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The 2012 Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon, El Paso Corporation 5K and ABB Team Challenge will be held Sunday, January 15, 2012.
The 2012 race will mark the 40th anniversary running of the Houston Marathon. Click here for a look back at the Houston Marathon from its beginning in December 1972.
Houston has two major airports - Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and Hobby (HOU) - which are both a 30 to 45 minute drive from the start line and the GRB. Bush Intercontinental is located north of downtown Houston on Highway 59 and is the larger of the two airports. Hobby Airport is located south of downtown Houston on Interstate 45. Contact your hotel to see if it offers shuttle service from either airport.
The Run for a Reason program is a charity drive that happens in conjunction with the Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon, EP5K and ABB Team Challenge. Money raised through the Run for a Reason program goes to our official participating charities. Please visit our Run for a Reason page for more information.
Yes, Catholic Mass in Hall C and Protestant Church services in Hall B will begin at 5:30 a.m.
A lost-and-found is located at the Information Booth in the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB). Check the lost-and-found if you lose any items in or around the GRB. Items that are discarded along the race route will NOT be returned to lost-and-found. Instead, they will be collected and donated to Star of Hope.
Registration for the 2012 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon lottery is now closed.
The Run for a Reason charity program offers alternative ways to enter the marathon and half marathon races through “Heroes" charity registration and “Fundraise for Registration” options. These entries also opened on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Click here to learn more about our charity registration options.
Registration for the 2012 El Paso Corporation 5K will open on Thursday, September 15, 2011. 5K race registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Mark your calendar! Registration Dates for 2013
| Early Registration |
May 8 - May 31 |
| Lottery |
June 6 - June 21 |
| Lottery Selection |
June 22 - June 24 |
| Lottery Announcement |
June 25 |
Early registration was available for certain qualified registrants through May 31, 2011. Early registration is now closed.
Lottery registration was open from June 1, 2011 through June 23, 2011. There is no fee to enter the lottery. There is no limit to the total number of available lottery entries; however, only one entry per person will be accepted.
During this 23-day period, an online race registration form will be available at chevronhoustonmarathon.com. You must complete this form as if you are registering for the marathon or half marathon race. You will be asked to provide your credit card information, however, your credit card will not be charged until after the lottery has closed and only if your entry is selected.
All individuals who enter the lottery, regardless of the date and time they register, will have an equal chance of being selected for the marathon or half marathon races.
Lottery registrants will be selected electronically after the lottery closes, and at this time, selected participants’ credit cards will be charged during the selection process between Friday, June 24, 2011 and Monday, June 27, 2011. Please note that the credit cards of those individuals not selected will not be charged. If a transaction occurs on your credit card during this time from MarathonGuide.com, this indicates that you have been selected in the lottery and will receive a confirmation email by Monday, June 27, 2011.
By Monday, June 27, 2011, all lottery registrants will be contacted via email and informed of their selection status. In addition, a searchable database of selected participants will be posted on our home page on June 27.
Yes, it is possible for groups of 2 to 10 people to enter the lottery together. Group registration is available to avoid situations where one family member or friend is selected for the race and their running partners are not selected. Group registration ensures that either everyone in the group is selected or no one in the group is selected. Groups are treated as individual registrants so the odds of being chosen as a group are the same as being chosen as an individual.
The first individual of the group to register for the lottery will have the ability to create a group and give the group a “Group Name.” Once the group has been created, the others (up to 10 total) will be able to join with the group when they sign up for the lottery. You can only sign up as either an individual or as part of a group – not both – and you will not be able to change your status from individual registrant to group registrant once you have signed up. Individuals who sign up as both an individual and as a member of a group will have all of their registrations rejected.
Groups may consist of both marathon and half marathon participants. Groups will be informed of their selection status at the same time individuals are informed by Monday, June 27.
Signing up for a group is only for lottery purposes and will not enter you into the ABB Team Challenge.
Yes! The Run for a Reason charity program offers alternative ways to enter the marathon and half marathon races through “Heroes" charity registration and “Fundraise for Registration” options.
Click here to learn more about our charity registration.
"Heroes" Entries: "Become a Hero" and receive a guaranteed race entry into the 2012 Chevron Houston Marathon or Aramco Houston Half Marathon. The Heroes charity registration enables runners to make an up-front, direct donation of at least $350 to a Run for a Reason official charity of their choice, plus the cost of registration, to secure a spot in either race. Heroes charity registrations are limited, so be sure to "become a Hero" early!
"Fundraising for Registration" Entries: The "Fundraising for Registration" program gives runners an opportunity to fundraise for a Run for a Reason official charity of their choice and receive a marathon or half marathon race entry. This program eliminates any upfront, out-of-pocket costs associated with entering the race.
Yes, we will offer a guaranteed race entry to individuals who have been verified as an official Houston Marathon Veteran. These individuals may register now through November 1, 2011.
Click here to register as an official Houston Marathon Veteran.
Click here for more information on becoming a Houston Marathon Veteran.
Yes, we will offer a guaranteed marathon entry to individuals who have been verified as completing 5 or more Houston Marathon races. These individuals must register between May 10, 2011 and May 31, 2011 to receive a guaranteed marathon entry. Once the lottery for the general public opens on June 1, runners who have completed 5 or more Houston Marathons must enter the lottery for a chance to be selected and are no longer eligible for a guaranteed race entry at this time.
Click here to register during early registration.
Yes, new to 2012, marathon and half marathon runners with a verified finish time of four hours or less and two hours or less, respectively, are eligible to register early and receive a guaranteed race entry. Time qualification entries are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis to the first 2,000 marathon and 1,500 half marathoners who meet these standards. Early registration was open from May 10 through May 31.
All times will be verified electronically and manually. Once a runner’s time has been confirmed, their status on the online confirmation search will change from "pending verification" to "verified and registered." If a participant’s completion time cannot be verified, they will be contacted and be required to enter the lottery for a chance to be selected between Wednesday, June 1, 2011 and Thursday, June 23, 2011.
If the time qualification fields are not filled during early registration, the remaining race entries will be added to the open lottery pool.
Participants may use a marathon or equivalent half marathon time (1 hour and 54 minutes or less) to qualify for a guaranteed marathon race entry.
Participants may use a half marathon or equivalent marathon (4 hours and 11 minutes or less) or 10K (54 minutes or less) time to qualify for a guaranteed half marathon race entry. For a list of common qualifying races that will be accepted, click here. If you would like to qualify with a time from a marathon or half marathon race that is not listed, please mark "other" on your registration and your time will be verified on an individual basis. Other eligible race courses must be USATF or AIMS-IAAF certified. If you would like to qualify with a time from a 10K, it must be one of the races listed.
The qualifying race must have been completed within 18 months of the 2012 Event.
The 2012 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon have a protected cap of 24,000 participants. Of the 24,000 entries, 13,000 entries are reserved for the marathon and 11,000 for the half marathon fields. Please note that we reserve guaranteed marathon entries for participants that have run five or more Houston Marathons. We anticipate approximately 2,000 runners will qualify to register.
$125* Marathon
$105* Half Marathon
$ 25 5K through October 31, 2011
$ 30 5K as of November 1, 2011
*Selected participants’ credit cards will be charged at the time they are selected during the lottery selection process, which takes place between Friday, June 24, 2011 and Monday, June 27, 2011. Please note that the credit cards of those individuals not selected in the lottery will not be charged at any time.
Registration fees include finisher merchandise and pay for the cost of putting on our race weekend event – from security, permits, medical supplies and personnel to hydration equipment, bibs and timing chips – just to name a few. Our runners are our top priority, and as the demand for our event continues to grow, we want to ensure that Houston remains a quality experience for all. The Houston Marathon Committee is a not-for-profit organization.
Yes. Military discounts are available for active and retired military personnel. This offer is not available for dependents. Please email the Houston Marathon Committee at least one month in advance to registration opening at marathon@houstonmarathon.com for additional information. Inquiries must be made by June 1, 2011 to qualify for a discount.
Yes. Please click here to view the new 2012 wheelchair policy.
No, there is no lottery for the EP5K. 5K registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration opens on September 15, 2011.
No, there is no race registration for the marathon and half marathon on race day. If entries are still available for the EP5K on race weekend, late registration for the 5K will be held at the Ironman Sports Medicine Institute at Memorial Hermann EXPO on Friday, January 13, and Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
There is no waiting list for our races. The Houston Marathon Committee anticipates an approximate number of cancellations each year and allows more than enough entrants in anticipation of those cancellations.
A searchable registration database will be available on the home page of our website on Monday, June 27, 2011.
An email confirmation will also be sent to the email address provided during registration once you have submitted your registration application and the lottery selection has been made. Lottery registrants will be informed via email once the lottery selection has been processed.
The Houston Marathon Committee has implemented a "third times a charm" rule for 2013. If a runner registers for the marathon and half marathon lottery and is not selected for two consecutive years, they will be given the opportunity to register for a guaranteed race entry for the following consecutive year.
For example, if a participant has registered for and is not selected in the 2011 and 2012 lotteries, for the 2013 race they will be sent instructions and a time period when they may register for the marathon or half marathon and bypass the lottery.
Eligible participants will be contacted following the 2012 event with details about how to register for the 2013 races.
Yes, if you are registered for the marathon or half marathon, you may switch to a different distance race (i.e. from the marathon to the half marathon or 5K, or from the half marathon to the marathon or 5K). Please note that participants in the 5K may NOT switch up to the marathon or half marathon.
Participants may switch between races by completing the online form.
Participants may NOT switch races on race day – any marathon or half marathon participant who switches races and runs a different event than they are registered for will be disqualified.
Yes, there is a processing fee to switch between races. Below is a breakdown of the switching fee schedule:
• July 1, 2011 – December 12, 2011: $15, plus the difference between the half marathon and marathon, (if you are switching up)
• December 13, 2011 – January 6, 2012: $30, plus the difference between the half marathon and marathon (if you are switching up)
Participants may NOT switch races on race day – any marathon or half marathon participant who switches races and runs a different event than they are registered for will be disqualified.
Switching up from the 5K to the marathon or half marathon on race day will result in a minimum two-year ban.
Any participant who runs a race other than the one for which he or she is registered will not be scored. If a participant registers for the 5K and runs the half marathon or marathon, then they will be banned from participating in our races for two years. It is imperative that the registration data associated with your race number belongs to you, the registered participant. If race organizers become aware that a runner has participated in one of our events with a bib that is not registered to that runner, both the runner and the person to whom the bib is registered will be prohibited from participating in subsequent Houston Marathon events for a minimum of two years.
If you are a registered marathon or half marathon participant and are unable to participate in 2012 for any reason, you may defer your race registration by completing the online deferment form. Submission of this form forfeits your 2012 race registration and guarantees an entry into our 2013 race of your choice.
You will not receive a refund for 2012 and will be required to pay for your race entry in 2013.
The deadline to defer your entry is January 6, 2012.
Minimum Two-Year Event Ban for Unauthorized Runners
Our past races have been marred by numerous participants running under the guise of someone else’s race number. While this may seem harmless to the parties perpetrating the bib transfer, it does convey serious consequences to the organizers and participant field alike.
From race results to finishers’ awards being impacted as well as medical staff being able to correctly identify participants in need of treatment, it is imperative that the registration data associated with your race number does in fact belong to you, the participant.
If race organizers become aware that a runner has participated in one of our events with a bib that is not registered to that runner, both the runner and the person to whom the bib is registered will be prohibited from participating in subsequent Houston Marathon events for a minimum of two years.
Packet pickup will be held at the Ironman Sports Medicine Institute at Memorial Hermann EXPO:
Friday, January 13, 2012 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 14, 2012 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB)
1001 Avenida de las Americas
Houston, TX 77010
No. There is no packet pickup on race day. Packet pickup will be held at the Ironman Sports Medicine Institute at Memorial Hermann EXPO (see location and times above). If you do not pick up your packet at the EXPO, you will not be able to run in your race. Packets will NOT be mailed.
Your race bib, timing device, final instructions, safety pins for your bib and a zip tie to attach your gear ticket to your goodie bag. It is extremely important that you read the final instructions prior to race day. You are responsible for knowing the information that we provide to you in the final instructions.
Each participant will receive a final confirmation sent via email and mail (if you provided a valid mailing address during registration). Bring a photo ID and printed copy of your confirmation to the EXPO to pick up your packet.
Yes. There is a designated area on your final confirmation that allows you to release your packet to someone else. Your friend will need to bring a hard copy of the final confirmation with your signature in the designated area in order to retrieve your packet. Your friend must show his or her state-issued photo ID in order to pick up your packet.
The Chevron Houston Marathon is "Going Green" this year. Final confirmations will be sent via email only, the first week of January 2012, to the email address you provided on your registration form. Paper confirmations will not be mailed.
Please note that emails are sent in bulk and may be rejected by your spam filter if you have one. To ensure that you will receive your final confirmation email, be sure that marathon@chevronhoustonmarathon.com is on your "allowed senders" list.
You must present a printed copy of your confirmation email to pick up your packet at the EXPO. We also ask that you review the information printed on the card for accuracy. During this time you can let us know if your address has changed or will change, and if your gender, age and wheelchair status is correct. This will ensure proper division placement for the official race results.
If for any reason you do not receive your final confirmation, please email us for a replacement link or visit the registration area inside the EXPO. There will be designated stations where you will be able to get a copy of your final confirmation by presenting your state-issued photo ID.
You are cutting it close, but as long as you have enough time to get to the EXPO before 6:00 p.m., you'll be all set! There is no race day packet pickup and no packets will be mailed. The EXPO is held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, about a 30 to 45 minute drive from either of Houston’s two major airports.
You will be notified of your assigned bib number when you receive your final confirmation via email in early January 2012.
A wave start is a start in which the runners are separated into two "waves" by their estimated pace per mile. In 2012, the first wave will start 10 minutes before the second wave, alleviating the crowding that often takes place in the first miles of the race.
The wave start helps to make the race a safer and more enjoyable experience by improving the flow of traffic at the start and through the first miles of the race. Instead of having to weave through a forest of runners moving at a slower pace, faster runners have room ahead to run. Instead of constantly worrying about being hit by the speed demons out of the gate, slower runners can relax, find a comfortable pace and enjoy the first few miles of the race.
Please "seed" yourself within your designated wave by using your best estimate as to how long it will take you to finish. Runners at the front of the wave will be expected to run at a faster pace than runners at the back of the wave.
Congratulations on your improvement! For administrative reasons, we cannot change your predicted finish time or corral location. No matter where you are at the start, we will do our best to get everyone across the start line as quickly as possible.
Yes. Entrants who are assigned to different waves but wish to start together may do so. If your friend was placed in a wave behind yours, then you are welcome to forego your assignment and join them for the start in the later wave. Entrants may move back within the wave system, but not forward.
No predictions here! Below are averages from previous Houston Marathons:
Average low temperature: 45F
Average high temperature: 63F
Mean average temperature: 54F
For more information on Houston weather in January, click here.
The race will go on regardless of precipitation. The race will only be cancelled if weather conditions present imminent danger to participants. The Houston Marathon has never been cancelled in its 39 years.
The race begins and ends in downtown Houston, near the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB). The marathon start line is located on La Branch Street. The half marathon start line is located one block over on Crawford Street in front of Minute Maid Park. The 5K start line is located on La Branch Street after the marathon has started.
Marathon and half marathon participants will merge at mile 2. From downtown, participants will run through the Heights and Montrose neighborhoods. At approximately mile 9, runners in the half marathon split off and return to finish at the GRB. All three races will finish on Avenida de las Americas next to the GRB and just south of the start areas.
A detailed map of the starting area, as well as instructions for race morning, can be found in the final instructions which you will receive in your packet.
All runners should report to the start line at 6:30 a.m. The marathon and half marathon wheelchair start is at 6:45 a.m. The remaining marathon and half marathon participants will start at 7:00 a.m. The 5K wheelchair start is 7:25 a.m. and the remaining 5K participants will start at 7:30 a.m.
The easiest way to find your family and friends after the race is to have a plan beforehand. An easy place to meet up post-race is the Reunion Area in Hall C of the George R. Brown Convention Center. The Reunion Area is marked with signs showing letters of the alphabet and runners are encouraged to ask their family and friends to meet them under the sign showing the first letter of the runner's last name.
Be sure to visit the Post-race Party located just feet from the finish line and hang out with friends and family after the race.
There are many privately owned parking lots close to the start and finish lines. Expect to pay cash for all-day parking with no in-and-out privileges. Click here for a map of parking lots in the downtown area near the start and finish lines. A map will also be included in the Race Day Program.
Click here for a list of road closures for the 2012 race weekend.
The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) will be open at 5:00 a.m. We suggest that runners arrive at the GRB before 6:00 a.m. since the Houston Police Department will begin closing streets in and around downtown at 6:00 a.m. Please keep in mind that there may be heavy traffic and you may have to park a few blocks away from the GRB. Give yourself some extra time to make sure you get to there on time!
No. The marathon does not offer shuttle service on race day, but be sure to ask your hotel about shuttle service. Fortunately, there is plenty of parking available only a few blocks from the George R. Brown Convention Center and start line so you should be able to find parking.
Yes. Runners are allowed to enter and exit the runners-only area of the George R. Brown Convention Center (Halls A and B) through the entrance and exit located near the Finisher.s Merchandise area. Please note that only runners are allowed in Halls A and B of the Convention Center on race day. Spectators, including family and friends of runners, are only allowed inside Hall C.
No. The intercom will be used only for official Chevron Houston Marathon announcements and for emergencies. We encourage runners to arrange to meet their family and friends in the Reunion Area, located in Hall C of the Convention Center.
You will receive a goodie bag with your T-shirt at packet pickup. This goodie bag is the ONLY bag you may check before the race. The bag is 17" x 21" in size and has a drawstring closure. No other bags will be accepted at Gear Check.
Gear Check is located in Hall A of the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB). A map of the GRB can be found in the Race Day Program which you will receive in your packet as well as on our website as we get closer to the race.
You will find a gear check tag attached to the top of your race bib. The tag is printed with your bib number. Detach the tag and attach it to the goodie bag you received as part of your race packet and bring it to Gear Check in Hall A in the George R. Brown Convention Center.
An additional gear claim ticket is attached to the bottom of your race bib. After the race, visit the Gear Check area and present your gear claim ticket to retrieve your gear.
Gear Check closes at 2:00 p.m. on race day and all gear must be picked up before that time. The Chevron Houston Marathon is not responsible for gear that is not picked up by 2:00 p.m.
Due to space limitations, we are only able to check one item per runner. Gear Check will only accept the goodie bag you receive as part of your race packet.
Do not leave anything in your bag that may break, ooze, or leak. We have discovered in the past that the new thinner eco-friendly water bottles tend to leak when left in gear bags. We receive thousands of gear check bags that at times are stacked on each other. Please make sure to use a sturdy container for any fluids you check or place your fluids in a Ziploc bag.
We strongly recommend that you leave your valuables at home. The Chevron Houston Marathon is not responsible for lost or stolen property, including any and all property checked at Gear Check.
Participants in both races will need to be able to maintain a pace of 13:45 per mile in order to stay ahead of the streets being re-opened to vehicular traffic. No participants are allowed on the course when the streets are open to vehicular traffic.
The marathon finish line will close after 6 hours. Any marathoners finishing after 6 hours will not be scored as official finishers.
The half marathon finish line will close after 4 hours. Any half marathoners finishing after 4 hours will not be scored as official finishers.
In order to comply with the Houston Marathon's agreement with the City of Houston, streets comprising the route must be reopened to vehicular traffic on a set schedule.
If your pace is slower than 13:45 per mile, you may find that the course is closing faster than you are completing the race. If this is the case, you are free to complete the route, but the Houston Police Department will ask you to move off of the road. Keep in mind that as the course closes, the water and aid stations will also close. The finish line closes at 1:00 p.m. and no times will be recorded after 1:00 p.m. for the marathon or 11:00 a.m. for the half marathon. Finisher shirts, medals and mugs will be awarded only to those finishing within the allotted time limit.
The course is a 50/50 mix of concrete and asphalt/blacktop, similar to the course composure of the Boston or Chicago Marathon.
Water stations are located every 1.5 miles along the course, beginning at mile 2. Each water station will provide water and Lemon-Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula to participants. Medical aid stations are located every other mile beginning at mile 5, and every mile from mile 19 to the finish. Port-a-cans are located every mile starting at mile 2.
These locations are subject to change. Please check back in fall 2011.
There are a number of items that are not allowed on the course. Here is a partial list of what is NOT allowed on the course: runners going backward, runners not wearing a bib, animals, bicycles, baby joggers, strollers, roller skates or rollerblades, hand-crank chairs and any wheeled vehicles other than wheelchairs. In accordance with USATF guidelines, wheelchair athletes must wear helmets.
Click here for our updated headphone policy.
If you have a question about what is or is not allowed, please email us at marathon@chevronhoustonmarathon.com.
Per USATF rules, gun time is used to determine prize money winners and time bonus recipients. Tag time (chip time) will be used to determine all age-group winners and other award recipients.
Awards are given to the top three male and female finishers in each race for the following age categories: 11 and under, 12-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+.
There will be no awards ceremony. All age group awards will be mailed following the event.
Runners with 5K bibs are not allowed into the marathon or half marathon start areas, and runners with half marathon bibs are not allowed into the marathon start area. Runners who move up from the half marathon to the full marathon will be disqualified. Runners can only receive finisher items for the race for which they are registered.
Yes! The Boston Marathon accepts qualifying times from the Chevron Houston Marathon. Qualifying times for the Boston Marathon vary by age group. Click here for a complete breakdown of qualifying times. The Houston Marathon Committee will send a complete list of finishers to the BAA about a week after the race.
When registering for the Boston Marathon, enter your finishing time, finishing place, race name, and location and date of the race in the section entitled "Qualification Information." Be sure to indicate whether the time you entered is gun time or tag time (chip time).
Yes. The Boston Marathon automatically receives a list of all official finishers of the Chevron Houston Marathon and their tag (chip) and gun times. The time entered on your Boston Marathon registration will be checked against the official time that is on file.
For questions regarding qualification for the Boston Marathon, please contact the Boston Athletic Association.
Finisher merchandise will be handed out in the GRB after the races. All finishers in all races will receive a medal inside the GRB after crossing the finish line. Marathon and half marathon runners will use the "finisher shirt" ticket attached to the bottom of their bibs to claim their finisher shirt. Marathon finishers will also receive a glass beer stein.
Yes! Runners may purchase official race merchandise on race day at the Merchandise Booth located inside Hall C of the GRB.
Runners in all three races receive a registration T-shirt. Marathon and half marathon finishers receive finisher shirts, a medal and a hot meal courtesy of H-E-B after completing the race. Marathon finishers also receive a glass beer stein.
Runners are invited to attend the two-day Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute EXPO on the Friday and Saturday before race day, at which numerous vendors hand out free samples and branded items.
Sorry, due to limited quantities, we can only provide one T-shirt per registered participant.
The Houston Marathon Committee offers an Athlete Alert messaging service for all marathon and half marathon participants. This free* service allows registered users to receive cell phone text messages and emails during the race as their favorite runner passes various course checkpoints. Anyone may sign up for this free* service on our website or at the EXPO before race day.
During the race, Live Searchable Results are available at www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com. You can look up a runner's status on the website using the runner's last name. Internet kiosks are also available inside Hall C of the GRB on race day. Following the race, results will be posted on our website.
*Standard text messaging rates may apply.
Visit the Information Booth located inside Hall C of the GRB. The staff here has access to a list of all runners who have been admitted to, discharged from and/or transferred from the Medical Area.
Mile 2 - The Elysian Viaduct
Miles 3 & 4 - White Oak Drive
Mile 10 - Main Street
Mile 12 - University Boulevard in West University Place
Mile 13 - University and Wesleyan
Mile 16 - Post Oak and San Felipe
Mile 17 - Tanglewood Road
Miles 20 & 21 - Memorial Park
The start line, finish line and all water stations. Click here for a list of the Top 10 best places to watch the race.
Looking for a place to grab a bite between runners? Click here for a list of places to eat and drink, along the race course!
The chart below shows the approximate times that the first runners will arrive at each mile marker. Please keep in mind that these times are approximate and showing up at the time listed does not guarantee that you will see the first runners as they streak by.
| Mile 1: 7:05 a.m. |
Mile 10: 7:50 a.m. |
Mile 19: 8:34 a.m. |
| Mile 2: 7:10 a.m. |
Mile 11: 7:55 a.m. |
Mile 20: 8:39 a.m. |
| Mile 3: 7:15 a.m. |
Mile 12: 8:00 a.m. |
Mile 21: 8:44 a.m. |
| Mile 4: 7:20 a.m. |
Mile 13: 8:05 a.m. |
Mile 22: 8:49 a.m. |
| Mile 5: 7:25 a.m. |
Mile 14: 8:09 a.m. |
Mile 23: 8:54 a.m. |
| Mile 6: 7:30 a.m. |
Mile 15: 8:14 a.m. |
Mile 24: 8:59 a.m. |
| Mile 7: 7:35 a.m. |
Mile 16: 8:19 a.m. |
Mile 25: 9:04 a.m. |
| Mile 8: 7:40 a.m. |
Mile 17: 8:24 a.m. |
Mile 26: 9:09 a.m. |
| Mile 9: 7:45 a.m. |
Mile 18: 8:29 a.m. |
Finish: 9:10 a.m. |
Click here to view a map of parking lots in the downtown area near the start and finish lines. Please note that all lots are privately owned, and that you need to pay cash to the lot owner for all-day parking with no in-and-out privileges.
Click here for a list of road closures for the 2012 race weekend.
The Run for a Reason program is a charity drive that happens in conjunction with the Chevron Houston Marathon. Money raised through the Run for a Reason program goes to official charities. Once registration opens on June 1, 2011, runners will be have the option to donate to a Chevron Houston Marathon official charity during the registration process or by visiting the Run for a Reason page to select a charity and make a donation.
Both participants and non-participants may create their own fundraising pages, donate to someone else’s donation page, or make a donation directly to the official charity of their choice from the Run for a Reason page. Please note that creating a fundraising page does not register you for our races.
The best and easiest way to raise money for the Run for a Reason charity program is to create an online fundraising page. Using this page, you will be able to set a fundraising goal, email potential donors, keep track of your donations and send thank you emails.
To create your personal fundraising page, go to the Run for a Reason tab, select "Become a Fundraiser" and then click on the logo of the charity for which you would like to support. Enter your information to complete the process and create your fundraising page.
Absoutely! Simply go to the Run for a Reason tab, select "Become a Fundraiser" and then click on the logo of the charity for which you would like to support. Enter your information to complete the process and create your fundraising page.
Companies, organizations and groups that would like to support charity through the Run for a Reason program can do so via our Corporate Sidewalk Squad Sponsorship program. The Sidewalk Squad is a unique program that gives companies exposure in, involvement with and recognition at Texas’ largest marathon in exchange for a tax deductible donation to one of the Chevron Houston Marathon’s Run for a Reason official charities.
Click here for more information about our Sidewalk Squad sponsorship program.
No. There will not be an official Pasta Dinner, however, many downtown hotels and restaurants offer pasta specials during race weekend.
Click here to read the Houston Marathon Committee’s race cancellation policy. | 
