Marathon & Half Marathon Course Information

Course Map

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Course Elevation

Chevron Houston Marathon approximate course elevation map. Aramco Houston Half Marathon approximate course elevation map.

Start Line

The Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon use a single start line for both races. The start features four corrals with the first corral starting at 7:01 a.m. Corrals B and C will follow the A Corral using a pulsed start method – three minute time intervals separating the corrals – to reduce course congestion. Corral D will follow immediately after the C corral with no pulsed intervals. Corral assignments are determined by the predicted finish time of each runner indicated during registration. Corral A seeding is by request only, and the deadline to submit a qualifying time is November 30. Please log in to your participant account to add your qualifying time. Click here to see the Start Line Map.

Signage, Clocks

Mile signs and clocks will be posted at every mile. Course clocks will be set to correspond with the 7:01 a.m. start time.

Refueling Stations

Water and Gatorade Endurance Formula (Lemon-Lime), the Official Sports Fuel Provider of the Chevron Houston Marathon, are available every 1.5 miles beginning at mile 2. The specialized is formulated to help sustain hydration by more fully replacing what is lost in sweat. All hydration stations have Gatorade Endurance tables set-up first. To avoid the bottleneck at the first table, get your drink from a later table. Gatorade Endurance Energy Gel stations will be placed at approximately mile 7 of the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon and again at approximately mile 18 of the Chevron Houston Marathon. The last Gatorade Endurance 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 Endurance and water will be available in the George R. Brown Convention Center before and after the race.

Course Aid Stations

Medical aid stations are available at every other mile beginning at mile 5. The aid stations are marked by large red tents with a white cross.

Port-a-cans

Port-a-cans are located every 1.5 miles starting at mile 2, following the refueling stations.

Course Photos

MarathonFoto.com will have a team of professional photographers take numerous photos of event participants at multiple locations prior to the event, on the course as well as at the finish and post-finish areas. Look for your pictures here!

Course Entertainment

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!

Finish Line

Click here to see the Finish Line Map.

SAG Accommodations

Should you find yourself unable to complete the entire course due to either physical or time limitations, the Support and Gear (SAG) Team is available to assist you. SAG vans will be available to pick up any participants who need a ride back to the George R. Brown Convention Center. Designated pick-up points for SAG vans are located at every Medical Aid Station. Go to the nearest Medical Aid Station for SAG pick-up. SAG vans will run approximately every 15 minutes from each Medical Aid Station. All SAG vans and buses will have SAG Race Crew onboard to provide information on the services available to participants upon return to the GRB. There will be water and Gatorade for hydration on the vehicles, and the vehicles will be climate controlled. NOTE: Pick-up by our SAG vans is only available at Medical Aid Stations or by the final SAG van that tails the race route as streets reopen to traffic.

Course Time Limit

The time limit for the half marathon is four hours. However, in order to complete the race faster than the roads are being re-opened to vehicular traffic, all half marathon participants must be able to maintain a pace of 13:45 per mile or faster over the first eight miles of the course. Any half marathoners finishing after the four hour time limit will not be scored as official finishers. The time limit for the marathon is six hours. The course will close on a rolling schedule, with the finish line closing at approximately 1:55 p.m. Marathon runners must sustain a pace of approximately 13:45 per mile in order to finish ahead of the course closure. Under no circumstances may participants be on the course before the official start time. Beginning before the official start time will result in disqualification. Participants are not allowed on the course after the streets are reopened to vehicular traffic. Participants who fall behind pace will be asked by the Houston Police Department to board the final SAG vans as roads reopen to vehicular traffic. Based on the six hour marathon time limit, if participants have not reached the following locations by the time shown, they will be instructed by race officials to take a SAG back to the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Participants will not be allowed on the course after these times. Times are estimated and may be adjusted based on the start line clearance time. Mile 8 – 9:50 a.m. Marathon/Half Marathon Split

Participants behind pace will be directed to complete the half marathon course Mile 14 – 11:15 a.m. Post Oak Blvd. at Richmond Ave.

Participants behind pace will be directed to catch the SAG van back to the GRB Mile 20 – 12:20 p.m. Memorial Dr. at I-610

Participants behind pace will be directed to catch the SAG van back to the GRB No times are recorded after the four-hour and six-hour time limits for the half marathon and marathon, respectively. Participants finishing over the four or six hour time limit (chip time) will not be considered official finishers.

Walkers and Slower Participants

The Aramco Houston Half Marathon welcomes all those who can finish in the four hour time limit. If you plan on participating, but cannot average the necessary 13:45 per mile pace for the first eight miles and 18:00 per mile pace thereafter, please be aware that streets on the route will be reopened to vehicular traffic on a rolling schedule, as dictated by our permit. Participants who fall behind pace will be asked by the Houston Police Department to board the final SAG vans as roads reopen to vehicular traffic.

Prohibited Items on Course

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 rollerblades; and any wheeled vehicles other than wheelchairs. In accordance with USATF guidelines, wheelchair athletes must wear helmets. If you have a question about what is or is not allowed, please email us at marathon@chevronhoustonmarathon.com.

Course Certification

The Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon 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 route is subject to change.

We Are Houston 5K Course Information

Course Photos

MarathonFoto.com will have a team of professional photographers take numerous photos of event participants at multiple locations prior to the event, on the course as well as at the finish and post-finish areas. Look for your pictures here!

Time Limit