Race Reviews

PaulB's review of 2023 race.   

Review

Pros: Small, pleasant race. Decent parking and fun post race celebration. Finisher jacket is a nice windbreaker. Great aid station volunteers.

Cons: Can't count on having pacers show up. Route is VERY poorly marked. Multiple turns were missed by the front runners. Can't recommend this race until this is fixed!!

Race Tips

Can't agree with the 'primarily flat and fast' course description. It has pretty consistent rolling terrain throughout the entirety of the course. Not huge hills, but overall elevation change is close to 800'. Also be aware that if it's a windy day (a likely scenario in north Texas), there are multiple miles on the course that are exposed. Not much crowd support.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Race day parking isn't bad, but recommend you plan on getting to the mall parking lot about 30 minutes prior. Bag drop and bag claim a bit loosey-goosey. We didn't find any hotels that were within walking distance.

hd's review of 2018 race.   

Review

Starts off fast while going though Bryan TX. You make a left turn into a gated neighborhood at mile 10. One of the steepest hills is in this portion of the course. After circling the Texas A & M campus you head back towards the mall and hit another hill just before the end of the race. Over all it is a very fun race. College students there to support you with plenty of GU water and sports drink. It enjoyable but it is a little hilly.

Race Tips

Be ready for the hill at the end of the race.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

All of the host hotels are outstanding. I like the George hotel. It has a Texas charm and is very runner friendly. They had coffee and bagels pre-race and sacks filled with food pre and post race. Also gave you a late check out after the race.

DS's review of 2015 race.   

Review

This is a great marathon. I've run it twice (2013 & 2015). It is very well organized, good aid stations with enough volunteers where they are supposed to be. Nice after party with unique foods. All proceeds from the race go to good charities. Hotels are within 1-2 miles of the start area and are inexpensive, $120 or less a night. Start location is next to a mall, so there is plenty of free parking race morning with a very short walk to the start. They have TONS of port-a-potties at the start area.

Race Tips

There are more turns than ideal on the course. If you do not run the tangents well, you will easily end up with 26.5miles or longer distance.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

RMH's review of 2013 race.   

Review

Race felt very personal, race directors gave plenty of info, and it was for a great cause.

Race Tips

There were only a few hills and they were very slight. Lots of turns in the course.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

The race hotels were all within a mile of the start, parking was at the mall and it was all a seamless experience. Very well put together race, better than others I've run that were 5 times larger.

AG's review of 2024 race.   

Review

Logistics, very well organized and great attention from staff and institutions. As for the course, all I can say is that it is wonderful. Amazing job from the crowd cheering all over the 26 miles (I was surprised) and great hydration. As for the perks, everything was amazing (shirts,race kit, extras at the expo, etc.)

Will recommend to anyone who is looking for BQ or just even having a great running experience. Course is amazing and flat.

Race Tips

Pace the first half and lower the second

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Plan ahead of time your stay, hotels are very expensive and hard to find.

DS's review of 2024 race.   

Review

This was my first marathon and it did not disappoint. The organization of this race was top notch. From packet pickup to the race and postrace it was seamless. The weather was great low 40's to start and mid 40's during the race. The wind did hamper me a bit, but not too bad. Very flat course other than an overpass around 12 and underpasses beyond the 20 mile mark. I found the underpasses to be rough simply due to them being at the end of the course. Decent crowd support especially at the beginning and end. Some lonely stretches in the middle, but you always have plenty of runners with you to keep you company. If you are chasing a BQ this course could be your ticket.

Race Tips

Plenty of pacers if you want to run with a pace group. Try to run tangents as I ended up running 26.47 miles. It was disheartening with my Garmin showing the miles click off and then not hitting the mile markers for another 1/4 mile. Plenty of water and aid stations every 1.5 miles. Plenty of porta-lets too, which I ended up needing 3 times during the race....

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

I stayed at the Homewood Suites downtown, which ended up being great. It was close to both the expo and the starting corrals. I stayed in my hotel room until about 6:00am and then walked straight to corral A which closed at 6:45. This cut out having to go to the convention center early that morning. If I do the race again I will stay in my hotel until about 6:20 and jog to the corral, which would still give you plenty of time to stretch and get ready for the race.

DP's review of 2023 race.   

Review

Course is flat and fast with minor hills that do not detract. Our weather was a bit warmer than what we wanted (59 at start, 70s at finish) but we train in San Antonio so it was not terrible for us. Course was well organized with good support. Fluid stations were great because the Gatorade was always first and in green Gatorade cups with the water station next in white cups. There was ample room for fluids and no need fro crowding or confusion.I would definitely run it again if I am chasing another BQ.

Race Tips

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

WER's review of 2022 race.   

Review

Pancake flat course with on teensy overpass at mile 12.5. Seriously- this course is flatter than the elevation chart indicates. Well marked- lots of runners, aid stations every 1.5 miles. Finally, when the half course recombines with the full at the end the courses are separated! That really helps at the end of a marathon to not have to dodge slower half runners.

Race Tips

Even pacing would work as the second half is just as flat as the first. Temps in 2022 were ideal- high 30s to start to mid 40s by midmorning.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

The Sam Houston hotel is right by the gate to corral A, so you could leave the hotel 2 minutes before the corral closes if its a chilly morning. The finish is half a mile away, so you have a little hike back at the end. I liked the hotel. You get your shirt at the end at the expo center (where the bib pickup and expo is) so its kind of a big crowd with all the half runners. Other schwag included a beer mug and a beach towel(!). Big fun expo with lots of vendors and sale shoes.

JS's review of 2019 race.   

Review

The organization of the Chevron Houston Marathon is exceptional. Easily top 5 in the country if not the best. Prior to getting into the corral, all runners convene in the Houston Convention Center where there are a plethora of porta-potties, water, gatorade, an early morning mass, and stretching zones available. Not to mention, it's a great place to hang out if the weather is cold. Corrals are also extremely well organized. I've only been in corral A and as long as you're in the corral before 10 minutes of closing, you can find your pace group easily. I have heard from friends and family that the final corral gets a bit crowded. Additional porta-potties are available outside each corral AND inside each corral.

The course is a very nice tour of Houston. Very flat, with over and underpasses the only significant hills. Note that they all occur after mile 12, with 3 of the hills in the last 5K. Water and endurance gatorade are provided at every ~1.5 miles. The tables are very long, so congestion is never an issue (anther organization thumbs up!), especially if you get gatorade/water towards the end of each table. Support from the city of Houston and the community is outstanding. It truly is a big event and the news stations provide a lot of coverage; in fact it's on television live every year. The only disappointment along the course is the official entertainment. Some are good (e.g., high school bands), but most are not good for a race of this magnitude.

The EXPO is large and has a lot of great vendors. In 2019, Aftershokz gave out free $150 headphones for running/walking on a treadmill for 10 minutes. Also free KT taping and massages. Overall a good experience.

Lastly, if you enjoy big races with big elite names, this is one of them. The purse that Houston provides for the winners is one of the largest in the world, so it attracts the best marathoners and half-marathoners in the world. It's an IAAF silver label race due to the diversity of the elite participants, prize money, and organization. Highly recommend racing at Houston!

Race Tips

Get to the convention center early if you want to stretch and use porta-potties. Lines can get long.

As in most large marathons, race volunteers lag behind the racers to pick up any tossed clothing to donate to charity. So if it is cold, tossing cheap gear to the sidewalk is fine.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Any downtown hotel is great to stay prior to the race, as almost all are easily walkable to start/finish. The closer to the convention center, the better (e.g., Hilton Americas and Marriott Marquis). Highly recommend walking or being dropped off at the start rather than parking, just so much easier and less of a hassle.