Erie Marathon at Presque Isle
Erie, PA
- Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Erie Marathon race course is ideal for setting your personal best record. Flat, Fast & Fun, the course provides beautiful views of Lake Erie as well as the City of Erie Bayfront and miles of coastline beaches, marshes and wooded paths. Held on Presque Isle, in Erie, PA, many … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Sep 13):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 72 | 80 | 67 | 66 | 78 |
| L (°F) | 54 | 64 | 60 | 56 | 66 |
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Lowkey race for a good time
Positives: The course is super flat and simple. It's pretty much impossible to stress about the course itself. The water stops every mile were great. It takes so much pressure … MORE
Positives:
The course is super flat and simple. It’s pretty much impossible to stress about the course itself.
The water stops every mile were great. It takes so much pressure off if you miss one.
Packet pickup, bag drop, etc. were flawless and simple.
Weather was near perfect for September (mid/upper 50s).
Less awesome aspects/just FYIs:
There really is almost no crowd support. The only spot people see you is at the halfway spot and finish. I guess this should be obvious but it was more noticeably quiet than I expected.
The parking situation isn’t great. There was no real parking control race morning making for a longer than necessary wait to get in and some added stress. Just try to get there before 6 and/or prepare to be patient.
Given the size of the field, there should have been a few more port-a-potties. Certainly not that unique to have this complaint but combined with the parking situation, it made for a little more stress than is ideal.
Worth running for a BQ
See my full write-up of the day at my blog. Two big avoidable problems, relate to the water stops and the slightly premature breaking down of the course (and protection … MORE
See my full write-up of the day at my blog. Two big avoidable problems, relate to the water stops and the slightly premature breaking down of the course (and protection of the back-of-the-packers).
https://runroundtheworld.blogspot.com/2025/09/erie-marathon-last-chance.html
No frills but did the job
Great last chance BQ opportunity. Two loop flat course at Presque Isle state park. Aid stations every mile with water and lemon line Gatorade, nice long sleeve shirt, good communication, … MORE
Great last chance BQ opportunity. Two loop flat course at Presque Isle state park. Aid stations every mile with water and lemon line Gatorade, nice long sleeve shirt, good communication, and perfect for a BQ if the weather cooperates.
A race that is by and for runners
This was a great race. The course is as flat as it can be. The water stops every mile were perfect and more frequent than other races, which are typically … MORE
This was a great race. The course is as flat as it can be. The water stops every mile were perfect and more frequent than other races, which are typically every 2 miles. They also had gatorade at every stop, which gave a nice carb and electrolyte boost between gels.
The setting was lovely- mostly shaded road around the perimeter. There weren’t too many vistas of the lake, which I think was fine because that would’ve meant too much wind!
The weather was thankfully ideal for race day (low 50s with not much humidity)- the wind was noticeable but mostly blocked by trees and the course was mostly perpendicular to it.
Parking had a 45 minute bottleneck that made getting to the start more stressful than ideal. My recommendation to the organizers would be to direct pedestrians to use the sidewalk directly in front of the water park entrance instead of walking through the crosswalk at the lot entrance, as cars had to wait for pedestrians before entering the lot.
I missed my PR by a minute, which was frustrating but I can’t blame anything about the course for that, unfortunately 🙂
The race itself was great as always
Not sure why the over the top security which makes Boston look relaxed. All volunteers at all water stations were incredibly kind and helpful throughout. The 2 gentlemen at the … MORE
Not sure why the over the top security which makes Boston look relaxed. All volunteers at all water stations were incredibly kind and helpful throughout. The 2 gentlemen at the hairpin turn however were downright nasty to nearly everyone they encountered. Hopefully they will not be back
Marathon State FIFTY
Packet pickup, start and finish line all located in same spot. Nice long sleeved shirt and small cooler bag with some goodies. Things for purchase if you forget anything The … MORE
Packet pickup, start and finish line all located in same spot. Nice long sleeved shirt and small cooler bag with some goodies. Things for purchase if you forget anything
The course is super flat and beautiful. It’s two loops yet it didn’t seem familiar the second time thru. I had a lot of family and friends there to celebrate my 50th State. Even tho the Isle was closed to traffic, spectators can easily move around to see their people
Plenty of aid stations throughout
Nice nice and a bag at the finish with a subway box and water
Well organized, last chance BQ race
The Erie Marathon is exactly what it is advertised as. I found it when I was looking for an early fall race to try and have a last chance at … MORE
The Erie Marathon is exactly what it is advertised as. I found it when I was looking for an early fall race to try and have a last chance at a BQ for next year. Many runners find themselves in that situation, and Erie is one of the larger marathons organized for that purpose.
The course is fast and flat. It loops through Presque Isle State Park twice, and there’s virtually no elevation change. There’s a good deal of shade and some picturesque views. The only downside of the course is that there aren’t many spectators through the middle of the course.
Packet pick up and the race start were smooth. There are water stations every mile, well stocked with friendly volunteers. There were several course photographers, and they posted official results as people finished. They also take all the precautions (like timing mats and a video for evidence) to make sure times are legitimate and approved by BAA for BQ purposes.
One downside to the race set up is that you can’t park in the park on race day. You park outside the park and then walk a little over half a mile to the start. This is fine in the beginning, but it’s not great after you’re done.
Be wary of the weather, too. Early September is often nice on the lake, but there’s always the chance of a warm, humid day. It was warm and humid the day I ran, and it took its toll on a lot of people.
This is a low budget affair, with a low cost but great production value. The volunteers were awesome, and they make this race a great experience. If you’re looking for an early fall race – especially if you’re trying to get a last chance BQ – the Erie Marathon is a great choice.
The flattest race ever
This race is two loops around Presque Isle in Erie, PA. On this day, it was cloudy, windy, cold, and it rained the entire time. The course is as flat … MORE
This race is two loops around Presque Isle in Erie, PA. On this day, it was cloudy, windy, cold, and it rained the entire time. The course is as flat as it gets, with a total elevation change of maybe 30ft over the entire race. A ton of people come here to get qualified for Boston.
The views were okay, it probably looks better when it’s not cloudy and rainy, but the second loop is particularly tougher because you’ve seen it all before, and I was seeing all the faster runners than me completing their second lap as I was completing the first. There were some birds like turkeys and herons here and there which was cool. The medal was a blue heron and it was so heavy I only had it on for the pictures and then took it off. You have to park up the hill and then walk like a mile to where the portos are and where the race starts. Going back up that hill after running a marathon is significantly tougher, so my partner drove down as close as he could to pick me up. The expo was easy to navigate, nothing too extra, and the race swag was pretty basic. This was my first marathon and I’m glad I started here.
Fast and Flat but oh so boring!
This is a super small, yet well organized, marathon. I’ve done the full marathon three times and the half (in July) twice. The full marathon is two loops of Presque … MORE
This is a super small, yet well organized, marathon. I’ve done the full marathon three times and the half (in July) twice. The full marathon is two loops of Presque Isle.
Race Pros:
Lots of shade because of the canopy (trees) and protection from wind
No hills….there is a super tiny hill going over a baby-sized bridge that you will cross twice.
It is as pancake flat as you can get!
The September weather is USUALLY fantastic….this year there was rain. It sucked.
The long sleeved shirt is my favorite race shirt. It is a nice cotton blend of smooth comfort.
You get a subway lunch afterwards.
There is a water/Gatorade stop about every mile. There is a contest for the “best” water stop, so vote afterwards. This is a huge plus for me!
Cons:
It is SOOOOOOO boring! There isn’t anything to look at. There are trees and more trees. The race is for the mentally tough only. If you need crowd support, please move along.
Erie, PA isn’t exactly luxurious so be prepared to stay at a driving distance from the start (is Uber even available here??)
You can’t park IN the park so you will be walking almost a mile back to your car…Uphill (not kidding).
It is really boring.
There is no cell-service in the park (you can’t even text anyone..bring a book)
There is no expo. You pick up your packet and there are a couple of tents with stickers/magnets. That’s it.
All of that being said, I have run it 3 times. I have gotten 2 of my fastest times here so it hasn’t been all bad!!! I rely on these reviews to choose my races so I thought I’d put in my 2-cents.
PRs and nice scenery
I came to Erie in 2019 because I had heard all about the flat course and because you can sometimes use this race for two years worth of BQs. I … MORE
I came to Erie in 2019 because I had heard all about the flat course and because you can sometimes use this race for two years worth of BQs. I was not disappointed. Even though the race production is small, it was very well organized. When I picked up my race number, they take your picture with it so you can’t cheat which I liked. The course itself was surprisingly beautiful. It runs on a peninsula from Erie and even though it is near the water, it was very protected from any wind. The course was a double loop and is pancake flat. The only rise is a small footbridge near the end of the race. The water stops have a competition to see who does the best job so they are all about providing great service. The post race food box wasn’t bad. I did get a PR and a BQ here (my PR has dropped since this race) so I highly recommend the race if you are looking for a fast race!
PR course
A very flat and fast marathon. I got my marathon PR. They had cheap swag. The only downfall was the parking was chaotic and I recommend allowing more time than … MORE
A very flat and fast marathon. I got my marathon PR. They had cheap swag. The only downfall was the parking was chaotic and I recommend allowing more time than you think to park.
Perfect.
It was PERFECT! I Boston Qualified! Weather was perfect! It’s relatively flat and there were MORE than enough air stations with water. They also had GU gel on course. There … MORE
It was PERFECT! I Boston Qualified! Weather was perfect! It’s relatively flat and there were MORE than enough air stations with water. They also had GU gel on course. There was a lot of energy by spectators and the volunteers were amazing. The scenery is beautiful too. There were also a lot of bathrooms available. And there are so many other runners! Which I really liked! It wasn’t too congested. I really enjoyed the whole thing.
Flat and fast as advertised
Nice flat course with water stops every mile and lots of pace groups. A little congested at the start, but it helped me from going out too fast. The only … MORE
Nice flat course with water stops every mile and lots of pace groups. A little congested at the start, but it helped me from going out too fast. The only issue is the traffic getting into and out of the park. Plan to get there early.
Would like to return
Smaller race is capped around 2,000 marathoners. Course is flat, two laps around a very pretty park. There was some shade with fun water stations each mile. The parking was … MORE
Smaller race is capped around 2,000 marathoners. Course is flat, two laps around a very pretty park. There was some shade with fun water stations each mile. The parking was at a nearby amusement park and was well organized. The park itself had long stretches of sand beaches that you can check out before or after the race. The short sleeve tech shirt was pretty and the cloth bag with a zipper top and movable inserts was really nice. The finish line had water, chocolate milk, bananas and sandwiches from Subway. The only funny thing was that my bag didn’t have any pins. Be sure to bring some with you. I would consider running Erie again with hopes of improving my time!
One of my favorites! Flat, fast!
2 loop course around Presque Isle park. Shaded and flat! Plus...you can hang out on the beach and take a dip after your race. If you are looking to PR … MORE
2 loop course around Presque Isle park. Shaded and flat!
Plus…you can hang out on the beach and take a dip after your race. If you are looking to PR and get a last minute BQ, this is the race for you.
Pancake Flat. Perfect BQ course.
My 20th Marathon and absolutely the flattest I've ever run! Because of this, recommend training on long flat stretches if possible. I did BQ, along with over 30% of other … MORE
My 20th Marathon and absolutely the flattest I’ve ever run! Because of this, recommend training on long flat stretches if possible. I did BQ, along with over 30% of other runners. Because it’s the last weekend to BQ prior to Boston registration, there are a bunch of BQ hopefuls to run with, which I found helpful. You can tell this race is put on by a running club. Easy packet pickup, aid stations stocked with the right stuff and great volunteers. Very good swag. Pretty course, but only gave 3 shoes for ‘course scenery’ because the view of Lake Erie is covered by trees for most of the course. Only negative is that this area can get humid around the Lake, so keep an eye on this and maybe relax a little in the first half.
Perfect BQ course!
It's packed with BQ hopefuls and previous Boston runners, so the vibe is encouraging and feels like a rehearsal for running Boston ... except this course is flat minus a … MORE
It’s packed with BQ hopefuls and previous Boston runners, so the vibe is encouraging and feels like a rehearsal for running Boston … except this course is flat minus a tiny rise that I didn’t even notice and the awesomeness of a double loop. Parking is easy, day of and packet pick up was easy. I’ll be back.
One of the best!
I love this race! It's a pancake flat, 2-loop course that's spectator friendly. It's shaded almost the entire way, and temps are always nice. Presque Isle is also an awesome … MORE
I love this race! It’s a pancake flat, 2-loop course that’s spectator friendly. It’s shaded almost the entire way, and temps are always nice. Presque Isle is also an awesome location for a race! You can take a dip in the lake post-race and hang out on the beach. Also, stop by Sara’s on the way out of the park for a chili dog and some ice cream. Erie is a great place for a short family vacation, too! If you are looking for a new PR/BQ, this is THE race to do.