Scheduled to take place on July 17 and 18, the men's and women's races are to start and finish in front of the University of Oregon's Autzen Stadium, within the boundaries of Eugene, across the river from the main part of the city.

Autzen Stadium is home to the Oregon Ducks college American football team.

The other half of the course is in neighbouring Springfield, the city in which The Simpsons creator Matt Groening found inspiration for developing the popular television show.

Most of the first half of the route is along the Willamette River, first going through Alton Baker Park and Pre's Trail.

Pre's Trail is named after the great American distance runner Steve Prefontaine who suggested a trail in the park, with this being used for a memorial race four months after his death in 1975 - caused by a car accident which occurred directly across the water from the route.

It follows long sections of the marathon route used for the 1972 and 1976 United States Olympic trials and heads into downtown Springfield, where athletes take to Main Street and run through a canopy of sequoia trees.

"Our objective was to design a course that prioritises the athlete experience while honouring Oregon's natural landscape, indigenous people, and long-held passion for running," said Oregon22 road events course manager Ian Dobson.

"As members of this community, we're proud to give the world’s best runners the opportunity to compete on a course that holds so much history and potential. 

"These marathons will write a new chapter in Oregon's running story, creating new legends in the footsteps of Frank Shorter, Jacqueline Hansen, Kenny Moore, Joan Benoit and countless others who raced these roads as they helped inspire and redefine what road racing could be - not only in the US, but globally."

Oregon is to host the 2022 World Athletics Championships from July 15 to 24 2022, with the majority of competition taking place at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene.