Andria Eguia of the Oakland Beer Runners runs the half-marathon Sunday during the Oakland Marathon, a competition that also featured 5K and 10K races. The races drew a record 11,000 runners.
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Christopher Vivas crosses the finish line during the 5K in Sunday’s Oakland Marathon.
Brontë Wittpenn/S.F. Chronicle
It took every last ounce of strength for Maynard Raymundo to grab his 18-month-old daughter, Penelope, from the sidelines of the Oakland Marathon and carry her in his arms over the finish line with him.
Running his first 26.2-mile race was “probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Raymundo said just after finishing, “but it was worth it.”
“I did it for her,” he said while looking at Penelope, who wore his medal around her neck. “Just a year ago I couldn’t run 3 miles — I think if you can put your mind to anything, you can accomplish it.”
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The spirit of positivity, community and triumph was abundant Sunday morning in Oakland as a record-setting 11,000 runners took to the streets for a 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon, which took participants around Lake Merritt, through downtown and across the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island.
Confetti covers a portion of Harrison Street as runners compete in Sunday’s Oakland Marathon.
Brontë Wittpenn/S.F. Chronicle
Fans cheered and clapped as runners crossed the finish line one by one, smiling and grimacing, stumbling and crying. Some finishers pumped their fists in the air, and others celebrated with hugs, shouts and high-fives. Friends and family members held signs and flower bouquets while volunteers handed out water bottles and medals.
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“I’m wearing this medal all day tomorrow,” said Kevin Johnson, a half-marathon finisher, after snapping a smiling selfie with it. He said he has run races all over the country, but “there’s no place like home.”
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“Oakland is such a great city,” he said. “We need more community events, things like this.”
In the marathon, Andrea Deutsche, a 36-year-old from Newcastle (Placer County), took first place among women with a time of 2 hours and 52 minutes, while Ryuji Mano, a 27-year-old from San Francisco, placed first among men with a 2 hour and 30 minute finish time. Ethan DeMoss, 31, from Alameda was first in the nonbinary category, finishing the race in 3 hours and six minutes, according to race results.
Ryan Lester cheers for runners in Sunday’s Oakland Marathon.
Brontë Wittpenn/S.F. Chronicle
The energy was high at the finish line festival in the parking lot behind the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, where runners in shorts and sweat-soaked tops gulped water, gobbled down snacks and danced to lively music blasting from a DJ. Others sprawled on the grass, stretching sore muscles and catching their breath.
Viji Doraiswany and her 10-year-old daughter munched on free snacks after wrapping up the half-marathon and the 5K, respectively. For the South Bay family, the Oakland race is a chance to soak up the Bay Area’s community spirit.
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“We all love to do this together,” Doraiswany said. “That’s why we keep coming back to this — the people — everybody’s out supporting you, from kids to really older people, they’re all there in the streets.”
A host of creative signs decorated the course, including large cutouts of runners’ heads, and one from an onlooker that read, “Aw! I missed it!” Fans shouted names, clanged bells and coaxed tired runners toward the end.
“You got it, you got it, you can do it,” said the emcee, who called out the names of each runner as they finished the race.
Beza Sileshi, who ran a half-marathon for her birthday, embraces Andy Ostaviano after he ran the same race Sunday in Oakland.
Brontë Wittpenn/S.F. Chronicle
The heat wave that gripped the Bay Area for roughly a week and pushed Oakland to a record-shattering 91 degrees Friday broke just in time to deliver slightly cooler race-day temperatures.
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But the weather was still warmer than usual for March, with few clouds in the sky as the sun beat down on sweaty, red-faced runners tackling the course. The temperature had climbed toward 70 degrees by the time 50-year-old Sam Zollakota crossed the finish line.
“Heatwise, this was the worst one,” he said, a blue hat shading his face. “Normally it’s not that hot.”
Sunday was his ninth time running the Oakland Marathon, said Zollakota, who has been a marathoner for nearly two decades as a way to challenge himself and stay fit.
“I don’t compete with anybody, I compete with me,” he said. “My goal is keeping my good shape as long as I can. … Let’s see how long it will go.”
Supporters cheer for thousands of runners in Sunday’s Oakland Marathon.
Brontë Wittpenn/S.F. Chronicle
Molly Mills and Alexis Maron ran the half-marathon together in matching gear: blue Hoka running shoes, dark green shorts and shirts, and hats with the slogan, “I’m single.”
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Last year, when the friends completed the 10K during Oakland Marathon weekend, they set their sights on the 13.1-mile race in 2026.
“And we did it,” Mills said, noting that it went better than expected. “We’re alive — we’re not crying or anything like that.”
Next up is the full-distance marathon, which the pair said they hope to complete in five years when Mills turns 70.
“I always kind of wanted to do a marathon, but I knew I couldn’t. But now I’m like, ‘Oh, we could do this twice,’” Mills said after finishing the half.
“I’m along for the ride,” Maron said.