The Chevron Houston Marathon, first run in 1972, has grown from a local race into a world-class, Gold-labeled event. Its reputation as a flat and fast course is well-earned, drawing runners from across the globe who chase personal bests. The route showcases the city beautifully, winding through many of Houston's most iconic neighborhoods and landmarks.

For the first 7.6 miles, marathoners share the course with participants of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, creating an electric, high-energy atmosphere that demands careful pacing and spatial awareness before the fields separate.

Race day weather in mid-January typically offers ideal marathon conditions. The 6:55 a.m. start time falls just before sunrise, meaning runners spend the first half-hour navigating the cool, twilight hours while the illuminated city skyline provides a stunning backdrop.

Temperatures historically begin in the low 40s Fahrenheit, though they can dip into the 30s, and gradually climb into the 50s or low 60s by the finish. With minimal chance of precipitation and generally light winds, conditions usually favor a steady effort from start to finish. Runners should prepare for a cool, crisp start and expect gradual warming throughout the morning.

The course profile is remarkably forgiving, with total elevation gain under 200 feet spread across the 26.27 miles. Over 92% of the course runs flat, with no sustained or challenging climbs to break a runner's rhythm.

The most noticeable elevation changes are brief overpasses and a series of gentle rollers along Allen Parkway in the final miles. This profile allows runners to settle into their pace and focus on execution. The primary challenges come not from the terrain, but from navigating pace in the crowded early miles and maintaining mental focus during the long, straight stretches of the second half.

• Event Date: January 11, 2026
• Event Type: Road Marathon
• GPX Course Length: 26.27 mi
• Course Type: Loop
• TrailScore: 45.09
• Total Ascent: 199.38 ft
• Total Descent: 171.85 ft
• Longest Uphill:
  • Starting at Mile 2.97, 0.3 mi at an average grade of 0.68%
• Longest Downhill:
  • Starting at Mile 16.96, 0.31 mi at an average grade of -0.58%
• Steepest Uphill:
  • Starting at Mile 12.67, 0.1 mi at an average grade of 4.69%
• Steepest Downhill:
  • Starting at Mile 24.01, 0.1 mi at an average grade of -3.4%
• Significant Climbs:
  • There are a total of 1 significant climbs on the course.
• Significant Descents:
  • There are a total of 2 significant descents on the course.
• Grade Distribution:
  • Flat: 92.2%
  • Minor Incline: 4.3%
  • Minor Decline: 2.3%
  • Moderate Decline: 0.8%
  • Moderate Incline: 0.4%

With a 6:55 a.m. start, your race begins in pre-sunrise twilight, surrounded by the illuminated skyscrapers of downtown Houston. The atmosphere is electric as you run alongside thousands of half marathon participants. The first few miles take you through a series of turns as you navigate the city grid, heading west out of the central business district.

The course profile is almost entirely flat, giving you an early opportunity to find your rhythm, though the dense crowds will require patience and careful maneuvering. This section buzzes with spectator zones and live entertainment, creating a powerful wave of motivation that carries you forward.

As you pass through vibrant neighborhoods like Neartown and River Oaks, the streets are wide and the terrain remains consistently level. The defining moment of this segment comes at approximately mile 7.6, where the course splits. Be ready for a significant shift in the race dynamic as the half marathoners veer off, leaving the marathon course noticeably more open and quiet.

• Pacing Amidst the Crowd: The combined start creates a dense, high-energy environment where it's easy to get swept up in a fast pace. Focus on your own rhythm and conserve energy; the course will open up.
• Navigating the Course Split: The sudden quiet after the half marathoners diverge can be mentally jarring. Use this change to recenter, lock into your goal pace, and execute your personal race plan.

• None.

• None.

• Washington Ave corridor (near Sawyer/Studemont) (Mile 2)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• River Oaks – W. Gray / Inwood area (Mile 3.5)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• Kirby Dr @ Inwood (Mile 5)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• Bissonnet @ Kirby (Mile 6.5)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• Bissonnet near Mandell (Mile 7)
  • Offerings: GU Energy Gels
  • Toilet: No

• Marathon Elvis (~Mile 1) (Spectator Zone): A race day staple, Elvis serenades runners through their first mile.
• Aldine High School Drumline (~Mile 2) (Spectator Zone): High-energy drumline performance to keep the rhythm.
• The Great Pretenders (~Mile 3) (Spectator Zone): Live Rock n' Roll from the 1950s to the 1970s.
• Asociación Folklorica Boliviana (~Mile 5.5) (Spectator Zone): Cultural performance with traditional music and dance.
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (~Mile 6) (Spectator Zone): A true Texas experience with the Rodeo Run Committee cheering you on.
• Fleet Feet and Brooks Watch Party (~Mile 7) (Spectator Zone): A major cheer zone located just before the marathon/half marathon course split.

After splitting from the half marathoners, the course takes on a calmer, more focused character. This section is about settling into a sustainable marathon effort.

The route leads you south and then west, passing through the Museum District and alongside the beautiful campuses of Rice University and Hermann Park before reaching the West University neighborhood. The scenery is pleasant, with tree-lined streets providing a peaceful backdrop for these crucial middle miles.

The terrain remains almost entirely flat, with one notable exception: a short, punchy climb to cross over the Southwest Freeway around mile 12.7. This is the only statistically significant climb on the entire course.

After descending the overpass, you'll run along the freeway feeder road before turning north into the Uptown/Galleria area, a district known for its modern architecture and commercial centers.

• Maintaining Focus Post-Split: With fewer runners and reduced crowd noise, this is where the mental race truly begins. Stay disciplined with your pacing and nutrition strategy without the external stimulus of the larger crowd.
• The Freeway Overpass Climb: Around mile 12.7, you'll encounter a short, punchy climb over the freeway. It's the most noticeable hill on the course. Maintain a steady effort to crest it without spiking your heart rate, and use the following descent to recover your rhythm.

• Climb #1: Mile 12.67 to Mile 12.78, 0.1 mi, avg grade 4.69%, total gain 25.3 ft

• Descent #1: Mile 12.88 to Mile 12.98, 0.1 mi, avg grade -4.95%, total drop 26.67 ft

• Bissonnet @ Montrose (Mile 8)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• Rice University / Hermann Park area (Mile 9.5)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• University Blvd @ Weslayan (Mile 11)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• Westpark @ Weslayan (Mile 12.5)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• I-69/US-59 Feeder @ Newcastle (Mile 14)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes

• West University Mayor’s Breakfast (~Mile 11.3) (Spectator Zone): A lively cheer zone hosted by the city of West University Place near their City Hall.
• The Galleria (~Mile 14) (Spectator Zone): Run through the outskirts of Houston's premier shopping and tourist destination.

Leaving the Galleria area, the course winds through the scenic, tree-lined residential streets of the Tanglewood neighborhood. This section offers a welcome change of scenery with its shaded pathways and charming homes before the route turns east onto Memorial Drive for the long stretch that characterizes the final third of the marathon.

The Memorial Drive portion runs straight and exposed for several miles, presenting both a physical and mental test. Its unchanging direction and limited shade can feel demanding, particularly as fatigue sets in during these later miles. Maintaining focus and rhythm becomes essential here as the straightaway seems to extend endlessly ahead.

You'll find relief as you enter Memorial Park, one of Houston's largest and most beloved green spaces. Around mile 20.5, the course takes you through the Memorial Park Land Bridge tunnels—a memorable highlight where DJs and light shows create an energizing atmosphere just when you need it most. This sensory experience provides a powerful boost as you push through the challenging late miles.

While the terrain remains remarkably flat throughout this section, the psychological demands of Memorial Drive's long straightaway will test your mental strength. This is where your training and determination come together, carrying you through one of the marathon's most challenging stretches toward the finish.

• Mental Test on Memorial Drive: The long, straight stretch from roughly mile 18 to mile 23 can be a significant mental challenge. To stay engaged, break it into smaller, manageable segments using aid stations or landmarks as intermediate goals. Focus on a runner ahead or your own cadence to maintain rhythm.

• None.

• None.

• San Felipe @ Post Oak Blvd (Mile 15.5)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• Chimney Rock (Tanglewood) (Mile 17)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• Memorial Dr (west of Loop 610) (Mile 18)
  • Offerings: GU Energy Gels
  • Toilet: No
• Memorial Dr (west end of Memorial Park) (Mile 18.5)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• Memorial Park (inside/central segment) (Mile 20)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• Memorial Dr near Westcott (Mile 21.5)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes

• Miles of Music (~Mile 19) (Spectator Zone): A 3-mile stretch along Memorial Drive featuring continuous live music to energize runners.
• Memorial Park Land Bridge Tunnels (~Mile 20.5) (Spectator Zone): An immersive experience with a DJ and light show as you run through the tunnels.
• Michelob Ultra RunHou Party (~Mile 21) (Spectator Zone): A high-energy party zone on the course.

At mile 23, you make the final major turn onto Allen Parkway for the homestretch. This scenic road runs along Buffalo Bayou Park and offers motivating views of the downtown skyline, which grows steadily larger as you approach the finish.

While the course is famously flat, this final section contains a series of gentle, rolling inclines and declines. These rollers are minor on paper but can feel significant on fatigued legs, requiring a final surge of effort and mental focus to maintain your pace.

The spectator support intensifies throughout this section, with crowds lining the parkway to help carry you toward the finish line. The course makes a few final turns as it re-enters the downtown street grid, guiding you onto Lamar Street for the final straightaway.

The finish line awaits in the heart of downtown, creating a memorable and energetic conclusion to your 26.2-mile journey through Houston's diverse neighborhoods and landscapes.

• Navigating the Final Rollers: The small hills along Allen Parkway between miles 23 and 25 are the most sustained elevation changes on the course. Shorten your stride, focus on maintaining effort rather than pace, and use the brief downhills to recover.
• Maintaining Form to the Finish: With the finish line in sight, fatigue will be at its peak. Concentrate on maintaining good running form to stay efficient and prevent a late-race slowdown. Draw energy from the growing crowds to power through the final mile.

• None.

• Descent #2: Mile 24.01 to Mile 24.11, 0.1 mi, avg grade -3.4%, total drop 17.98 ft

• Allen Parkway @ Waugh (Buffalo Bayou Park) (Mile 23)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes
• Allen Parkway @ Montrose (Mile 24.5)
  • Offerings: Water, Gatorade Endurance
  • Toilet: Yes

• Buffalo Bayou Park Cheer Zone (~Mile 23.5) (Spectator Zone): The course runs alongside this popular park, where crowds gather to cheer runners through the final, challenging miles.
• Finish Line at Lamar & Crawford (~Mile 26.27) (Spectator Zone): The finish line in downtown Houston.