How do I register for the Atlanta Marathon?

Registration is open to all runners and fills on a first-come basis. Pricing is tiered, with the lowest early-bird rate available to the first 500 entrants. Prices increase through the expo, so registering early saves you money.

Is the Atlanta Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the Atlanta Marathon is a certified Boston qualifier. Keep in mind the hilly course makes it a tougher venue to hit a qualifying time, so factor the elevation into your goal pace.

How hilly is the course?

The course has over 1,300 feet of elevation gain across the loop, with climbs distributed throughout rather than concentrated in one spot. The net elevation change is nearly flat, so there is no meaningful net downhill advantage. It is one of the hillier marathon courses in the region.

What is the weather typically like on race day?

March race day conditions in Atlanta are generally cool and manageable, with temperatures typically in the low 40s at the start and rising to around 60 by mid-morning. Partly cloudy skies are common. It is about as good as the weather gets for running this course.

How large is the field?

Recent editions have seen roughly 3,000 finishers, making it a mid-sized race with a city-marathon feel without the logistical density of a major.

What type of course is it?

The Atlanta Marathon is a loop course, starting and finishing in the same area and running through the city. There are no out-and-back sections.

Sun, Mar 7 · 2027Atlanta, GASince 2007

Atlanta Marathon

The Atlanta Marathon runs a loop through one of the hilliest major cities in the South, rewarding those who respect the course and punishing those who go out too fast.

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ATLANTA · US

Atlanta

SUN, MAR 7

2027

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Race Overview

EST. 2007

Atlanta is a hilly city, and the marathon does not hide that. The course runs a full loop through the city and gives you a constant reminder that Atlanta is built on rolling terrain. There is no long flat stretch where you can just open up and cruise. The climbs come regularly, and if you go out too fast in the first 10 miles, the back half will be rough. Be patient early.

The good news is the weather in March is usually cooperative. Expect temperatures in the 40s at the start and maybe low 60s by the time you finish, which is about as good as you can ask for when the course is asking this much of your legs. Registration is open, so getting in is straightforward. Prices go up as race day approaches, so signing up early saves you money. This one rewards honest training and honest pacing. If you respect the hills, you can still put together a strong race.

Field size

~3.1k

3,078 finishers

BQ rate

2%

Below national average

Time limit

6:30

Standard cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:18:50

Oleg Marusin

2008

Women

2:41:12

Alena Vinnitskaya

2008

The Course

1,338 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑1,338 ft

Total descent

↓1,315 ft

Net elevation

↑23 ft

Highest point

1,067 ft

Lowest point

880 ft

Course shape

Loop

Start and finish in one place

With over 1,300 feet of gain on a loop course, this is not a PR setup for most runners. Elevation shifts are frequent and stacked throughout rather than isolated to one section, so no single climb defines the race. The net elevation is nearly flat, but that means the losses and gains largely cancel out rather than offer any true downhill advantage. Pacing conservatively through the first half pays off. The highest point sits just above 1,000 feet and the course stays in that mid-elevation band throughout, meaning no long relief stretch. Surface is road throughout. Runners chasing a Boston qualifier need to treat this as a disciplined effort, not an attempt to run fast and survive.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

41°F

High

60°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Early March in Atlanta means a cool morning at the gun, often in the low 40s, warming into the upper 50s by the time you're grinding through the later miles. That swing matters on a hilly course where you'll work hard enough to warm up fast. Start with a throwaway layer or gloves you don't mind losing around mile 3. The afternoon warmth rarely turns into a real heat problem, but the hills will make any warmth feel bigger than the thermometer suggests. Overall it's a reasonable window for racing, not a coin-flip.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration with tiered pricing based on registration period. First 500 entrants receive lowest early-bird price, with prices increasing through expo.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

ATL

8 mi

from the start

≈ 13 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into ATL, about 8 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 13-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Atlanta, GA so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.

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