How do I register for the Lincoln Marathon?

Registration is open to all runners and stays available until the race fills or race day arrives. Elite athletes who meet the qualifying standards (2:35 for men, 3:05 for women) can apply for complimentary entry.

Is the Lincoln Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the Lincoln Marathon is a certified Boston qualifier. Roughly one in eleven finishers earns a qualifying time.

What is the time limit for the Lincoln Marathon?

The time limit is 6 hours and 15 minutes.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course is nearly flat, with just over 500 feet of total gain and a net elevation change of only 2 feet. No single climb is significant enough to disrupt your pace plan.

What kind of weather should I expect on race day?

Late September in Lincoln is typically warm, with average highs around 83°F and mild mornings near 58°F. Rain is unlikely, but heat is a genuine factor in the second half of the race.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the Lincoln Marathon course is USATF certified.

What type of course layout does the Lincoln Marathon use?

The race uses a multi-loop format, meaning you will cover overlapping sections of the course more than once. This can help with early pacing since you will already know the road ahead.

Sun, Sep 20 · 2026Lincoln, NESince 1978

Lincoln Marathon

The Lincoln Marathon rolls through Nebraska's capital on a multi-loop course that is about as flat as it gets, giving every runner a genuine shot at a personal best on a warm late-summer morning.

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LINCOLN · US

Lincoln

SUN, SEP 20

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 1978

Lincoln is a flat, open-registration marathon in Nebraska's capital, and it is genuinely one of the more accessible fast courses in the Midwest. The multi-loop layout means you cover the same roads more than once, which some runners love for pacing and others find mentally tough. The course itself gives you very little to fight against. No long climbs, no big drops, just steady running on open roads. That is the draw.

The catch is the weather. Race day falls in late September, and Lincoln can be warm. Morning temps are manageable, but by the back half of the race the heat is a real factor. Go out conservatively, especially in the first loop. Hydrate from mile one, not mile ten. Entry is open registration, so there is no lottery stress, and elites with qualifying standards can apply for complimentary entry. If you are chasing a PR and want a low-drama registration process and a forgiving course profile, Lincoln is worth your attention.

Field size

~1.1k

1,106 finishers

BQ rate

9%

Near national average

Time limit

6:15

Standard cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:16:16

Abraham Kipkemei

2023

Women

2:38:17

Emma Huston

2022

The Course

520 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑520 ft

Total descent

↓522 ft

Net elevation

↓2 ft

Highest point

1,306 ft

Lowest point

1,146 ft

Course shape

Multi loop

Start and finish in one place

The course is nearly net-neutral, with just over 500 feet of gain and loss spread across a multi-loop layout. Total elevation change is modest by any standard, and no single climb is steep enough to force a gear change. The flatness rewards even pacing, but the multi-loop format means you will pass familiar terrain twice, which can help you calibrate effort early. The main variable is heat: late-September in Lincoln typically brings warm afternoons and mild mornings, so a fast start risks a difficult second loop. Run conservatively through the first half, bank the flat miles honestly, and you will have legs left when it counts.

DIFFICULTYROLLINGPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

58°F

High

83°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

A late-September date in Nebraska sounds forgiving, but the numbers tell a different story. Expect a comfortable morning at the gun that can climb into the low 80s by the time you're deep into the back half. That kind of heat on a multi-loop course adds up fast. Hydrate from mile one and don't let the cool start fool you into going out too hard. This is a day to race the conditions as much as the clock.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration available. Elite athletes with qualifying standards (Male 2:35, Female 3:05) may apply for complimentary entry.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

MCI

148 mi

from the start

≈ 234 min transferLonger haul

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into MCI, about 148 miles from the start, a longer haul by rideshare or transit, roughly a 234-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Lincoln, NE 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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