With up to 2,500 runners expected Sunday, the Bend Marathon is becoming one of the biggest community sports events in Central Oregon, with participation numbers that rival the popular Pole Pedal Paddle multisport race held each May.

“That’s been one of our goals,” said Bend’s Kari Strang, who organizes the event with local professional runner Max King.

“We really want this to be an event that the whole community can get excited about and support, and that helps bring an active lifestyle to the forefront.”

The ninth edition of the Bend Marathon also includes half marathon, 10K and 5K races, with the half marathon being the biggest draw.

Strang, the Summit High cross-country and track distance coach, launched the Bend Marathon with King in 2015. The event survived the pandemic — runners had virtual race options in 2020 and 2021 — and returned in-person in 2022 with about 1,600 runners across all four races. About 2,300 runners competed last year.

“It’s really been fun to see it grow and we’re just so incredibly grateful to the community for embracing it and supporting us,” Strang said. “It makes us extra proud to be a part of Central Oregon. We had this vision for what it could be and the types of things it could bring to the community. It’s just wonderful to see that coming to fruition.”

The courses

The races start and finish in Bend’s Old Mill District near the parking lot adjacent to the Hampton Inn.

The marathon starts at 7 a.m., followed by the half-marathon at 8 a.m., the 10K at 8:15 a.m. and the 5K at 8:30 a.m.

The courses feature Bend parks, neighborhoods and the paved trail through the Deschutes National Forest (paralleling the Cascade Lakes Highway). Runners start from the Old Mill and run into downtown, then head west through Northwest Crossing and Tetherow before connecting to the paved path. The courses are almost entirely paved.

Portions of Columbia Avenue, Galveston Avenue, Wall Street, Northwest Crossing Drive and Mount Washington Drive will be closed to traffic Sunday from about 7 to 10 a.m.

“The road closure impact is fairly minimal and a pretty tight timeframe,” Strang said.

Strang said that runners travel from all over the country to race in the marathon or half-marathon, with the majority coming from the Northwest and California.

“It’s one of those races where it’s a challenging, gritty course, and it tends to bring out really strong competition,” Strang said. “It’s definitely one people can be proud of no matter how they finish. It’s a legitimate race, it’s not just a pancake-flat course.”

The finish party in the Old Mill will feature live music from the Dad Bods Band and a beer garden hosted by Cascade Lakes Brewing.

Kids racing

The Bend Marathon 5K is free to kids younger than 12, and the kids 1K to 3K run, starting at 11 a.m., is also free.

“A big part of what we’re trying to do is encourage a lifelong love of running and walking, so encouraging people to get out there as a family or support their kids getting out there,” Strang said.

She added that nearly 90 kids under 12 had registered for the 5K as of Thursday.

Registration

Online registration for all Bend Marathon events is available up through the morning of race day. The marathon is $140, half-marathon $135, 10K $75 and 5K $55. There are also virtual options through April 29.

For more information or to register, visit bend-marathon.com.

Upcoming running events

The Peterson Ridge Rumble in Sisters is also scheduled for Sunday. Those trail running races include a 40-miler, a marathon and a 20-miler on the Peterson Ridge Trail network just south of Sisters. For more information, visit ultrasignup.com.

The 36th edition of the Salmon Run, which includes a half marathon, 10K and 5K is set for April 20, with races starting and finishing at Bend’s Riverbend Park in the Old Mill District. For more information, visit bendraces.com/salmon-run.

“It’s really been fun to see (the Bend Marathon) grow and we’re just so incredibly grateful to the community for embracing it and supporting us. It makes us extra proud to be a part of Central Oregon. We had this vision for what it could be and the types of things it could bring to the community. It’s just wonderful to see that coming to fruition.”

— Kari Strang, co-organizer of the Bend Marathon