How do I register for the Phoenix Marathon?

Registration is open and available directly through the official race website. The field has a limited capacity for the marathon, so it is worth signing up early. Registration closes on race day, December 12, 2026.

Is the Phoenix Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is USATF certified and qualifies for Boston. The BQ rate among finishers is around 6%, so qualifying is achievable but not guaranteed by the course alone.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course is net downhill overall, losing more elevation than it gains across the full distance. However, there is meaningful climbing built in, so expect a rolling character rather than a sustained descent. Patient pacing in the first half pays off.

What is the weather typically like on race day?

December in Phoenix means cool, dry mornings in the low-to-mid 40s at the start and mild temperatures rising into the mid-60s by afternoon. Conditions are typically sunny with low humidity, which is favorable for racing.

What is the time limit for the Phoenix Marathon?

The time limit is 6.5 hours from the start.

How large is the field?

Recent editions have seen around 2,300 finishers in the marathon. The field is capped, so registration can fill before race day.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the Phoenix Marathon course is USATF certified, which means it meets the standards required for Boston qualifying times to count.

Sat, Dec 12 · 2026Phoenix, AZSince 2025

Phoenix Marathon

The Phoenix Marathon is a point-to-point December race built for runners chasing a Boston qualifier in dry, cool desert conditions. The net-downhill course rolls through the Phoenix area on a morning that starts crisp and stays comfortable.

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PHOENIX · US

Phoenix

SAT, DEC 12

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 2025

The Phoenix Marathon runs in December and takes full advantage of the desert winter. The morning starts genuinely cold, somewhere in the low-to-mid 40s, and it stays cool enough through the finish that you can actually race rather than just survive. It is a point-to-point course, so there is no looping back on yourself. The net elevation is slightly downhill overall, but do not read that as a free ride. There is real climbing mixed in, and if you go out chasing the descent you will feel it late. Be patient in the first half.

This is a younger race with open registration, so getting in is straightforward. No lottery, no qualifier required, just sign up before the field fills. The BQ rate is modest, which tells you something honest about the course: it gives you a shot, but you still have to earn it. Weather is about as cooperative as marathon weather gets in December, dry and sunny with cool mornings. If you are chasing a Boston qualifier and want a race that gets out of your way logistically, this one is worth a serious look. Just respect the climbs early and save something for the back half.

Field size

~2.4k

2,372 finishers

BQ rate

6%

Near national average

Time limit

6:30

Standard cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

The Course

417 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑417 ft

Total descent

↓562 ft

Net elevation

↓145 ft

Highest point

1,359 ft

Lowest point

1,173 ft

Course shape

Point to point

Different start and finish

The course runs point-to-point with a net loss of 145 feet, but that number understates the work involved. Total gain is 417 feet against 562 feet of loss, so you are climbing and descending throughout rather than coasting downhill. The highest point sits near 1,359 feet, meaning some early elevation before the course trends lower. Expect the first half to carry more of the climbing, which can tempt you into banking time you will want later. The net-downhill character rewards patient early pacing. December race time means a cool start around 42-46 degrees, which helps, but the course is certified and legitimately fast for a runner who does not blow the first 10 miles.

DIFFICULTYROLLINGPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

46°F

High

65°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

December is about as good as it gets for racing in Phoenix. You'll start in the mid-40s, which feels cool but not brutal. Dress in a throwaway layer for the corral and you'll shed it quickly. By the finish the temperature climbs into the mid-60s, so the back half is warmer than the front. It's dry, which helps, but don't let the pleasant air fool you into skipping hydration. Stay on top of fluids from early on and the conditions can genuinely work in your favor.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration with limited marathon field capacity. Runners can register directly through the official website. Registration closes on race day.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

PHX

4 mi

from the start

≈ 10 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into PHX, about 4 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 10-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Phoenix, AZ 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

Fast times at first-ever Phoenix Marathon

ABC15 Arizona

Inaugural Phoenix Marathon | 2:47:12 Boston Qualifier | Kevin DeGroff Marathon #11

Kevin DeGroff

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7 questions

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