Chevron Houston Marathon

Houston, USA

Saturday, January 16, 2027

Choose your distance

Marathon

Distance

42.2km

Cutoff

6-hour chip time; course split at Mile 7.6 must be reached by 9:40 a.m. and Mile 20 by 12:20 p.m. (estimated times)

Terrain

Road

Difficulty

Beginner

Overview

A full marathon on the city streets of Houston, held on a course that is nearly flat and officially certified, which allows finishers to use their time to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Nearly flat, fast city course
Officially certified marathon and half marathon routes
Boston Marathon qualifying race
Crowds of close to 500,000 spectators
Downtown Houston streets and landmarks

The practical side

Qualification

No qualifying time is needed to enter. Both the marathon and the half marathon courses are certified by the Road Running Technical Council of USA Track & Field, so finishing times can be used to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Start / Finish

Start

Downtown Houston (start and finish in the city centre)

Finish

Downtown Houston (start and finish in the city centre)

Terrain

Paved city streets through Houston on a course described as nearly flat, with very little climbing across the full 42.2km.

Route

The marathon takes runners on a tour of Houston on foot, with the start and finish in the downtown area and crowds lining almost the entire route.

Race Day

The 5K has traditionally been held on the Saturday before the marathon and half marathon, with the longer races following on the Sunday in downtown Houston.

Good to know

On the day

ParkingOn race day the George R. Brown Convention Center opens at 5:00 a.m. and the Houston Police Department begins closing streets in and around downtown at 5:30 a.m.; traffic may be heavy and you may have to park a few blocks away. Saturday and Sunday parking maps are published on the event website. Family Fun Run parking is free at the Sabercats parking lot, less than a quarter mile from Houston Sports Park.

Aid stationsWater and Gatorade Endurance Formula (Lemon-Lime) available every 1.5 miles beginning at mile 2 · Medical aid stations at every refueling station starting at Mile 2, located immediately before the refueling station · Port-a-cans every 1.5 miles starting at mile 2, following the refueling stations · Gatorade Endurance and water available in the George R. Brown Convention Center before and after the race · SAG vans roughly every 15 minutes from each Medical Aid Station, climate controlled with water and Gatorade on board · Post-race breakfast provided by H-E-B at the GRB · Family Fun Run: participant shirt, finisher medal, goodie bag for kids only, post-run snacks and beverages, free ticket to a Houston Dynamo or Dash match, and a post-run festival with soccer drills, Chevron STEM Zone, bounce houses, wall climbing, gaming truck, face painting and balloons

Before you enter

RefundsAll Houston Marathon Committee event fees are non-refundable and non-transferable; participants cannot cancel, refund or defer their registrations. Optional refundable registration (16% of all items purchased, excluding event processing fees) can be bought during registration through Protecht Group for a 100% refund of the entry fee and additional products purchased.

TransfersThe Houston Marathon does not allow the transfer of registrations. Registered runners who give their bib to another person, and the person who receives it, will be disqualified and prohibited from participating in subsequent Houston Marathon events for a minimum of two years.

Bad weatherThe race will go on regardless of precipitation. It will only be cancelled if weather conditions present imminent danger to participants.

Time limitNo cutoff time is stated on this listing. Check the official event website for the current time limit and any intermediate cutoffs on the course.

Collecting your numberYes, but participants may only pick up one additional participant packet. Your friend needs a hard copy of your final confirmation with your signature in the designated area plus a printed or electronic copy of your government-issued photo ID. Participants picking up for a child 17 and under may pick up more than one additional packet; no group pick-up is allowed.

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Chevron Houston Marathon

Overview

The practical side

Good to know

Can I use the Chevron Houston Marathon to qualify for the Boston Marathon?

How big is the event?

Is the course hilly?

What is the weather usually like on race day?

Can spectators watch the race?

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