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The Chevron Houston Marathon offers participants a unique running experience in America's fourth largest city. The fast, flat, scenic single-loop course has been ranked as the "fastest winter marathon" and "second fastest marathon overall" by Ultimate Guide To Marathons. Additionally, with more than 200,000 spectators, Ultimate Guide to Marathons has ranked the Chevron Houston Marathon the fourth most crowd-supported marathon.
Click here to download a printable version of the course map (subject to change).
Click here for a course elevation chart.
Click here for a detailed list of 2012 race weekend street closures (subject to change).
- Teshome Gelana, 2010, 2:07:37
- Teyba Erkesso, 2010, 2:23:53
- The start line for the Chevron Houston Marathon is in front of Minute Maid Park, just north of the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB). Please note that there are separate start lines for marathon and half marathon participants.
- Marathon and half marathon participants merge at mile 2. From downtown, participants run through the Heights and Montrose neighborhoods. At approximately mile 9, half marathoners split off from the marathon course and return to finish at the GRB.
- Marathoners continue through Rice and West University, passing the Galleria, Tanglewood and Memorial Park areas, before returning to finish at the GRB.
- Finish line clocks display runners’ unofficial time.
- Unofficial results will be posted to the web site on race day.
- The 2012 Chevron Houston Marathon is a 2012 and 2013 Boston Marathon qualifier. The 2011 Chevron Houston Marathon is also a 2012 Boston Marathon qualifier.
- If it is determined that a runner has left the prescribed race course, that runner will be disqualified.
Mile signs and clocks are posted at every mile. Course clocks will be set to correspond with the first wave.
Water and Lemon-Lime Endurance Formula Gatorade, the official energy drink of the Chevron Houston Marathon, are available every 1.5 miles beginning at mile 2. The specialized Gatorade sports drink contains approximately twice the sodium of Gatorade Thirst Quencher (200 mg per 8 ounces), along with chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium to help sustain hydration by more fully replacing what is lost in sweat.
All hydration stations have Gatorade tables’ set-up first. To avoid the bottleneck at the first table, get your drink from a later table.
The last Gatorade table and last water table of each station are marked by a sign. Please keep moving even after you pick up your drink. If you wish to slow down to drink, do so after you have passed all tables. For your safety, take fluids only at the official stations. They will be protected by race security.
Both Gatorade and water, will be available in the George R. Brown Convention Center before and after the race.
- Average low temperature: 45° F
- Average high temperature: 63° F
- Mean average temperature: 54° F
Medical aid stations are located at every other mile beginning at mile 5. The aid stations are marked by large red tents with a white cross. Port-a-cans are located every 1.5 miles starting at mile 2.
As you run this highly acclaimed course, you'll be cheered on by more than 200,000 supporters and spectators who make Houston renowned for its hospitality. From belly dancers, Elvis impersonators and tuba players to marching bands, radio stations, cheerleaders and bag pipers, a multitude of Hoopla brigadiers line the course to entertain and cheer you on to the finish!
A complete list of HOOPLA course entertainers will be posted here in the winter.
The time limit for the marathon is six hours. The course will close on a rolling schedule, with the finish line closing at approximately 1:15 p.m. Marathon runners must sustain a pace of approximately 13:45 per mile in order to finish ahead of the course closure.
If participants cannot average a 13:45 per mile pace, please be aware that our permit dictates that streets that comprise the route be reopened to vehicular traffic at a pace of 13:45 per mile. If participants choose to continue to run after the course closes, they do so at their own risk and will be asked by the Houston Police Department to move off the streets. No times are recorded after the six-hour time limit for the marathon.
Under no circumstances may participants be on the course before the official start time at 7:00 a.m. Beginning before the official start time will result in disqualification.
Finisher shirts, medals and mugs are awarded only to those finishing within the specified time limit.
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 and roller blades; hand-crank chairs; and any wheeled vehicles other than wheelchairs. In accordance with USA Track & Field guidelines, wheelchair athletes must wear helmets.
Click here for our updated headphone policy.
For questions regarding what is or is not allowed on the course, please email marathon@chevronhoustonmarathon.com.
The Chevron Houston Marathon (TX10154ETM) and Aramco Houston Half Marathon (TX10137ETM) courses are certified by the Road Running Technical Council of USA Track & Field. The Houston Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K are sanctioned by USA Track & Field and the Gulf Association of USA Track & Field.
Course routes are subject to change. | 
