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Marathon Details - Foot Traffic Flat Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > OR > Portland > Foot Traffic Flat Marathon

Foot Traffic Flat Marathon

Foot Traffic Flat Marathon & Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, 5K

Portland, OR USA

July 4, 2025

http://foottraffic.us/flat

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Race Details

Flat, fast, farmland, eagles, cows, strawberry shortcake. Yay!

Contact Information

Name:	Sean
Address:	4020 NE Fremont St. Portland, OR 97212
Phone Number:	503-525-1243
Fax Number:	503-284-0362
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (91)

Course 4.2

Organization 3.4

Spectators 2.6

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Number of comments: 91 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 > ]

M. J. from Silverdale, WA (7/10/2022) "enjoyed this flat, small town race!" (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was a great small town feel race - packet pick up was very no frills the day before, shirt is ok (maybe runs a bit big?). there was an early start offered for those running 10+ min miles so we started at 0530 and it wasn't the usual mess of a crowd with all the marathoners and half marathoners at once - wonderful! I felt a little rushed bc we were told the first bus would leave at 0445 but it didn't actually leave until 0500 - so we made it to the island with just enough time to use the potty and pack and check in my bag and then start! maybe it was best that way. There were beautiful birds and farmland scenery as the sun was coming up - couldn't have asked for better weather. About mile 11 or 12 or so (there was a turn around on an out-and-back around mile 10), you could see the leaders coming and that was so neat! A boost of encouragement and energy to keep going, they looked so great. Then you hit the gaggle of half-marathoners around mile 20 or so when there was a big loop to the finish - it was truly a perfect way to stagger everyone out. Course was relatively flat with just a few rolling hills sprinkled in to make it interesting :) There weren't any photos so that was a bit of a bummer, but they did some sort of YouTube video so you could see yourself (and everyone else presumably) crossing the finish line. It looked like it was probably a nice little after-race party on the farm afterwards, but I had to get back and catch the shuttle which was a little ways and a little hard to find. But all in all, I'm very happy that this was my Oregan race - definitely would recommend.
M. W. from North Carolina (4/30/2019) "Great 4th of July Destination!" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Foot Traffic Flat Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I thought the only place to run a flat race in Oregon would be around a track at TrackTown, USA (University of Oregon), but you can find your flat course on Sauvie Island. Running on the 4th of July makes this a perfect summer destination race. It's still cool in the mornings, and the chance of rain is minimal. Sauvie Island is primarily farmland, so the views comprise fields on one side and water on the other, with mountains (Adams, Hood) looming in the distance. Not many folks to cheer you on, if that makes a difference to you, but there are plenty of cows silently questioning your sanity. They offer a full, half, 10K and 5K. I ran the full and my wife ran the 10K. Though they have staggered race starts, the course is pretty crowded for the first mile and half, but then it's smooth sailing. The race swag and medals are above average, and we especially loved the fresh strawberry shortcake for all finishers! There's limited parking and only one access road to the island, so get there early or take one of the shuttles. The farm venue (Pumpkin Patch) is super, and easily accommodated all the participants. It's very family friendly, they even do a fun run for the little ones and have a petting zoo. If you like smaller races that keep you off roadways with traffic, we would highly recommend this race. You can see our video of the race and visit to Portland on our YouTube channel Race the Nation.
j. C. from Dublin, Ireland (5/22/2018) "Great Course, Nice and Quiet but not flat" (about: 2017) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I found it a great experience. For new marathoners the one advantage or disadvantage is the lack of spectators. Depending on your mind frame. If fake encouragement from random strangers helps you, you're not going to get much here until you meet the half marathon walkers. I liked it as I could fight my own mental battle withou distractions and children, dogs getting in the way. Aid stations are plentiful but beware if you're a fast marathoner you will, in the last few miles find yourself being impeded by slow halfers having a social meeting at the stations. The course is very picturesque, well marked but not flat. There is a good few rolling hills there, nothing that will break the legs but it's no Berlin. I will be back this year to smash my PB
Z. S. from New york (7/5/2017) "Beautiful course, but no fans and infrequent aid" (about: 2017) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Sauvie Island is incredibly gorgeous but there are no fans on the course which I found tough for 26.2. There was only water every two miles or so which wasn't really enough given the weather and I didn't think there were quite enough port-o-potties on course either. Only one lane of traffic was closed so there was mix of runners/cars/bikes on the course which wasn't ideal- the website said the course was only open to local traffic but that was clearly not the case. The people directing traffic in the morning also misdirected some cars and some of the signage could've been better. Stauvie island is so incredibly beautiful and I loved the course. I think with a few minor changes (and a little spectator support) the race could be great.
L. G. from AZ (7/16/2016) "beautiful island race" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I love small marathons, and this one had about 300 runners. The half starts about 20 minutes after the full, which meant we had the roads to ourselves. The weather was perfect - low 60's and overcast - but if it's a hot day there is almost no shade. You run along fields and farms and sometimes have a view of the river. The start and finish are at a local farm which is fun. No expo; packet pick-up was 4 different days at 4 different Foot Traffic store locations in Portland. There are no spectators (unless you count the sheep) but the volunteers are great. I'm from out of town, so opted for the bus to and from the race which worked out really well. The emails were very clear that they offered water and Nuun at water stops. I believe most of the water stops also had Gu available, but I'm picky on flavors and always bring my own.
M. J. from Chicago, IL (7/13/2015) "No Gatorade" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The course is not literally flat, but the hills roll gently. Sauvie Island is mostly farmland, so there's little shade. This is a quiet race. There are only spectators at the start/finish line. Runners spread out. For a lot of the course, you will be alone. (It is well-marked, though, so don't worry about getting lost.) My big complaint is about the aid stations. When I run, my sense of taste gets dull. I spent the whole race thinking I was drinking Gatorade, when I was actually drinking an electrolyte mix with no calories. It's on me for not checking this beforehand, but it is on the race for not offering calories. Only once during the whole race did I see any sign of Gu, and it wasn't offered to me. Was the idea to hide all the calories? Or was I supposed to ask at every aid station? I ended up seriously hypoglycemic, vomiting several times and stumbling through the last few miles. Bring your own Gu!
S. F. from Andover MA (7/16/2014) "Who needs spectators when you have eagles?" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was an awesome marathon. Not only it was well organized, the course was amazingly peaceful and beautiful. Watching eagles up in their nest was a treat, seeing berries, flowers, wheat growing right along the road was invigorating. My husband volunteered at the finish line giving medals and I joined him after I finished, it was rewarding to congratulate others. People with headphones on, you have no idea what you are missing, leave that stuff at home. Give it a try, you will be surprised at what you will hear.
A. S. from Sikeston, MO (7/14/2014) "My first BQ" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This race lives up to its name of being flat and fast. Packet pick up was easy and low key. Even though I didn't pay for the race shirt I was still given one and it is a nice, gender-specific tech shirt. We headed the warnings of snarled traffic and arrived early. There was plenty of parking and parking attendants when we got there. Lines at the port-a-pots were short until the half marathoners arrived. I liked the band playing before the race and the Star Spangled Banner was a nice touch for this 4th of July race. Many people were dressed in red, white and blue. The course was rural, flat and scenic. There weren't any spectators to speak of. Aid stations were well stocked and spaced approximately every 2 miles. I wish the fluid cups were bigger because the weather did get warm in the later miles. However, I was able to run my first Boston qualifying time and had a great experience. The medal was nice and we bought a bunch of fresh berries, cherries and apricots at the Farmer's Market near the finish line. This was my Oregon marathon and I would definitely consider running it again.
S. J. from New York (7/11/2013) "Great for a fast flat course" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This course is great if you're looking for a quick/flat course. There is really only one hill, which they tell you about. The bad thing is it's on mile 18. If you're looking for a race with spectators THIS RACE IS NOT FOR YOU. There is not 1 spectator throughout the course.
J. P. from Phoenix, AZ (7/8/2013) "Easy, laid back marathon" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This is a very low-key race, with some nice greenery and a small town atmosphere. The course is easy, with very few hills. Even the hill on the half mile out-and-back they describe is a piece of cake. Great course for a PR. The water stations were OK. The electrolytes could have been a little less watered down, but it was nice that they had gel. They didn't have the water station at the starting line set up, which was incredibly lame. Very little swag besides a cool technical shirt, and you need to get to the island early to avoid traffic. It's a fun time.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 > ]



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M. J. from Silverdale, WA (7/10/2022) "enjoyed this flat, small town race!" (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was a great small town feel race - packet pick up was very no frills the day before, shirt is ok (maybe runs a bit big?). there was an early start offered for those running 10+ min miles so we started at 0530 and it wasn't the usual mess of a crowd with all the marathoners and half marathoners at once - wonderful! I felt a little rushed bc we were told the first bus would leave at 0445 but it didn't actually leave until 0500 - so we made it to the island with just enough time to use the potty and pack and check in my bag and then start! maybe it was best that way. There were beautiful birds and farmland scenery as the sun was coming up - couldn't have asked for better weather. About mile 11 or 12 or so (there was a turn around on an out-and-back around mile 10), you could see the leaders coming and that was so neat! A boost of encouragement and energy to keep going, they looked so great. Then you hit the gaggle of half-marathoners around mile 20 or so when there was a big loop to the finish - it was truly a perfect way to stagger everyone out. Course was relatively flat with just a few rolling hills sprinkled in to make it interesting :) There weren't any photos so that was a bit of a bummer, but they did some sort of YouTube video so you could see yourself (and everyone else presumably) crossing the finish line. It looked like it was probably a nice little after-race party on the farm afterwards, but I had to get back and catch the shuttle which was a little ways and a little hard to find. But all in all, I'm very happy that this was my Oregan race - definitely would recommend.
M. W. from North Carolina (4/30/2019) "Great 4th of July Destination!" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Foot Traffic Flat Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I thought the only place to run a flat race in Oregon would be around a track at TrackTown, USA (University of Oregon), but you can find your flat course on Sauvie Island. Running on the 4th of July makes this a perfect summer destination race. It's still cool in the mornings, and the chance of rain is minimal. Sauvie Island is primarily farmland, so the views comprise fields on one side and water on the other, with mountains (Adams, Hood) looming in the distance. Not many folks to cheer you on, if that makes a difference to you, but there are plenty of cows silently questioning your sanity. They offer a full, half, 10K and 5K. I ran the full and my wife ran the 10K. Though they have staggered race starts, the course is pretty crowded for the first mile and half, but then it's smooth sailing. The race swag and medals are above average, and we especially loved the fresh strawberry shortcake for all finishers! There's limited parking and only one access road to the island, so get there early or take one of the shuttles. The farm venue (Pumpkin Patch) is super, and easily accommodated all the participants. It's very family friendly, they even do a fun run for the little ones and have a petting zoo. If you like smaller races that keep you off roadways with traffic, we would highly recommend this race. You can see our video of the race and visit to Portland on our YouTube channel Race the Nation.
j. C. from Dublin, Ireland (5/22/2018) "Great Course, Nice and Quiet but not flat" (about: 2017) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I found it a great experience. For new marathoners the one advantage or disadvantage is the lack of spectators. Depending on your mind frame. If fake encouragement from random strangers helps you, you're not going to get much here until you meet the half marathon walkers. I liked it as I could fight my own mental battle withou distractions and children, dogs getting in the way. Aid stations are plentiful but beware if you're a fast marathoner you will, in the last few miles find yourself being impeded by slow halfers having a social meeting at the stations. The course is very picturesque, well marked but not flat. There is a good few rolling hills there, nothing that will break the legs but it's no Berlin. I will be back this year to smash my PB
Z. S. from New york (7/5/2017) "Beautiful course, but no fans and infrequent aid" (about: 2017) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Sauvie Island is incredibly gorgeous but there are no fans on the course which I found tough for 26.2. There was only water every two miles or so which wasn't really enough given the weather and I didn't think there were quite enough port-o-potties on course either. Only one lane of traffic was closed so there was mix of runners/cars/bikes on the course which wasn't ideal- the website said the course was only open to local traffic but that was clearly not the case. The people directing traffic in the morning also misdirected some cars and some of the signage could've been better. Stauvie island is so incredibly beautiful and I loved the course. I think with a few minor changes (and a little spectator support) the race could be great.
L. G. from AZ (7/16/2016) "beautiful island race" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I love small marathons, and this one had about 300 runners. The half starts about 20 minutes after the full, which meant we had the roads to ourselves. The weather was perfect - low 60's and overcast - but if it's a hot day there is almost no shade. You run along fields and farms and sometimes have a view of the river. The start and finish are at a local farm which is fun. No expo; packet pick-up was 4 different days at 4 different Foot Traffic store locations in Portland. There are no spectators (unless you count the sheep) but the volunteers are great. I'm from out of town, so opted for the bus to and from the race which worked out really well. The emails were very clear that they offered water and Nuun at water stops. I believe most of the water stops also had Gu available, but I'm picky on flavors and always bring my own.
M. J. from Chicago, IL (7/13/2015) "No Gatorade" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The course is not literally flat, but the hills roll gently. Sauvie Island is mostly farmland, so there's little shade. This is a quiet race. There are only spectators at the start/finish line. Runners spread out. For a lot of the course, you will be alone. (It is well-marked, though, so don't worry about getting lost.) My big complaint is about the aid stations. When I run, my sense of taste gets dull. I spent the whole race thinking I was drinking Gatorade, when I was actually drinking an electrolyte mix with no calories. It's on me for not checking this beforehand, but it is on the race for not offering calories. Only once during the whole race did I see any sign of Gu, and it wasn't offered to me. Was the idea to hide all the calories? Or was I supposed to ask at every aid station? I ended up seriously hypoglycemic, vomiting several times and stumbling through the last few miles. Bring your own Gu!
S. F. from Andover MA (7/16/2014) "Who needs spectators when you have eagles?" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was an awesome marathon. Not only it was well organized, the course was amazingly peaceful and beautiful. Watching eagles up in their nest was a treat, seeing berries, flowers, wheat growing right along the road was invigorating. My husband volunteered at the finish line giving medals and I joined him after I finished, it was rewarding to congratulate others. People with headphones on, you have no idea what you are missing, leave that stuff at home. Give it a try, you will be surprised at what you will hear.
A. S. from Sikeston, MO (7/14/2014) "My first BQ" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This race lives up to its name of being flat and fast. Packet pick up was easy and low key. Even though I didn't pay for the race shirt I was still given one and it is a nice, gender-specific tech shirt. We headed the warnings of snarled traffic and arrived early. There was plenty of parking and parking attendants when we got there. Lines at the port-a-pots were short until the half marathoners arrived. I liked the band playing before the race and the Star Spangled Banner was a nice touch for this 4th of July race. Many people were dressed in red, white and blue. The course was rural, flat and scenic. There weren't any spectators to speak of. Aid stations were well stocked and spaced approximately every 2 miles. I wish the fluid cups were bigger because the weather did get warm in the later miles. However, I was able to run my first Boston qualifying time and had a great experience. The medal was nice and we bought a bunch of fresh berries, cherries and apricots at the Farmer's Market near the finish line. This was my Oregon marathon and I would definitely consider running it again.
S. J. from New York (7/11/2013) "Great for a fast flat course" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This course is great if you're looking for a quick/flat course. There is really only one hill, which they tell you about. The bad thing is it's on mile 18. If you're looking for a race with spectators THIS RACE IS NOT FOR YOU. There is not 1 spectator throughout the course.
J. P. from Phoenix, AZ (7/8/2013) "Easy, laid back marathon" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This is a very low-key race, with some nice greenery and a small town atmosphere. The course is easy, with very few hills. Even the hill on the half mile out-and-back they describe is a piece of cake. Great course for a PR. The water stations were OK. The electrolytes could have been a little less watered down, but it was nice that they had gel. They didn't have the water station at the starting line set up, which was incredibly lame. Very little swag besides a cool technical shirt, and you need to get to the island early to avoid traffic. It's a fun time.

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Marathon Details - Foot Traffic Flat Marathon