Foot Traffic Flat Marathon
Portland, United States · July · Independent
Why people love it
- Flat course with 40 m (131 ft) of gain on rural island roads
- Certified Boston qualifier with a 06:10 start before the heat
- 14 aid stations, about one every 3 km (2 mi), with toilets at many
- Views of Mt Hood, Mt St Helens and Mt Adams
- Finish food includes fresh strawberry shortcake and hot dogs
Watch out for
- Only about ten spectators along the whole 42.2 km (26.2 mi) in 2014
- Little shade; a hot July can reach the 70s F (low 20s C) by 10:00
- Limited entry fills by the end of May
- Getting to the island takes planning; a bus start ran late in 2022
- Aid cups are small, 118 ml (4 oz), and some stations were thin
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
A 2014 marathon runner and MarathonGuide (4.7 from 2 reviews) were positive. Few marathon accounts, so held below the raw average. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Blogs praise parking, smooth waves and pacers in 2022. Gaps: no pace waves in 2016, thin staffing in 2014, a late bus in 2022. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
Flat with frequent aid, but entry is limited, the cutoff is 5.5 hours and the early start suits experienced runners. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAmong the fastest4.5
Flat course with 40 m (131 ft) of gain, a certified Boston qualifier. A 2014 runner ran 3:36:12 and qualified. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.5
Farm roads with views of Mt Hood, Mt St Helens and Mt Adams. Runners found it pleasant rather than spectacular. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.2
About 350 marathoners; a 2016 half runner noted a crowded first 1.6 km (1 mi) from a mass start. Loop and out-and-back sections cross. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.9
Paved island roads. No surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.6
Volunteers mark intersections, but local traffic is not fully closed according to a 2014 recap. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.8
Gain of 40 m (131 ft) per a 2014 recap, below the 60 m (200 ft) mark for a 5. · High confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop and out-and-back, so net zero. Boston qualifier: yes, certified, no net drop. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.4
Starts at 05:30 and 06:10, 30 minutes from Portland, with organised parking and shuttles. A 2022 runner reported a late bus and hard-to-find return shuttle. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.6
Friendly pacers with signs helped runners find wave positions in 2022. Marathon pace groups not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse1.6
A 2014 runner counted about ten spectators on the whole course. A rural island route with no town sections. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
14 aid stations, about one per 3 km (2 mi), with water, Nuun, gels and toilets. Cups are small, 118 ml (4 oz). · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.6
No wind complaints in the reviews. Open farmland is exposed. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Starts near 13 to 16 °C (55 to 60 °F), warming to the low 20s C (70s F) by late morning with little shade. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.6
July is dry in Oregon, but heat varies. 2022 was mild and cloudy and 2014 was sunny and warm. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.3
Loop and out-and-back on remote island roads with a few access points, and few spectators. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Sauvie Island is near sea level, about 3 m (10 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
Most runners stay in Portland, 30 km (19 mi) away. Optional shuttles ran from a northwest Portland hotel. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Portland rates on a July 4 weekend. No price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving1.8
Nothing is walkable to the island. Drive 30 minutes from Portland or take a shuttle. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.7
Portland airport is about 30 km (19 mi) away. Getting onto the island needs a shuttle or carpool and the 2022 bus ran late. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
Simple packet pickup, but the early start, island access and shuttle need planning. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Portland is nearby. The island itself offers farms and a pumpkin patch, and finish food includes strawberry shortcake. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early2.8
Limited entry expected to fill by the end of May and described as sold out in 2022. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.6
Finish food and shuttles are praised and aid is frequent. The entry fee was not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Portland, Sauvie Island, Multnomah County, United States
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 4 July 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 350 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 40 m (130 ft)
- Descent
- 40 m (130 ft)
- Start time
- 06:10
- Cutoff
- 5.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved island roads, some rural
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 13–24 °C (55–75 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 3 m (10 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Portland International (PDX), 30 km (19 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Northwest Portland, Downtown Portland
- Booking
- Stay in Portland; optional shuttles ran from a hotel in northwest Portland. Parking is in a field across from the Pumpkin Patch.
What racers and reviewers say
- Marathon Training Academy (2014 recap)Raced 2014 · blog · Positive
A flat and fast rural marathon with 40 m (131 ft) of gain, clear mile markers and views of Mt Hood, Mt St Helens and Mt Adams. Sunny, from the mid-50s F (13 °C (55 °F)) to the 70s F (about 23 °C (73 °F)). Aid roughly every 3 km (2 mi) with small 118 ml (4 oz) cups, and some stations understaffed. Parking and shuttles were well run. Only about ten spectators on the whole course. 346 finished; the runner qualified for Boston.
“It was one of those races where everything just came together perfectly.”
- Run Oregon (2016 Foot Traffic Flat half marathon recap)Raced 2016 · blog · Positive
A flat course with one short hill after 6.4 km (4 mi) and little shade, starting near 15 °C (60 °F) under cloud. Seven aid stations less than 3 km (2 mi) apart with toilets at each. Easy parking and optional shuttles. A mass start without pace waves crowded the first 1.6 km (1 mi). About 2,000 people ran across four distances.
“This was my first time running this race, and I really liked it!”
- Run Oregon (2022 Foot Traffic Flat recap)Raced 2022 · blog · Positive
A mostly flat route around Sauvie Island past farms and animals with little shade. Hot in some years but cloudy and mild in 2022. Frequent aid with water, Nuun and gels, easy carpool parking, smooth waves with pacers carrying signs, and a sold-out field that never felt crowded. The shuttle adds planning time.
“Everything operated like a well-oiled machine.”
- MarathonGuide (Foot Traffic Flat Marathon)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
2 reviews average 4.7 out of 5. A 2026 runner praised the scenery and organization. A 2022 runner liked the flat farmland course with a few rolls, simple packet pickup, birds and farm views, and the finish video, but found the bus start late and the shuttle back hard to locate. Photos were not offered.
Raced Foot Traffic Flat Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Foot Traffic Flat Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.