How do I register for the Erie Marathon?

Registration is open to all runners via RunSignup on a first-come, first-served basis. The opening date is announced on the race's Facebook page before it goes live, and the race fills to a 2,000-runner cap. There are no refunds, deferrals, or transfers.

What is the time limit?

Participants must finish in approximately 6 hours, which works out to a 13:45 per mile pace. Roads begin reopening at mile 14 around the 3:14 mark, and runners who fall behind the pace may be directed to the all-purpose trail adjacent to the road.

Is the Erie Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and meets all BAA qualifying requirements. In recent years, roughly one in three finishers has run a Boston qualifying time.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course is extremely flat, with only 84 feet of cumulative elevation gain and an 8-foot spread between the highest and lowest points on the course. It is one of the flattest certified marathon courses in the country.

What is the typical race-day weather?

Early September in Erie averages a high around 71°F and a low near 55°F, with moderate humidity and the possibility of rain or wind off Lake Erie. Conditions vary year to year and can range from cool and ideal to warm and muggy.

How large is the field?

The marathon is capped at 2,000 runners. In 2025, there were approximately 1,100 finishers.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes. The Erie Marathon course is USATF-certified and meets all Boston Marathon qualifying requirements as recognized by the BAA.

Sun, Sep 13 · 2026Erie, PASince 1996

Erie Marathon at Presque Isle

Two loops of Presque Isle State Park on one of the flattest certified marathon courses anywhere. The September morning air off Lake Erie can go either way, but the course itself will not slow you down.

FlatOpenBQ Hotbed

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ERIE AT PRESQUE ISLE · US

Erie at Presque Isle

SUN, SEP 13

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 1996

The Erie Marathon goes around Presque Isle State Park twice. That's the whole thing. Two loops on dead-flat paved roads with Lake Erie on one side and wooded park on the other, and you get to see everything in the first loop so the second holds no surprises. That knowledge is genuinely useful. A lot of people come here chasing a BQ, and the race falls on the last qualifying weekend before Boston registration opens, so the energy on the course is focused and a little electric. Don't go out fast on the first loop thinking you've banked something. The flatness makes it easy to overcook the early miles.

The course is simple to run but September in Erie can be humid, especially when the lake isn't cooperating. Bring your own nutrition because there are no gels on course, only water and Gatorade about every mile. Parking is a half-mile walk downhill to the start, which means it's uphill after you finish, so factor that into your legs. Registration opens at an unannounced date posted to the race's Facebook page and fills to the 2,000-runner cap, so follow them if you want in. It's a volunteer-run, no-frills operation, and that's exactly why it keeps working.

Field size

~700

700 finishers

BQ rate

45%

Among the highest in the US

Time limit

6:00

Tight cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:23:17

Zac Truman

2024

Women

2:48:14

Sara Tsai

2024

The Course

30 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑30 ft

Total descent

↓30 ft

Net elevation

↑0 ft

Highest point

578 ft

Lowest point

570 ft

Course shape

Multi loop

Start and finish in one place

The Erie Marathon is two full loops of Presque Isle State Park, making it one of the flattest certified marathon courses in the country. FindMyMarathon records only 84 feet of cumulative gain and 84 feet of loss, with a mere 8-foot spread between the highest point (578 ft) and lowest point (570 ft). The surface is mostly asphalt with roughly one-third concrete, and a grass shoulder is available along much of the course. The double-loop format means you know exactly what the second half looks like before you run it, which aids pacing. The hairpin turn near the park entrance now falls around the halfway mark after the 2018 course reversal, smoothing out early congestion. Aid stations appear approximately every mile. Lack of crowd support between water stops is the main psychological challenge. Weather is the biggest variable; September mornings can be warm and humid off the lake.

DIFFICULTYFLATPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

View official course map Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

55°F

High

72°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

September in Erie runs mild in the morning but can climb into the low 70s by the time you're grinding through the back half of a multi-loop course on an exposed peninsula. The cool start is comfortable, but don't let it fool you into going out too fast. Lake Erie can pull in a steady breeze, which helps on a warm day but adds resistance if it's in your face. Plan for a shirt-sleeve morning that turns into a heat-management afternoon.

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.

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Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

ERI

5 mi

from the start

≈ 10 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into ERI, about 5 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 10-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Erie, PA 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.

From the Community

2 videos · YouTube

www.Casual-Runner.com All Along the Course - 2014 Erie Marathon & Half Marathon at Presque Isle

Casual Runner

Erie Marathon at Presque Isle State Park

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Frequently Asked

7 questions

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