Browse · Erie Marathon at Presque Isle
Sun, Sep 13 · 2026Erie, PASince 1996

Erie Marathon at Presque Isle

Two loops of a lake-hugging peninsula where the biggest obstacle is the September heat. Minimal elevation, mile-by-mile aid stations, and a field chasing Boston qualifying times make Erie one of the most focused PR venues in the Northeast.

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ERIE AT PRESQUE ISLE · US
Erie at Presque Isle
SUN, SEP 13
2026
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The course.

30 ft total gain
Total ascent
30 ft
Total descent
30 ft
Net elevation
0 ft
Highest point
Lowest point
Course shape
Multi loop
Start and finish in one place

The Erie Marathon runs two identical 13.1-mile loops of Presque Isle State Park, using the old lake road and the main park road. Elevation change is negligible, with only a 10-foot spread between the course high and low points, making pacing straightforward from gun to tape. Surface is predominantly asphalt with roughly one-third concrete; optional grass shoulders soften the feel. The course reversal adopted in 2018 moved the tight hairpin near the park entrance to the halfway point, eliminating early congestion and improving PR rates. Aid stations with water and Gatorade appear approximately every mile. Knowing exactly what lies ahead on loop two is a psychological asset. Heat and humidity in early September remain the primary performance risk on an otherwise ideal PR course.

Field size~700BQ rate45%Time limit6:00
DIFFICULTYFLATPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

Race-day weather.

10-year median
Low
55°F
High
72°F
30°MARATHON-IDEAL 4560°80°
What to expect

Mid-September on Presque Isle is typically cool and breezy, with race-morning lows in the mid-50s and highs near 72°F. Lake Erie keeps temperatures moderate but generates the course's biggest variable: the wind off the lake, which usually picks up after sunrise and can be a factor on the second loop.

Entry.

OPEN

Open registration. The field cap is small (around 1,200 across all distances) and sells out months before race day. Registration typically opens the prior November.

Register on race site

Logistics.

For runners travelling in
Closest airport

ERI, 5 mi from the start.

From the community.

2 videos · YouTube
Sub 3 Hour Attempt at Erie Marathon 2021
JonExplorez
Classificando para Boston - Erie Marathon - Correndoporai
Correndoporai

Race history.

Since 1996

Founded in 1996 as a low-key local race, Erie quietly built its reputation through the 2000s as word spread about the BQ rates. The current field cap was set deliberately small to preserve the on-course experience. The race is run by volunteers; the elevation profile chart is famously a flat line.

First run in 1996. Roughly 700 finishers in a recent edition.

Course records
Men2:23:17 · Zac Truman (2024)
Women2:48:14 · Sara Tsai (2024)

Frequently asked.

7 questions