The marathon course starts in San Elizario and finishes at the El Paso Coliseum. It passes by Ascarate Lake and the Playa Drain, as well as the historic missions of El Paso County: The Presidio Chapel of San Elizario, the Socorro Mission, and the Ysleta Mission.
The course travels slightly uphill - rising 65 feet over the entire course.
The El Paso Marathon was the 208th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 163rd largest in 2022.
This year 4.7% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 6.7% of runners qualified for Boston in 2023.
This gives the El Paso Marathon the 280th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 92nd highest percentage so far in 2024.
Its Course Score of 96.94 ranks it as the 378th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 25th fastest course in Texas.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are within the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the El Paso Marathon a PR Score of 96.94. This PR Score ranks it as the 335th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 24th fastest in Texas.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
El Paso Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 3703 feet (1128m) Min Elevation: 3624 feet (1104m)
I like that it started on the outskirts of town and ended downtown. I didn't like that I didn't know we are going to be shuttled there so I left my car all the way on the other side on accident ( I missed the memo because apparently everyone else knew lol). Great course overall though. Truly got to see all of El Paso. Some fun water stations along the way. Good cheering crowds scattered throughout. There was a Star wars one were everyone was in costume and they had little kids dressed up too. Great cheering squad and it was fun to run through that, high fiving all of them. Nice little break from reality and push to finish. I liked the theme stations where the people got into it.
Race Tips
It can get windy and if you're on a hill, be prepared for it to affect your time. Take your own gu and something for cramping. There was only one station with sodas and pickles and it was somewhere towards the end of the Run.
If doing the full, pick up your packet the day before and get familiar with the course, it helps. Get info about the shuttle way ahead of time and scope out a few places to eat afterwards. That way, you're not just settling for whatever if your first choice is packed.
Marcy - 4:15 PACER 's review of 2017 El Paso Marathon.
5 /
5 Stars
Review
Springfoot Marathon no longer starts atop Transmountain, but on the eastside side of town and ends downtown at the beautiful Chihuahuas baseball stadium. Mostly flat, some hills right after the half. Another two stations with Gu would have been nice :) The gathering at the finish was nice. Nice, huge bronze medals :)
