How do I register for the Coeur d'Alene Marathon?

Registration opens in mid-August 2025 with tiered pricing, so entering early gets you the best rate. Sign-up stays open until the race fills or up to 30 minutes before the start.

Is the Coeur d'Alene Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, it is a certified Boston qualifier. The course is USATF certified, so times are official. Keep in mind the cumulative elevation gain means you will need to run a disciplined race to hit a qualifying time.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course gains around 1,215 feet cumulatively with no net descent, running an out-and-back along rolling terrain between roughly 2,100 and 2,300 feet of elevation. Every foot you climb on the way out comes back to greet you on the return.

What is the time limit?

The time limit is 6 hours from the start.

How large is the field?

It is a smaller race with roughly 400 finishers, which means a low-key, community feel with no mass-corral congestion on the course.

What is the weather typically like on race day?

Late May mornings in Coeur d'Alene typically start in the low 40s and warm into the mid-60s by midday. A light throwaway layer for the start is a good idea, and expect warmer conditions as you work through the second half.

How do I get to the race?

Spokane International Airport is about 40 miles west and roughly a 40-minute drive. From there you can rent a car or arrange a shuttle into downtown Coeur d'Alene, where most runners stay near the McEuen Park start and finish area.

May 2027 · est.Coeur dAlene, IDSince 1982

Coeur dAlene Marathon

Coeur d'Alene's out-and-back course runs along the north shore of a mountain lake in late May, when the air is still cool and the crowds are tight. It is a genuine effort on a course that asks something of you.

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COEUR DALENE · US

Coeur dAlene

MAY 2027

estimated

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Race Overview

EST. 1982

Coeur d'Alene is a smaller race in a genuine mountain-lake town, and that intimacy shows from the start at McEuen Park. The course runs out along the north shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene and comes back the same way, so there are no surprises on the second half, just the same terrain in tired legs. It is honest running in a pretty setting, and the late-May date usually means cool morning air that lets you settle into a rhythm early.

Be careful in the first half. The outbound leg can feel controlled and almost easy, and that is the trap. The course carries over 1,200 feet of cumulative gain with no net drop to bail you out, so whatever you climbed going out you will climb again coming back. Don't go with it on the front half. Registration is open and fills gradually with tiered pricing, so signing up early saves you money and secures your spot. It is a genuine Boston qualifier, though the course demands you earn it.

Field size

~412

412 finishers

BQ rate

5%

Near national average

Time limit

6:00

Tight cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:33:27

Connor Turpin

2025

Women

3:02:00

Ashley Desanno

2025

The Course

1,215 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑1,215 ft

Total descent

—

Net elevation

—

Highest point

2,298 ft

Lowest point

2,129 ft

Course shape

Out and back

Same route, both directions

This out-and-back course sits mostly between 2,100 and 2,300 feet above sea level, so altitude is a minor but real factor for runners coming from lower elevations. With 1,215 feet of cumulative gain and no net descent to speak of, the course is not flat. Expect gradual rolling terrain rather than sharp punishing climbs, but the return half mirrors every foot you gained on the way out. The elevation profile means negative-splitting requires discipline. Front-load your effort conservatively and save your legs for the second half, which will feel harder than the numbers suggest. Surface and exposure details favor focused pacing over crowd-assisted surging.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO

Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

43°F

High

65°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Late May in Coeur d'Alene usually means a cool morning at the gun and a pleasant afternoon, but you should plan for both ends. The start can be in the low 40s, so a throwaway layer is worth it. By the time you are finishing the air has warmed into the mid-60s, which is comfortable but means the back half of a long effort runs a bit warmer than you might expect. Conditions generally favor a solid effort, but check the forecast in the days before the race. Spring weather here can shift quickly.

Entry

OPEN

Registration opens mid-August 2025 with tiered pricing. Open registration until race fills or 30 minutes before start time.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

SEA

258 mi

from the start

≈ 407 min transferLonger haul

What to expect

Spokane International Airport is 40 minutes (39 miles) west of the race. Rent a car at the airport or arrange a shuttle service to reach downtown Coeur d'Alene, located on Lake Coeur d'Alene's north shore. Most runners base themselves in downtown hotels with easy access to the McEuen Park start/finish.

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