Reno Marathon

Registration is open to all runners through the REVEL website. You can sign up for the full marathon, half marathon, or 10K. There's no lottery or qualifying standard required.

Yes, it is a certified Boston qualifier. The steep net downhill makes it one of the more PR-friendly courses on the calendar, though the BQ rate among finishers is modest, so the course still demands a solid race.

The race starts near the Mt. Rose Highway summit at roughly 8,900 feet and descends over 4,400 feet into downtown Reno. It's a point-to-point course with almost continuous downhill grade, which favors fast times but requires careful early pacing to protect your legs.

Buses transport all participants from the finish area at the Reno Sparks Convention Center to the start line at the Mt. Rose Highway summit. You don't need to arrange your own transportation to the start.

The time limit is approximately 6 hours and 33 minutes, which gives most runners a comfortable window to finish even on a tough day.

Expect a cold, potentially brisk morning at the high-elevation start and significantly warmer conditions by the time you reach the lower miles near Reno. Bringing a throwaway layer for the start corral is a good idea, and plan to hydrate well as temperatures rise through the second half.

The Reno Marathon is a smaller race with a few hundred finishers in the full marathon. The intimate field size means uncrowded corrals, easy access to aid stations, and a low-key race-day atmosphere.