Starting at Black Creek Park in Fultondale, AL, the Railway Marathon & Half Marathon will be held on the Five Mile Creek Greenway, a rails-to-trail project located 15 minutes north of Birmingham. Runners will race through the Cities of Fultondale, Gardendale.
The course consist of hard-packed crushed gravel. Marathoners will run the out-and-back course twice.
The Railway Marathon was the 425th largest marathon in the U.S. last year.
This year 5.5% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 11.4% of runners qualified for Boston in 2024.
This gives the Railway Marathon the 144th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 42nd highest percentage so far in 2025.
Its Course Score of 98.62 ranks it as the 264th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 5th fastest course in Alabama.
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 Railway Marathon a PR Score of 98.62. This PR Score ranks it as the 207th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 4th fastest in Alabama.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
Railway Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 633 feet (192m) Min Elevation: 493 feet (150m)
Emily McEachern's review of 2024 Railway Marathon.
5 /
5 Stars
Review
It's two out and backs, which I liked because I knew what to expect. Really small field size, but the out and backs mean that there's always someone going the other way so you're not alone much.
Race Tips
Don't get it twisted, it's kinda hilly. The big hill is a nice gradual slope but the little hills before and after are what killed me. Also watch out for the loose gravel at start and finish!
