled with "Let's go, Oakland!" Neighborhoods greeted runners with cheer and well wishes for all, rather than specific individuals. Local restaurants and community members danced in the street to live bands and some went as far as handing out extra water and even gummy bears. All of this was on top of the well-organized staff and volunteers supplied by race organizer Corrigan Sports Enterprises to provide a race experience that the Bay Area should expect, not be surprised by.

With an increase in race-day participation over the past three years, word is spreading across Bay Area run clubs and social media that something special is happening in Oakland for the running community. From starting with a cannon of confetti to running through a flaming archway (set up by the Crucible, a nonprofit arts education organization) to high-fiving and taking pictures with Raider Nation on course, the positive energy the community gives each runner without hesitation is bringing runners back year after year and attracting newcomers.

The exhilarating atmosphere combined with a challenging course provide an opportunity for runners of all distances to experience the various neighborhoods that Oakland has to offer, along with enthusiastic members of the community who are happy to welcome them.