Next race
Sunday, 13 December 2026
7:30 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Urban road
Elevation
Hilly · 257 m gain
257 m climbing
Race profile
The Dallas Marathon draws approximately 5,000 finishers on an urban road in Dallas, United States. The course starts and finishes at Dallas City Hall. The route passes Dealey Plaza, White Rock Lake, and the Katy Trail. Mostly flat with gentle undulations.
Dallas Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 5,000 finishers
Course & terrain
The Dallas Marathon is a loop starting and finishing at City Hall, passing Dealey Plaza, White Rock Lake, and the Katy Trail. It is mostly flat with gentle undulations around the lake, and spectators gather at City Hall and along the trail and lakeshore.
The Dallas Marathon course is hilly over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 257 metres of climbing and 257 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
Hilly · 257 m gain — approx. 128 m above sea level
↑ 257 m · ↓ 257 m · net 0 m
Registration
For the Dallas Marathon, the flat downtown course combined with Dallas's typically cool December temperatures — usually 5–13 °C — makes it a popular late-season BQ attempt for runners who have trained through autumn and want one final fast race before year-end.
Getting there
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
8 km / 5 mi
Race footage
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
Other races closest to Dallas.
The Fort Worth Cowtown Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers each February through the historic Stockyards and downtown of Texas's cowboy capital. The course passes the Fort Worth Stockyards, the Trinity River, and the Cultural District on flat North Texas terrain. February's mild Texas winter and the Western-heritage atmosphere make it a beloved regional marathon.
Next race: Saturday, 27 February 2027
The Austin Marathon attracts about 10,000 finishers each February through Texas's capital city. The course passes the State Capitol, the University of Texas campus, and the rolling hills of south Austin with live music at multiple stages. February mild Texas weather and the 'Live Music Capital of the World' race atmosphere make it one of the largest marathons in the Southwest.
Next race: Sunday, 14 February 2027
The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon honours the 168 victims of the 1995 Murrah Building bombing, drawing approximately 1,951 finishers each April. The course passes the Oklahoma City National Memorial, the Bricktown district, and the Oklahoma River trails on flat prairie terrain. April's Oklahoma spring and the race's powerful remembrance mission make it one of America's most meaningful marathons.
Next race: Friday, 23 April 2027
The Woodlands Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers each March on a suburban road in The Woodlands, United States. It is Texas's most prominent spring BQ-focused marathon outside the major-city winter races. The course passes waterway corridors, pine-lined residential boulevards, and packed spectator zones in the town center. The course is very flat throughout.
Next race: Sunday, 7 March 2027
The Houston Marathon draws approximately 8,500 finishers on an urban road in Houston, United States. The course starts and finishes at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The route passes Hermann Park, Rice University, and the Galleria area. Very flat — one of the fastest winter marathons in the US.
Next race: Sunday, 17 January 2027
The Williams Route 66 Marathon draws approximately 1,071 finishers each November on an urban road in Tulsa, United States. Oklahoma's largest standalone marathon celebrates historic Route 66 with a downtown festival atmosphere each November. The course tours Tulsa neighborhoods, the Arkansas River corridor, and iconic Route 66 landmarks on a rolling city loop. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
Next race: Sunday, 22 November 2026
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
Match a race to your goals — personal bests, sightseeing, atmosphere, or a major milestone — using course data and realistic expectations.
