The following is a verbal description of the marathon course (since the map is not real easy to read to get the actual roads at times).

 Note - the half-marathon course will follow the marathon course for the first 9 miles and then at 8th Street, by Ritter Park, it will then follow the last 4.1 miles to the stadium (except as you approach the tennis courts where you will deviate slightly from the marathoners - a volunteer will direct you there)   Click here for a map of the half-marathon course.   Click here for a map of the full marathon course.

Note also - some of the new course is on the crushed limestone path around Ritter Park and the trail that heads west from the park.  It is very compacted and fast.   You do not need special shoes for this.   The total of the trails on this surface is only 3 miles approximately.

 Begin at the traffic light west of  the pedestrian walkway at the Cam Henderson Center on 3rd Avenue and 18th Street

Head east 1.5 miles and turn right on 29th Street

South quarter mile and turn right on 5th Avenue. 

Head west 1.5 miles and turn right on 20th Street

North quarter mile and turn left on 3rd Avenue and go west.

Bear right at Veteran’s Memorial Blvd.  Go right thru the first floodwall opening        and  run west on the path thru Harris Riverfront Park.  Exit the park thru the next floodwall opening and resume on Veteran’s Memorial Blvd.  This becomes Virginia Avenue shortly and continues west approximately 2 miles.

Turn left on 12th Street West up a short hill. 

Turn right (west) on Washington Avenue.

Turn left (north) on 14th Street West and run thru Central City until you reach  Memorial Blvd just beyond the train trestle.

Turn left on Memorial Blvd.  This becomes North Blvd just beyond the Memorial  Arch.  At 8th Street you enter Ritter Park.  On the first loop around the park you will do a clockwise loop on the path which will go around the fountain and stay on the sidewalk or park path at all times.  Exit Ritter Park at the underpass under 8th Street where you stay on the path and head west 2 miles on the path back.   Take this path to the end.   It will take you to North Blvd.  Turn right  onto North Blvd and cross the road.  Then turn left back onto 14th Street West and stay west of the oncoming runners. 

Turn left (west) onto Madison Avenue.

Conitinue to the end of Madison (where the Rich gasoline station is).

Turn right on Waverly Road (Route 60) and head east.  This road becomes Adams Avenue as you approach the city.  You will be on this road for close to 4 miles.

Turn right on 1st Street and head north. 

Turn left on North Blvd and shortly thereafter you will return to the crushed limestone path again.   You will enter Ritter Park for a reversal of the first loop as you go counter-clockwise.

Exit Ritter Park at 8th Street and go right and head north.

Turn left on 6th Avenue and go west ¾ miles.

Turn right on 1st Street staying east of the oncoming runners and head north.

Turn right on Virginia Avenue and head east.  This becomes Veteran’s Memorial Blvd.

Turn left thru the floodwall and head east thru Harris Riverfront Park on the trail in reverse of what was done earlier in the race. 

Exit the park thru the next opening in the floodwall and head east-northeast on Veteran’s Memorial Blvd.  This turns into 3rd Avenue and you go directly east.

Turn right on Hal Greer Blvd (16th Street) and go north on the sidewalk. 

Turn left into campus at 4th Avenue and run along a brick path that takes you alongside “Old Main”.  Follow this around a circle and stay north of the John Marshall Statue in the middle of the circle.  At the statue head thru campus on the pathway heading east.  Head straight towards Hodges Hall and then bear right just outside the building and head around it and then towards Gullickson Hall. (Note - here half-marathoners will go to the left around Hodges Hall)   Turn left and go to the traffic light on 3rd Avenue. 

Turn right onto the sidewalk along 3rd Avenue and pass Cam Henderson Center.     Cross 20th Street.

Stay on the sidewalk and enter the downramp at the Northwest corner of the stadium. At the bottom of the ramp bear to the right along the side of the field.  Turn left at the southwest corner of the end zone then another left at the south goal post.   Go across the middle of the field and finish at the north goal line.