How do I register for the Veterans Marathon?

Registration is open through RunSignup on a first-come, first-served basis until the race fills. The marathon entry fee is $80, but prices increase after July 4, 2026, so registering early saves you money.

Is the Veterans Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is USATF-certified and qualifies for Boston Athletic Association standards. That said, the rolling multi-loop course means a BQ takes solid fitness and a disciplined race plan.

What is the course like?

It's a multi-loop course with a net elevation of zero, so all of the roughly 650 feet of climbing is matched by equal descent. The loops are manageable early but the repeated grades accumulate in your legs, so pacing conservatively from the start pays off.

What should I expect from race-day weather?

Mid-November in Columbia City typically brings cold mornings in the low-to-mid 30s and afternoon highs around 50 degrees. Plan for throwaway layers at the start, and be ready for wind or light rain.

Columbia City has limited lodging, so most runners stay in Fort Wayne, about 18-20 miles east with an easy drive to the start. Book early, as nearby options fill up around the race.

How large is the field?

The Veterans Marathon has a small, close-knit field with around 134 finishers in recent years. It's an intimate race day compared to larger city marathons.

Sat, Nov 14 · 2026Columbia City, INSince 2009

Veterans Marathon

Run through Columbia City on a multi-loop course that gives back everything it takes, with a community feel that bigger races rarely match.

FlatOpen

Register on RunSignup Visit race website

VETERANS · US

Veterans

SAT, NOV 14

2026

UNLOCK YOUR FIT SCORE

How does Veterans stack up for you?

Answer 6 questions, and we’ll score this race honestly and compare it against every other marathon in our directory.

Take the 2-min quiz

Race Overview

EST. 2009

The Veterans Marathon is a small, no-frills race in Columbia City, Indiana, and that is genuinely part of the appeal. The field is tight-knit. You'll recognize faces at the start line and probably again at the finish. The course runs in loops through and around town, starting downtown on Van Buren Street. Every climb you do, you also get back on the descent, and the course stays relatively compact in terms of total elevation change. But loops are deceptive. The grade that felt easy on loop one has a way of showing up in your legs by the last pass. Don't go with the adrenaline early.

This is a Boston qualifier, though the BQ rate is modest, which tells you it's honest work on a rolling course rather than a fast-assist point-to-point. It's not the race to chase a big PR unless your fitness is sharp and the day cooperates. What it is good for is a well-organized, low-stress marathon experience in a community that takes the day seriously. Registration is open on RunSignup, and prices go up after July 4, so earlier is cheaper. Fort Wayne is about 20 minutes away if small-town lodging books up, which it can. Worth planning ahead.

Field size

~134

134 finishers

BQ rate

9%

Near national average

Time limit

6:00

Tight cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

The Course

659 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑659 ft

Total descent

↓659 ft

Net elevation

↑0 ft

Highest point

887 ft

Lowest point

828 ft

Course shape

Multi loop

Start and finish in one place

The Veterans Marathon is a multi-loop course with a net elevation of zero, meaning every foot of the 659-foot gain is matched by equal descent. The course stays between 828 and 887 feet, so individual climbs are modest rather than sustained. The loop format means repeated exposure to the same grades; knowing where the rises fall early lets you meter effort precisely. Pacing discipline matters more than raw fitness here. Go out conservative on the first loop. The flat-ish character suggests a manageable day for steady runners, though the accumulated rolling over multiple passes will fatigue legs late. USATF-certified, so your time counts.

DIFFICULTYROLLINGPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

View official course map Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

34°F

High

50°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Mid-November in northern Indiana means a cold morning at the gun, often well below 40 degrees, with a high that may only reach the low 50s by midday. Dress in throwaway layers for the start. The loops work in your favor here because you'll pass aid and gear drop points regularly. Wind can be a factor on exposed stretches, and rain or even early flurries are possible. It's the kind of day where you warm into the race rather than starting warm. Respect the cold early and you'll feel good by mile 10.