Next race
Sunday, 17 January 2027
7:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Urban road
Elevation
Rolling · 68 m gain
68 m climbing
Race profile
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.
Houston Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 8,500 finishers
Course & terrain
The Houston Marathon is a very flat city loop that starts and finishes at the George R Brown Convention Center and passes Hermann Park, Rice University, and the Galleria area. The long flat boulevards are the easiest miles, warmth or wind is the main tougher element, and spectator support is strongest downtown, around Hermann Park and Rice, and on the run back to the convention center.
The Houston Marathon course is rolling over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 68 metres of climbing and 67 metres of descent, with a net climb of 1 metres from start to finish.
Rolling · 68 m gain — approx. 12 m above sea level
↑ 68 m · ↓ 67 m · net +1 m
Registration
For the Houston Marathon, yes. Houston has a long history as a US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, and elite Americans frequently target it specifically because the flat course and fast field create conditions where Olympic standard times are achievable.
Getting there
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
16 km / 10 mi
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
25 km / 15 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 Houston.
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 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 San Antonio Marathon draws approximately 3,342 finishers each December on an urban road in San Antonio, United States. It launched in 2025 as a local replacement for the discontinued Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon and drew more than 3,300 marathon finishers in its debut. The course passes the Alamo, the River Walk, historic missions, and South Texas neighborhoods before looping back through the city core. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
Next race: Sunday, 6 December 2026
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.
Next race: Sunday, 13 December 2026
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 Louisiana Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers each January on an urban road in Baton Rouge, United States. Its festival-style finish and winter date make it one of the Gulf South's anchor marathons. The route passes the State Capitol, LSU-area roads, and river-city neighborhoods lined with live oaks. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Next race: Friday, 15 January 2027
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
Which US marathons produce Boston qualifiers in practice — course data, typical BQ rates, and how to match a race to your qualifying window.
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.
