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The Knoxville Marathon course has several rolling hills throughout the race. The hills are broken up by some flat sections as the course runs along the river.
The Knoxville Marathon was the 122nd largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 118th largest in 2023.
This year 5.6% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 5% of runners qualified for Boston in 2024.
This gives the Knoxville Marathon the 315th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 92nd highest percentage so far in 2025.
Its Course Score of 97.14 ranks it as the 372nd fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 7th fastest course in Tennessee.
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 Knoxville Marathon a PR Score of 97.14. This PR Score ranks it as the 323rd fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 6th fastest in Tennessee.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
Knoxville Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 917 feet (279m) Min Elevation: 821 feet (250m)
The first half of the marathon is quite a bit more hilly, but if you train for hills, you'll be fine! My Coros watch clocked 1300 feet of elevation gain, so it's not flat by any means, but wasn't insurmountable either. The course itself was beautiful and well ran. It was my first marathon in nearly 20 years and I'd highly recommend it!
Race Tips
Train for hills as much as possible. Pace yourself to negative split by going out a bit easier in the first half. The second half wasn't as bad.
Park in the garage right across from the convention center. If you arrive by 6 am, you'll be able to park on the main floor.
Pete's review of 2025 Knoxville Marathon.
5 /
5 Stars
Review
It's hilly, but the second half isn't as bad as the first half. The event is well run, the course is beautiful, the crowd support was great. My watch had it at just over 1,300 feet of elevation gain, but if you train hills, you'll be fine. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
Race Tips
Train hills and you'll be fine. Go in knowing the first half is tougher and pace accordingly.
For the price stay out of the downtown area & park at the 11th St. parking garage!!
jk's review of 2022 Knoxville Marathon.
1 /
5 Stars
Review
Very hilly but I knew that going in there's a 1000 turns and not enough people to direct they don't line the roads and not signs for directions if you're with people who have run it probably ok but I would not recommend it. I have run 11 marathons and this one is worst by long shot.
This was my first marathon. Traveling from West Virginia, I got to the Expo between 5:00 and 6:00 Saturday evening and several of the vendors had already shut down. This wasn't really a big deal, as it seemed to be that most vendors who had left weren't really selling actual running "products." Had I planned on an extended visit at the Expo, I would have arrived earlier.
Packet pick-up was well-organized, quick, and easy, after which, we went back outside to the World's Fair Grounds. The atmosphere was great because they had just held the Kids Run and were gearing up for the 5k, which we stayed around to watch. There were tons of activities, music and food trucks. It was a lot of fun.
Marathon morning, we took an uber from the Best Western on Pratt Road where we had stayed, as it was considerably cheaper. We went early to beat the traffic and were dropped off right at our corrals. It was colder than normal, but we were able to go into the hotel lobby there to wait and use the restroom. As I was in the last corral, it took me four minutes to actually reach the starting line once the race started.I was nervous about the "hilly" description of the course even though I live in the mountains of West Virginia and train with a lot of elevation. The race started out with an uphill climb, but it wasn't long or steep - very manageable. The rolling description was very accurate for the first seven miles. Spectator support was great and there was live music every mile. The signs and spectators through Sequoia Hills were awesome. It made it fun!
Between mile 7 and 8 laid the infamous Noelton Drive. It was steep, but there was a break in the middle before you climbed again. It was about 100 feet of elevation over about four tenths of a mile. It wasn't as bad as I had heard. After Noelton, we dropped down into the park trail. I had been looking forward to this part from a video I had watched because it looked pretty, but I struggled here. The rolling was non-stop up and down. It wasn't difficult, but it caused me to struggle to find my pace. Plus, I think I had given too much to Noelton because I had been determined to run it without taking any walking breaks.
I had r
ead that the first part of the course was the most difficult in regard to the hills, but I disagree. The hills between miles 11 and 16 weren't necessarily as steep, but they were very drawn out. I'd rather run short and steep. There wasn't as much support through this section and fewer music acts. There was a fun section with Mimosas and shots, but as I was already worried about living through this ordeal without puking, I decided to pass.
Somewhere through here there was a section along a busy highway, but like the rest of the course, it was very well marked and blocked off so I felt completely comfortable. I did not, however, feel comfortable on the never-ending bridge around mile 21, but that's just me. I am not a fan of bridges, so I put my head down and kept moving.
Thereafter, we dropped down into the Island Home residential area. This returned us to lots of spectator support and live music acts. This was an out and back section that seemed to take forever since when we first entered it, we were actually only a little over a mile away from the finish line.
Coming out of Island Home, we started the last climb as a volunteer was sure to tell me. She did not however, add that the climb was going to go in forever! (Or at least it seemed to) There were small breaks in it, but if you plan to run this marathon, I strongly advise you to make sure you have something left in the tank for mile 25.
Toward the end of mile 25, we entered the heavily populated streets near the World's Faiir Grounds. This resulted in the loud clapping and cheering you need to pour it on for the last half mile despite the fact that your legs and lungs are on fire, you're ready to lose a toenail, and you're pretty sure your heel is bleeding.
The drop down into the park for the finish line was awesome, as was the fact that they announce your name as you cross the finish line even if it takes you five and a half hours to do so.
In the end, my watch said 26.7 miles instead of 26.2 and a little over 1,200 feet of elevation. I will add that I regularly trained with 1,800 feet of elevation back home, but it didn't seem nearly as hard. The long drawn-out climbs on this course are not my specialty.
Overall, it was a great experience. The race was well-organized and fun and the support of the police for traffic control and route direction was extremely appreciated.
Race Tips
Noelton isn't as bad as they say.
The mid-section has a lot of long, drawn out climbs, that I wouldn't describe as rolling.
Save something for mile 25. You will need it.
4.4 Stars from 7 Reviews
