Chevron Houston Marathon & Aramco Houston Half Marathon
Houston, TX
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Houston Marathon Committee annually organizes the nation’s premier winter marathon, half-marathon, and 5K. Over 250,000 participants, volunteers and spectators make Chevron Houston Marathon Race Day the largest single-day sporting event in Houston. Race weekend events include: Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon, We Are Houston 5K, and the … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jan 16):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 74 | 63 | 31 | 75 | 54 |
| L (°F) | 50 | 44 | 18 | 66 | 34 |
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PR on a fast, flat and energetic course
I've run this half 6 times and decided to run the full for charity in 2026. Being able to warm up and have access to hundreds of port a potties … MORE
I’ve run this half 6 times and decided to run the full for charity in 2026. Being able to warm up and have access to hundreds of port a potties in the convention center before the race is absolutely wonderful (note – charity runners also get access to the bathrooms with actual flushing toilets, it was a very VIP experience!). The course is well maintained and takes you through the best parts of houston, with only a short jaunt on a feeder road. Wonderful crowd support. Miles 19-22 get a little lonely except for the memorial tunnels, then you drop back into downtown on the allen parkway and the fan support is top notch. The rolling hills feel like mountains, but you can see downtown and that’s all you need. Good post race support back in the convention center. Loved the whole thing!
Crowded and cold but fun!
I love the constant crowd support. I lined up WAY too early and froze--it was in the upper 30s which should be fine for this Minnesotan but I wasn't dressed … MORE
I love the constant crowd support. I lined up WAY too early and froze–it was in the upper 30s which should be fine for this Minnesotan but I wasn’t dressed for it. Great indoor race support after, but very hard to find an uber back to my hotel.
For Runners, by Runners
While it was my 6th participation here, that was my first time "only" doing the half. Pre-race is well organized, two full days of packet pickup at the GRB Convention … MORE
While it was my 6th participation here, that was my first time “only” doing the half.
Pre-race is well organized, two full days of packet pickup at the GRB Convention Center, Packet Pickup is very efficient and you get your first round of swag (this year a winter hat and a soccer scarf…. a bit weaker than previous years). Expo is medium for a race this size, and overcrowded. Brooks is a main sponsor and have a huge stand at the expo entrance with overpriced stuff, then there’s been a free personalized TShirt booth for the past 2-3 years which generates a 1h+ queue. Not necessarily worth it for a cotton shirt. Improvement this year: you DO NOT have to go through the expo to leave, and instead you can just pick up your packet and leave. Yeah!
Race day is great. Pre-race is always a very weak point in all races I’ve been to, but Houston is the exception. You get to gather, drop your bag, use the (countless) bathrooms etc INSIDE the convention center. Forget the cold, wind, rain… just enjoy. Then you walk a couple of blocks to your corral. Unlike in some races, Corrals are enforced, so it is a bit slow to get in, but you see very few walkers in early corrals thanks to it. (no system is 100% bulletproof but they are doing great). Corrals and start felt crowded with few bathrooms in previous years? Well they listened, created another corral to spread us into 6 rather than 5 corrals, had some port-a-potties inside the corrals, and actually spaced the corrals a bit further so it felt like you were allowed to walk to the start line, rather than being pushed in. This was both more efficient (I started in corral C at 7:16 while my previous corral C starts were all between 7:24 and 7:36 in previous years according to Strava) and offered more space. Instead of having something like 30-40 runners crossing the start line each second, there were only 4-5. I had a whole car lane for myself! Crowd support all the way but on these first few miles especially was great, despite the cold weather.
Another complaint I often have with races (and even had at Houston) is with the aid stations. When you expect thousands of runners to get water AND gatorade at a 20ft-long station, it is always messy. Runners stop, other sprints, cut lanes… All aid stations were VERY long, felt like a 40-50yds gatorade station, then a 30-40yds break, and another 40-50 yds water station. Both very visible with G or W signs, giving all runners time to plan, get closer, go early and stop for those who wants to, go further and keep running for those who prefer to… I think I’ve had friction with one runner at one of the stations but otherwise felt as if I was by myself.
All these observations are valid both for the Half and the Full since the two events start simultaneously on the same course and stay together until mile 7 approximately. That’s when I went into new territory. That right turn is when, as a marathoner, you feel like breathing again (there’s a 3:1 ratio of half/full runner), but obviously you don’t really perceive anything different as a halfer. Then you hit the Hermann Park roundabout, with all fountains and the sun shining at a perfect angle, and this is unique. This is Houston, you obviously don’t come here for the scenery. But that instant is magic and really elevates the whole experience. A long straight line later, you are on Allen Parkway already. A dreadful moment for the full because of the “rolling hills”, but there are two main differences with the Half: you are joining the Allen Parkway 11 miles in, not 22; so you are 11miles fresher, AND these 2 extra miles of Allen Parkway that you are NOT running are the 2 miles with the underpasses anyway. So the course is flat, flat, and flat, ALL THE WAY. No bridge at mile 13, No underpasses under Allen Parkway.
While you finish, you are passed on an adjacent (yet completely separate) lane by the elites (well I guess it only applies in my 2h-ish time range. too fast or too slow and you won’t have that. Bummer..), the crowd starts being huge again, and you get your second round of swag: medal, finisher shirt, and beer glass (well, only for the full, as I’ve learned this year!). Then the HEB food court with bananas, granola bars, ice cream, pancakes, biscuit, sausage, the worst eggs I’ve ever had (each year!!), coffee and hot cocoa. That you can have inside, on tables and sitting in a chair, like a human being instead of standing like an animal like at too many other races.
Overall a very well organized race, where runners are considered.
Great race! I’ll be back again and again
This was my 2nd year running the Chevron Houston Marathon and unless I decide to run CIM, this will be my go to winter race every year. I stayed at … MORE
This was my 2nd year running the Chevron Houston Marathon and unless I decide to run CIM, this will be my go to winter race every year.
I stayed at the Magnolia House Houston which you walk out the front lobby and you’re at the starting corral A. The others are just one block over sequentially. The only downside is that if you want to check a bag for any personal belongings or change of clothes for after the race, the bag drop is near the finish about 15 minutes away. Because of that I did not check a bag which I usually like to have dry clothes to change into for the after race activities.
As I’m sure if you researched this race you know the course is flat and fast. There is one very manageable hill around mile 12.5. The crowd support is the best near the beginning and end of the race. The farther away from downtown the lighter the spectators. The volunteers were wonderful. The aid stations well organized and plentiful.
And lastly the race is one of the best run organizationally. Very well executed. Even the last chance port-o-potties near the start line is a nice touch. Bib pickup and purchasing gear at the expo was great. The only odd thing was this is the only race where I received my race shirt after the finish (probably because it says “Finisher”) so you can’t wear your race shirt for the actual race like I sometimes do. But another nice touch is the shirt size exchange is right next to where you pick up your shirt. FYI, the 5K which I ran the day before as my shakeout run, they do give you the 5K shirt before the race so I was able to wear it for that.
A Well-Oiled Machine
This race is usually on MLK weekend and has been on my bucket list but I have always been traveling that weekend. However for some reason, this year it was … MORE
This race is usually on MLK weekend and has been on my bucket list but I have always been traveling that weekend. However for some reason, this year it was the week before so I signed up. This was an excellent race with some of the best course support I have ever seen and possibly the best production I have seen for a race this size (>20,000 for half and full marathon). Pre race communication was good. Maybe a few too many emails though. While I like some reminders it can be hard to sift through a bunch of emails but there was a comprehensive athlete guide and it was easy to find all the information I needed. There is a 5K on Saturday but I could not find any good flights to Houston Friday evening so I skipped the 5K and flew Saturday morning into Houston. For the expo you register for a time to pick up your packet. They aren’t strict about you having to go the time you select but it is to help control the crowds. Even though my flight was scheduled to arrive at 11am on Saturday (and it did) I picked a later time just in case there were travel issues. The expo was at the convention center by the race start/finish. The expo is pretty big but was not too crowded so the picking a time slot seemed to work. Bib pick up was well organized and the packet included bib, a scarf and a hat. No shirt which I realized you got the shirt at the end. There were a lot of booths at the expo. Some did have long lines. For the race I stayed at the Holiday Inn Downtown which is under a mile from the convention center. There are closer hotels but I have my IHG diamond elite status and it was still within walking distance. I did drive to the expo as I hadn’t check in my hotel yet and parking was like $12 or something. Race day I decided to walk to the race to not have to worry about parking. The race starts at 6:55 but it takes about an hour for everyone to cross the start line. You are assigned a corral and given a time when the corral closes. Race weather was perfect for running but it was a bit chilly for standing around outside. I was told by a local to hang out in the convention center and to leave about 10-15 minutes before your corral closes to walk over. Unless you really want to be in the front of your corral, this was correct advice. The race has a 4 hour time limit for the half and 6 hour for the full which is from your chip time. If you are over the time limit you will get a finishing time but it will say ineligible for scoring next to your name so there really isn’t much advantage to being in the front of the corral. They did have pacers up to at least 3 hours. I didn’t plan on using one. I unfortunately had a bit of a cold last week which I was recovering from so I thought 2:45 was a bit ambitious (especially as pacers often go to fast) but knew I should still easily be under 3 hours. I left my corral 45-50 minutes after the start but we seemed appropriately spread out. In a race this big there is no way it won’t be crowded but it could have been a lot worse. As soon as the race start I immediately felt the energy from the crowd. This race may have had the best crowd support of any race I’ve done. Literally the entire race was lined with spectators. I don’t think I ever went a minute without being cheered on. It was so much fun as the bib has your name on it so spectators would individually cheer for you. There were a ton of funny signs and people dressed in costumes. It made the race a blast and really go by fast. The race is also impeccably produced. The course is closed off and very easy to follow. The split between the half and the full was very well marked and obvious. There was a good number of aid stations at least every 2 miles and often more frequent. All had water and gatorade and one had Gu (I believe two have Gu for the full). The aid stations were very well stocked and organized with lots of volunteers. Aid stations are always kind of a mess at big races but this was the most organized I have seen. There are also lots of unofficial aid stations and spectators handing out treats. There were miler markers and timing splits and lots of medical stations. And one thing I was really excited about was Km markers every Km along with the mile markers. I am running Tokyo in March and need to practice pacing myself with Km. I reached the first Km marker a little under 8 minutes. My goal pace for Tokyo is 8min/Km so I decided to pace myself using the Km markers to run just under 8 min/km. I paced myself perfectly and had pretty even splits doing this. The course is so fast. It’s one of the flattest half marathons I’ve done but it’s not quite pancake flat so there is enough very slight elevation change to help mix it up. It would be a great course for a PR or BQ. The scenery itself is fine. Houston is a nice city but it’s not exactly the most scenic nor does it have the most interesting architecture but the crowd support and entertainment made up for the only okay scenery. My finishing time was very good especially for having a cold last week and not feeling 100%. I will say the medal was underwhelming. Not a terrible medal but for such as fantastic race I expected a little more. Everything is bigger in Texas except the medals. There is a post race festival in the convention center. I do appreciate it being closed off to spectators so they didn’t take our hard earned food or the seats we want to rest on while we eat. There were lines for the shirts. Another swag complaint is the shirts run way to small. Select at least one size up. There is an area to exchange sizes. There is also a post race breakfast. It was all right. There were eggs, sausage, pancakes and biscuits. I took the eggs, pancakes and biscuit without gravy. It was okay. I do appreciated a meal. There was not anything vegan at the breakfast but at least there was some vegetarian options. There were also ice cream sandwiches and some bananas, granola bars and other items like that. The half at least was very back of the pack friendly with tons of people at my pace though as I said you need to be under 4 hours to get an official time. I heard the full is less back of the pack friendly and has a fairly tight time limit. Overall I thought this was a great race. It was fast & flat, well-organized and had amazing spectator support. My only critique is I wish the medal and shirts were a bit bigger. I would definitely recommend this race for Texas especially if you like large, big city races. I would also recommend it if you are looking for a race to PR or BQ at. I will definitely come back and run this race again and am seriously considering coming back next year when it will be back on MLK weekend (which is good for me as a friend convinced me to do Disney next year).
Great race, lots of support, crowded
Well organized, popular race. Stayed at the race hotel - Hilton Americas - and it was a perfect location. Showed up at our corral at the race start time but … MORE
Well organized, popular race. Stayed at the race hotel – Hilton Americas – and it was a perfect location. Showed up at our corral at the race start time but had to wait almost an hour before our corral actually started. That was a lot of standing around! Perfectly flat course through interesting neighborhoods. Lots of support, cheers, medical assistance, along the entire route. The course remained fairly crowded. While it thinned out some after the first mile or two, it was fairly dense throughout and became crowded again at the end. All in all a great half and I’m glad we chose this to check off Texas!
Great production, cold temps, fast!!
One of the best produced/run events I've done. As professional as one of the major marathons without all the added complexity. Fantastic to be sheltered in the convention center pre … MORE
One of the best produced/run events I’ve done. As professional as one of the major marathons without all the added complexity. Fantastic to be sheltered in the convention center pre race. Fast course, was nice and cold this year. Would run either the 13.1 or 26.2 again!
A great shakeout for the Houston Aramco
I love doing this run as a shakeout for the half marathon the next day; Houston offers an extra "Double" medal for completing both the 5k and either the Full … MORE
I love doing this run as a shakeout for the half marathon the next day; Houston offers an extra “Double” medal for completing both the 5k and either the Full or Half each season. Great perk!
Big fun in HOU!
Very well organized expo and race. Sufficient pre-race communication emails with relevant information on the expo and races. The race packet included the bib and a nice, 20-oz hot/cold aluminum … MORE
Very well organized expo and race. Sufficient pre-race communication emails with relevant information on the expo and races. The race packet included the bib and a nice, 20-oz hot/cold aluminum travel mug with lid. Finisher shirts were not given out at the expo but rather AFTER you finished the race, in the post-race area. Fairly large expo with lots of vendors, samples, freebies, and race essentials for purchase. Long wait lines for a free personalized shirt, so I skipped it. Bone chilling cold start to the race without any heat lamps or heat sheets so bring your own sheets/hand warmers. Lot of volunteers to ensure runners knew where to go. Nothing spectacular about the course, in my opinion but lots of people were out cheering and supporting runners. Water and Gatorade were available approximately every 2 miles. Gels were also available around mile 7ish. Visible mile markers along the course for both the half and full events (shared course until split just after mile 7). The split for the marathon was very well marked. My absolute favorite part of this course was being able to get a shot (or two) of Fireball whiskey at mile 12 LOL!! Once finishers crossed the finish line, medals were distributed then runners were funneled into the huge hall of the convention center where photo ops, foods, changing areas, and finisher swag (HOU double medal etc.) were available. I especially liked that this area was only for runners/finishers. Family members had to wait until their loved ones exited that area to be reunited. Finisher food items included an ice-cream bar (think dessert before meal), followed by eggs, pancakes, biscuits, sausage, gravy, bananas, coffee and water. For runners who wanted to reunite with loved ones sooner, they could skip the free post race meal and eat at a neighboring restaurant, some of which were co-located at the convention center. Great race and one I’d recommend but not repeat. One and done for me because of the extremely cold temps. Great experience though. While in the area, I also drove out to the Space Center Houston. I’d been to HOU countless times visiting family and never explored the area until this race.
Gorgeous day at least
Can't really complain about the race itself seeing as the American record for a half marathon fell at this one... just not a great race for me personally. MORE
Can’t really complain about the race itself seeing as the American record for a half marathon fell at this one… just not a great race for me personally.
Flat and fast
Overall this was a good race, minus the freak cold weather on race day. There was good prerace communication, which included an online runners guide with expo information and start/finish … MORE
Overall this was a good race, minus the freak cold weather on race day. There was good prerace communication, which included an online runners guide with expo information and start/finish info. The expo was large as expected. Packet pickup went smoothly and then they funnel you into the expo. You got a free travel mug during packet pickup, but a shirt was not included. They did have a free race shirt, however you had to wait in an obscenely long line and the shirt options were not worth the wait in my opinion. I opted out…
There was a gear check, but it was not near the start line. This was very inconvenient on an unseasonably cold morning. It seemed like there were plenty of porta potties by each corral. I waited until the last minute to go to the corral since the hotel was so close to the start, which was nice.
The start had several corrals and a wave start. Even with the corrals, it took me over 4 minutes to cross the start line.
The crowd support was great. You could hear people cheering for the majority of the race. The half and full marathon split around mile 7, and there is a turnaround by this huge fountain which was pretty. Be prepared for a headwind from mile 8.5-11.
The course was very flat but not terribly scenic since it’s all around the city.
Once you cross the finish line, you are forced to go into the convention center where you get a finisher shirt. Luckily these were nicer than the free shirt option at the expo. You have a ticket for food, but I did not use it.
Overall this was a well executed race. I’m not sure if I would run it again, but it is a good choice if you want to run a PR, as long as it’s not in the 30s like it was this year!
Cold and Windy
I try to run races in the south in the winter, because it's typically warmer, not this year. Unfortunately my rating of the race will be lower due to the … MORE
I try to run races in the south in the winter, because it’s typically warmer, not this year. Unfortunately my rating of the race will be lower due to the weather, which they have no control over. The Houston Marathon definitely has the big race feel, I think there were 35,000 plus runners combined in all 3 races offered. 25 minute ride to downtown from the airport. Stayed and the Cambria Downtown Convention Center Hotel, it’s great walking distance to everything you need, especially the start. Packet pick up was about 5 blocks away, lots of vendors like a big race would have. I did not spend to much time there, but there was lots of stuff to do. You get the shirt after you finish the race, which is a bit different then others. Houston was kind of dead on the weekend, lots of hotels around, a few breweries. Cheaper food and a market to get some Powerade, were a bit tough to find. Race morning was very cold and very windy. It was in the 60s on the Saturday and had to be in the 20s on Sunday morning with the wind. Early start time, got the corral 45 minutes early, big mistake with the cold. Tons of porta potties everywhere. Race start was 7 am ish, I wore a trash bag for the first 3rd of the race due to the cold and wind, finally switched over to disposable rain coat for the rest of the race to block some of the wind. The course is mostly flat, the only hill I can remember is in the last 3 miles, and it was not that bad. Starts in the city, then you run out into the suburbs, and back. Nothing to really rave about, there was huge fountain we ran around which was interesting. Lots of crowd support for most of the race, the water/Gatorade stops were every 2ish miles, and volunteers were great. Marathon splits around mile 8 and I felt sorry for them with all of the weather. After crossing the finish and getting your medal, which was nice (state of Texas shape), you go inside the convention center, which was warm. Water, chocolate milk, bananas, chips, then there is a sit down area for scrambled eggs, sausage, and biscuits and gravy. It looked good, but I can’t eat much after a race. The shirts were something I will not hang onto very long. The walk back to the hotel was cold, they did not have the thermal blanket things to give out. Overall the race is very well put together. Volunteers were awesome, and crowd support was great, especially in the cold/windy weather (have I mentioned this yet?). Others I talked to after the race and in the airport really enjoyed it, even marathoners, I guess they did not mind the weather as much as I did.
Windy and freezing in space town
Houston was cold and windy but that didn’t stop thousands of runners. The race was impressively well put together from the beginning with the expo. Expo was nice with many … MORE
Houston was cold and windy but that didn’t stop thousands of runners. The race was impressively well put together from the beginning with the expo. Expo was nice with many freebies. The start of the marathon was rather unusual. Had to walk around in a circle of over a mile to get to my corral. Once there the race was about to start, and did so on time. There was plenty of aid stations, water, electrolytes, even a Gatorade protein bar station. There was a bad head wind between miles 13-18 which slowed me down. But was able to make up for it after that with back wind. Apparently there were heating busses along the course, however I never saw them. There was a minor bridge at mile 12. Not a big deal but some may complain. There was plenty of space along the course to run and never felt crammed. Be careful however, I almost stepped on a dead armadillo at mile 18. There was a cool sound system that played music between mile 20-22. It lead inside of a tunnel with a dj which was cool. There were some ups and downs after that leading to downtown with the wind in favor. Approaching the finish line I heard my name on an intercom, which was cool. After crossing the finish line you have to walk a little to get your medal. Medal is nice. They then push you into the convention center to retrieve your mug/shirt and food. You MUST have a ticket for these items. I appreciated the port a potties inside the convention. I took the snacks included bananas, water, chocolate milk, granola bar, rice crispies, pb crackers, and cookies. The seperate ticket included sausage, eggs, pancakes biscuits and gravy that I did not partake in. Overall, great experience and course and would highly recommend.
Must Do Race - Fast & High Energy Crowds
While it was a cold day (30s but felt much colder due to wind chill), the marathon was amazing. Extremely well organized and produced, Houston is a flat course and … MORE
While it was a cold day (30s but felt much colder due to wind chill), the marathon was amazing. Extremely well organized and produced, Houston is a flat course and crowds can be seen/heard pretty much at every mile along the route. This is a huge race and corrals are extremely large. Corral C waited roughly 40 minutes until start and wind was whipping thru the corral entire wait time. I PR’d and wonder if I would’ve been faster if temps were a bit higher. Some elevation around an over pass and during last couple of miles, overall even running. Wonderful volunteers and crowds. Common to hear your name cheered out. Music throughout the course and in some cases, outdoor speakers played songs in later miles. Convention center was open before and after race. Nice touch was having portables indoors. If you live in Texas or are wanting a course to help you PR, this is a must do event. Highly recommend.
What an experience ❤️
This race is a well-oiled machine. I have previously run the 1/2 distance for this race and had nothing by amazing experiences with it. The marathon was all of that … MORE
This race is a well-oiled machine. I have previously run the 1/2 distance for this race and had nothing by amazing experiences with it. The marathon was all of that and more. Communication – A+. Expo – A+. Hydration, nutrition, and aid stations – A+. Hype stations – A+. Post-race experience – A+. The mostly flat course takes you through so many different areas of the city and really showcases our amazing running community. I cannot say enough good things about this race from start to finish.
I Got Injured. But It's an Amazing Race!
I really wish I didn't get injured during this race (around mile 10, I experienced a sharp pain at my groin/adductor muscles). This was the smoothest and well-planned expo and … MORE
I really wish I didn’t get injured during this race (around mile 10, I experienced a sharp pain at my groin/adductor muscles). This was the smoothest and well-planned expo and race I have ever been to!
Expo: You check in with your ID and code, then head to the table(s) for your bag. When you go to the table, they already have your stuff made and confirm it’s you by greeting you with your name. There were tons of vendors to buy from and I felt so welcomed here!
Race: Weather was a tad cold in the morning, but it warms up. There is TONS of corral control (security to check corral assignment). The course is flat! There were tons of alcohol stops (I think I stopped 6 times). The weather was 10/10!
Post Race: You get your medal, food, and t-shirt when you finish!
I would love to do Houston again as a redo!
I came undone in Houston.
Perfect Running weather (mid 40's) and a fast course meant FAST times for lots of runners, including a new Men's course record! Unfortunately, for me, my fitness level was not … MORE
Perfect Running weather (mid 40’s) and a fast course meant FAST times for lots of runners, including a new Men’s course record! Unfortunately, for me, my fitness level was not where I needed it to be, so I remain at 37 states in my journey to 50 states, sub 4 Hours. Very well organized. Convention Center is enormous, so plenty of room for everything marathon related. Course itself should be fast with very little climbing and lots of sights to enjoy. I’ll be back next year!
Flat, fast tour of The Bayou City
There were over 20K finishers combined between the half and full marathons. So, it is a pretty good sized marathon. You need to schedule an approximate time to pick up … MORE
There were over 20K finishers combined between the half and full marathons. So, it is a pretty good sized marathon. You need to schedule an approximate time to pick up your race pack and visit the expo to help keep it from getting too busy at any one time. The expo was at the convention center. It was quick and easy to pick up the bib. The expo, however, was very crowded despite the scheduled pick up times. It seemed like there was not enough space and was very difficult to get around. I didn’t spend much time there. You do not get your race shirt until after you finish your race.
You had to submit a previous race time if you wanted to be in Corral A. I was surprised what a wide range of paces there were within the A corral. Luckily, there were pace groups which helped me know about where I should line up. There are a lot of elite athletes that run Houston and I knew I did not belong with them. I also did not want to be dodging people.
The half and full marathons started together at 7:01. It was a little windy, but otherwise perfect running weather.
The route is a big circle and ends close to the start. You’ll run by Rice University and get a good tour of some of the neighborhoods. The streets are in good shape and the only real hill comes in the form of an overpass just before halfway. You go through a couple tunnels with music which is a little trippy. There were plenty of fluid stations and a decent amount of spectators. It wasn’t lined 3 deep, and was sparse in some places, but some people were out watching, especially near the end.
The only complaint I had about the race was the end. The half and full runners come together near the end and finish together. Just past the finish line, everything narrows. There were lines to get the finisher medal and then everyone is herded together and funneled into the convention center to pick up their shirt. This was such a bottleneck and people were just standing there. It was very annoying. I just wanted to keep moving. Make sure you have a plan and a place to meet any family or friends as well. It was rather chaotic and very busy in the convention center.
The shirt was nice, but seemed to run a little small. Medal was also nice and featured the tunnel that we ran through. Overall, it was a worthwhile race.
A view from the back of the pack
Always nice to run the hometown event. The expo had the usual vendors and seemed to be a little larger than the past year or two. The event is always … MORE
Always nice to run the hometown event. The expo had the usual vendors and seemed to be a little larger than the past year or two. The event is always 1st class, and the race production is always smooth. The George R Brown events center is able to accommodate both pre and post race activities with plenty of room to spare. The spectator’s numbers were significantly less this year due to the 40 degree temps which most Houstonians aren’t used to.
Volunteers are great as always. Water stops are well stocked. I have the same 3 concerns that I’ve had in previous years: 1) Tee shirts are ALWAYS too small. Everyone was commenting on this and I wish the marathon leadership would listen to these concerns. 2) Porta potties are ALWAYS lacking on the course. Even being in the rear of the pack, each porta-potty stop was at least a 5 minute wait. 3) After finishing, there is a traffic jam between the finish line and the George R Brown. Probably no easy fix for this, but it should be reviewed. I’ve run H-Town 6 times now and will again in 2025.
We spent the night at the Homewood suites directly between the Convention center and the starting corrals. We’ve had good experiences here the past 3 years.
Outstanding prep and expo, very crowded
Pros: - This is in the very large race category. It is obvious that a lot of details were considered in the preparation before, during and after the race. Overall … MORE
Pros:
– This is in the very large race category. It is obvious that a lot of details were considered in the preparation before, during and after the race. Overall very well managed.
– Point-to-point course. For me that is usually a “con”, but the start and the finish are only a few blocks away. Both are easily accessible from all downtown hotels, especially near the Convention Center.
– Excellent pre-race communication. Very good race app.
– Gigantic expo with all the leading shoes and racing gear brands present.
– Post race recovery area inside the Convention Center is enormous, with multiple port-a-lets and changing area. Only accessible to runners. They include a most pleasant served breakfast! (scramble eggs, sausages, mini pancakes and biscuit) and snacks (bananas, fruit bars, cookies, ice cream) with a large section of multiple tables to sit and enjoy it. This is followed by a wide organized spectators meeting area.
– In race hydration stations were plentiful (every 1.5 to 2 miles (2.5-3.5 Km)). All having electrolyte drinks first, then water.
– Medical and security personnel all along the course.
– Very enthusiastic volunteers and cheering crowd through the entire course.
– Relatively easy flat course (but .. see cons below). No bridges. (FYI: For Race Raves lower difficulty score is better/easier).
Cons:
– Very popular and crowded race (14K for the half plus 10K (?) for the full) running together until the course splits just after 8 miles. I think is fun but don’t expect a personal best unless you are in the front corrals (some decent times for elite international runners getting ready for the Paris Summer Olympics).
– Not exactly a “scenic” route. There a some beautiful neighborhoods in the mid part of the race. Not much shade. But because is January this isn’t usually an issue. Bring your sunblock and running shades, though.
– Hydration stations only in one side of the road which create some confusion and bumping with such a wide field of runners. I’ve been in other very large races having signs about a quarter mile before the oasis, letting runners know that hydration is ahead to the left or right. This race doesn’t have such signs.
– The area immediately after the finish line was quite narrow leading to very slow and chaotic flow of runners into the post race area.
– Race shirt and medals were just too ordinary. You can barely make that the medal is from Houston. You get your T-shirt in the post race area after completing the race, I guess because the expo is so packed.
Overall, I understand the hype about this race. Houston is a great city. It is no doubt, comparable to New York, Boston or Chicago.