Houston Marathon

One of the best half marathons that I have done. LOVE the fact that the HMC has added the legacy program for the half marathoners. 2016 will be my 11^th time doing the half here in Houston. The expo is always very well organized. The course is great. Did not like it when course was changed, because I knew where I was at based on landmarks. No need for Mile marker’s. The new course is just as good as the previous course. The HMC does a wonderful job of thinking about the runners. I especially like the fact that in the GRB there is a runners only area. The last thing that I want to to try and fight crowds of non runners to try and get food, go to the restroom or just relax for a while. Definitely worth the time and $$$ to do this race. Make it your first half or full Marathon. All others will pale in comparison.

I’ve run the Houston Marathon 6 times. It’s just plain fun. This past race I was so pumped afterwards I told all my co-​workers they should sign up — and as a bonus no lottery for the 2016 race. Neat course, great volunteers. You get to run through some nice parts of town and then head back on good olé Allen Parkway. Some years the weather has been good and some years not good. You never know with Houston. Nonetheless this is a great race.

I the atmosphere and the course were ok, however, I wish they would give something besides a bid for those that ran and donated over $ 500 to charity. A nice finisher shirt would’ve been nice. It’s an ok marathon but not the best, definitely took this one slow and easy. Medal is nice but I’ve received better.

Just got in for 2015, and it’d be my 2^nd time in a row. Loved the crowd and ambience! Will keep attending as long as my feet are healthy!

Although I’m writing this review very sore and fatigued the day after my finish, I am proudly doing so. The Chevron Marathon is very organized and a well thought out race. The new course this year was awesome. We went down Rice Military, Rice Village, Galleria, West University, and down the long stretch of Memorial. The race gods were with us and gave us a beautiful sunny morning. The volunteers were out and so helpful with passing out Gatorade and water. I am awed at how they thought of everything down to the last detail. I was also felt very safe this year because they would only let the runners into certain parts of the race and separated the spectators. I loved all the signs along the way from all the supporters too. Make this one your first race if you ever want to do a Marathon. I absolutely recommend it.

This review is for the Aramco Half Marathon. It’s organized and facilitated by the Houston Full Marathon so I figured add the review to the same listing.
I ran the Austin Half and the San Antonio Rock and Roll Full Marathon, but I took a few years off from running. A few ex-​coworkers convinced me to run the houston half with them.
I must say I was impressed with how things were ran. Packet Pick up was a breeze. You could use your phone and they could scan the QR code to retrieve your information. The only confusion was that the Tshirts were on the other side of the building. I finally figured that out but some friends did not and never received their before shirt along with the race check in bag. I think the volunteers need to pass that info on better. The expo was pretty cool too. Lots of deals to be had.
Race day was pretty sweet. I was in the slow corral D and we started only about 20 minutes after the elite start. I remember in SA it was almost an hour later. The course is great with lots of gatorade and water spots.
Overall, I want to run it again next year with proper training this time.

The course is top notch! This is one of the most well organized, put together races I’ve ever run. From the expo to the logistics to the volunteers they put on a good one for sure! This was my 9^th full marathon and probably one of my favorite races to date. And I consider myself a tough race critic. The spectators were everywhere cheering you on and keeping you going. I think they may have changed the course this year from previous years. It was a little hilly in some spots but mostly a flat fast course! I will say the weather in Houston is unpredictable this time of year. Temps were in the 70s and I got a sweet tan! Hot and a little humid but the course and spectators make up for it. I am already planning on returning for next year.

Wow. To hell with Chicago, they should call Houston the windy city because I was totally BLOWN AWAY by how awesome this race was. I feel so lucky I got in as part of a team and I would recommend this race without hesitation to anybody.
I ran the half this year (Jan 2013) and to say that the weather at the start was not optimal is an understatement. Rainy, windy and cold, I was thinking this race would be craptacular beyond compare. I was wrong… even with the weather this was one of the most fun half marathons I’ve ever run (and this was # 32 for me).
Highlights: Communication from the race was consistently relevant, timely and informative. I never felt spammed. The Expo was great and bib/​shirt pickup was a breeze. The start was one of the best… scratch that, I’m kicking it up a notch, the start was the best organized of any race I’ve ever run, and that includes races in NYC, Miami, Pittsburgh, Chicago and San Diego. The way they fed people into the correct corral was excellent.
The volunteers were AMAZE-​BALLS! So well organized, spaced well, helpful, friendly and supportive, I can’t say enough. The spectators were EXCEPTIONAL! My friends from Houston were afraid there wouldn’t be that many people out because who wants to stand in a cold rain, with wind, for hours. Well apparently tens of thousands of Houstonians do because all along the course there was terrific support. Running through the Heights was very fun. The crowd really helped keep the mood upbeat and spirits high. I felt like a superstar running through the puddles and the supporters are the reason why. Thank you so much, Houston.
The after race was well organized and efficient. I just wish the weather had been nicer so there could have been a celebration on Discovery Green, but that’s not the race’s fault.
I’m used to lottery systems because a lot of the races in NYC have them… that’s the price you pay for having a popular race. I hope I’m lucky enough to get in next year.
Houston Marathon organizers, you do a great job. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you in 2014!

Firstly, the marathon and half marathon are lotteries, so there is no guaranteed entry, even if you sign up early. I think sign up maybe opens in May or June, and you’ll find out by late June if you’ve made the cut. There are some 10Ks and half marathons in Houston you can run to automatically qualify for the both the Chevron Marathon and Aramco Half Marathon, so look into these if you think you’re fast enough. The Conn’s Green 6.2 at CityCentre (every April) is one of them.
This is such a well-​organized event (this year is the 41^st year), so if you’re looking for a marathon or half marathon to undertake, this is certainly the one. I was selected for the lottery in the summer, and I was kept well-​informed about everything and anything marathon related, leading up to race day. Packet pick-​up was a breeze. Be sure to save time for the expo, I found steep discounts on stuff I didn’t even know I needed, and you’ll be able to pick up lots of samples and swag too. Just don’t over-​sample, I think I tried one too many energy gels, and it made me a little uncomfortable on race day — such a noob mistake!
Arrive at George R. Brown as early as possible on race day so you have time to park, familiarize yourself with the settings, and stretch. It filled up quickly! The race started at promptly 7:00am. The initial few miles are crowded, but it does get better when the full and half marathon runners split up around mile 9. We wove through downtown, The Heights, Rice Village, Tanglewood, and Memorial. These are some of the most beautiful and historical neighborhoods in Houston. I was floored by the number of supporters that still lined the streets, battling the elements (rain and wind) with the runners — people I didn’t even know were screaming my name, waving humorous signs, and extending their arms out for high fives. I hit my «wall» at mile 20, but the entertainment and unwavering support I received from the crowds helped me reach the finish line. Water and lime-​enhanced Gatorade and port-​a-​potties were available about every 1.5 miles, a Clif energy gel shots were also handed out around mile 21, which I really appreciated. Spectators were also offering oranges, bananas, pretzel, candy, even Cokes and beer.
I got a really nice t-​shirt, a medal, and a heavy glass mug after I crossed the finish line. You’ll be greeted by volunteers passing out bottles of water, Teddy Grahams, and ice cream sandwiches — yay! I didn’t get a chance to redeem my hot breakfast voucher because my husband was jostling for lunch, but it looked good!
This was a wonderful first marathon for me, and I cannot wait to do it again next year.

This was a great experience for me yet again! Although I have run the full marathon a couple of times before, this was my first time running the half in Houston and also the first time doing the run for a reason. It was really GREAT. It was very organized, the expo was really nice, and all of the volunteers during the race were truly gems! I can’t wait to get back to do it again next year!!!

I could not have chosen a better race to undertake my first marathon challenge. The packet pickup at the George R. Brown Convention center went smoothly and was well organized by bib number and race. In addition, the expo boasted many vendors selling quality athletic gear for half price off or more (running socks/​shorts, SPI belts, etc.) It’s also a great place to get free samples! My loot: three Fiber One bars, two small boxes of Lucky Charms, one Clif bar, two Cascadian Farms granola bars, one Gu powder packet, handful of Jamba Juice coupons, one chapstick, one 5 hour energy drink, one bag of hummus chips, a drawstring bag, bandana, and a free photobooth picture.
The race day weather was perfect, starting off in the low 50s and creeping up into the low 60s around noon. For the most part, the route was shaded by trees or tall buildings, and I only had to wear my sunglasses near the end when the sun had fully risen. The beginning was slightly crowded though, but after the half-​marathon and full marathon runners split at mile 9, I could freely run to my heart’s content. It’s also mostly flat terrain, except for two small hills near mile 24 which weren’t too awful.
Porta-​potties were located around every 1.5 miles, as were enhanced lime gatorade/​water stations. Restrooms were also available at the beginning of the course, but the toilet paper had already run out by the time I arrived (two hours before the race). My rule of thumb: always carry tissue!
My favorite part was the crowd support, with complete strangers handing out everything from orange slices to beer to pretzels to nutella packets! Things that kept me entertained included local bands, belly dancers, cute dogs, and hilarious homemade signs. The huge, cheering crowd leading to the finish line definitely pulled me through too. I admit Houston isn’t the most scenic city, but the last few miles through Memorial Park were invigorating with its tall, shady trees and big, open skies above me.
After finishing, I received a fitted women’s technical shirt (they had already run out of size small though), a pretty glass mug, beautiful Houston Marathon 40^th anniversary finisher’s medal, and a hot breakfast of eggs and sausage. Not too shabby :)
I will definitely be back next year if time/​lottery permits!

I have been participating in the Houston Marathon/​Half Marathon for several years now. This past year was my first time running the full Mara. It really is a great and well organized event. It is pretty easy to get to and easy to participate actually. This last year the lotto system was introduced which some people disliked. I got in so I liked it because the previous year it sold out in like one day or something so I still got to run but I had to do it through a charity which is still a great way to participate and help others. I ran with the Living Water team

Which is really a great team organization to run for. I actually ran for them again this past year. For next year I am going back to running the Half, it is a lot more fun for me and I get to eat sooner which is a big deal since I was starving through the last half of the Marathon this past year. So give yourself a challenge, try out for the 5K, Half or Full Marathon, enjoy yourself!

2^nd year to run the race and things were changed a bit. Most notably was the lottery system. I personally enjoy waiting by my computer as soon as registration opened to register so me and alot of other runners were not pleased with this change that gave late comers an equal chance to get in. I had to deduct a star because this. But even with the lottery system, they had a lot of houston marathon veterans exempt from the system and had 500 spots distributed by the Houston Area Road Runners Association. The finish line moved to right in front of GRB. After the race, I had no idea people were able to get from GRB to Discovery Green without jumping over the barricades.
Notable things that I remember from the race:
The Geoff signs at every mile.
Several Episcopal priests blessing runners with holy water as we ran by Rice University.
The american flags on the lawns on university after rice village.
The belly dancers under highway 59 as we approach memorial park.
Beer that was being handed out by Allen parkway and getting a jello shot from some random girl.
I still like the fact that they have the George Brown Convention Center open for the runners before and after the race and that there is a lot of fluid on the course.

The Houston Marathon is a Fast, Well-​Organized Marathon!
I didn’t want to be locked out, so as soon as the 2010 Chevron Houston Marathon website (
) went live, I registered and encouraged my friend to do so as well. Little did we know that both the Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K sold out within a week! It’s going to sell out even faster for 2011.
To keep up on when registration begins, follow them at:
From the Marathon Expo at the spacious George R. Brown Convention Center (next to the Toyota Center and the Hilton) to the marathon start to the post-​marathon finish festival, every aspect of the race was extremely well-​organized. Out of the 27 marathons I have run thus far, Houston has been, by far, the most put together. The race has been held annually since 1972.
The Marathon Expo was nice and big. Marathoners received a technical shirt for registering (we also received a glass mug and nice Under Armour finisher’s shirt at the finish). Before the start, we were allowed to wait indoors at the Convention Center, where it was lined with porta potties. This is the first time I have seen porta potties provided in an indoor facility pre-​race. This is great because you don’t have to do your thing while in the dark pre-​dawn hours and in the cold!
The start consisted of two waves (7am and 7:10am, the wheelchair competitors started at 6:45am). I was in the second wave, but try to get yourself into the first wave (hopefully you can submit a fast PR time to get into the first wave) since it’s better to run the 10 minutes from 7am to 7:10am than it is to run them at noon and under the Texas sun. Craig Biggio started the race and it began with the boom of a canon. It was still dark when we first arrived to the start and the marathon began shortly after the sun came up.
The aid stations were great (spaced 1.5 miles apart) and even indicated the which water and Gatorade tables were the last ones. I’ve never seen this before, and it is something that should be employed at every marathon! It helps runners know which other tables they can pick up their desired fluids at, instead of piling on at the first few tables and creating traffic jams and bottle necks.
The course itself wasn’t too scenic, but we did get a good overview of the city of Houston. The start was crowded and shortly after crossing the start, we were on an elevated roadway ramp where the pace slowed to walking pace.
We ran through neighborhoods to the northeast then cut southwest through Rice Village then up past the Galleria and through Memorial Park back to the Convention Center where the start was.
Even though the race is held in January, the temperature is moderate (starts off cold, but the sun comes out and provides dry heat). It could be on the hotter end by the finish. The course is mostly flat besides the initial rampway and a ramp around Mile 18.
If you are disciplined enough to train during the cold winter months, the Houston Marathon can be an ideal PR race. I did not train and finished a mere 9 minutes slower than my PR (4:05 vs. 3:56).
The 2012 Houston Marathon was recently selected to be the 2012 London Summer Olympics qualifier for the U.S. national marathon team. I imagine the Olympic hopefuls posting some ridiculously fast times. Even this year, 3 major Houston Marathon and Half Marathon records were set.