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Sat, Jun 20 · 2026Boise, IDSince 2017

Boise Marathon

The Boise Marathon runs a loop course through Idaho's capital city in late June, when warm afternoons are baked in. It's a low-key race with an honest challenge, open to anyone willing to line up.

FlatOpen
BOISE · US
Boise
SAT, JUN 20
2026
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Race Overview

EST. 2017

The Boise Marathon is a small, low-key race through Idaho's capital city, and that's genuinely part of the appeal. The field is intimate, the atmosphere is relaxed, and you're not fighting for corral space or trying to navigate a crowd ten people deep. The course loops around Boise and sits at high desert elevation the whole way. You'll feel that in your breathing, especially early. Don't bank time in the first five miles thinking you're having a great day. Save it.

The bigger thing to plan around is the heat. A late June race in Boise means a cool morning at the gun and a very warm finish if you're out there into the afternoon. Hydrate from mile one, not mile ten. This is a Boston-qualifying race, but the June conditions and the elevation make a fast day less certain than the flat net profile suggests. Registration is open and first-come, first-served, and with a field this size it stays accessible. If you want a low-pressure race where you can actually focus on running, this one's worth a look.

Field size
~109
109 finishers
BQ rate
5%
Below national average
Time limit
7:56
Generous cutoff
Entry
Open
First-come registration

The Course

Total ascent
—
Total descent
—
Net elevation
—
Highest point
2,761 ft
Lowest point
2,642 ft
Course shape
Loop
Start and finish in one place

The Boise Marathon runs a loop with minimal net elevation change, sitting entirely between roughly 2,640 and 2,760 feet above sea level. That roughly 120-foot range sounds modest, but the course isn't pancake flat, and at high desert elevation your aerobic system will notice the thin air, especially early. The June date means the back half of the race can run warm to hot, so pace the first half conservatively. Because this is a loop, you return to the start area, which helps with logistics but removes any point-to-point tailwind advantage. Surface and turn details are not published, so plan for a mixed urban environment.

Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median
Low
55°F
High
84°F
30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°
What to expect

Late June in Boise means a comfortable start and a hot finish. The morning can feel pleasant, but temperatures climb quickly, and by the time you're in the back half of the race you're dealing with real heat. At high desert elevation the sun hits harder than the thermometer suggests. Plan your pacing and hydration strategy around the warm miles, not the cool ones. If you're chasing a time, an early start and a disciplined first half matter a lot here.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration on first-come, first-served basis. Registration closes when finisher medals and shirts run out or on race day at 11:59pm MDT.

Register on race site

Frequently Asked

7 questions
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