YMCA Famous Idaho Potato Marathon
Boise, United States · May · Independent
Why people love it
- Flat Greenbelt course with river views; USATF certified Boston qualifier.
- About 11% of 2025 finishers qualified for Boston (31 of about 280).
- Baked potato bar at the finish is the most praised feature.
- Easy packet pickup; small field with friendly volunteers.
- 50th edition planned for 15 May 2027.
Watch out for
- Course mix-ups: runners sent the wrong way by 0.8 km (0.5 mi) in 2025.
- Narrow shared path with cars and scooters crossing the route.
- Two half-marathon loops; few spectators once the half finishes.
- Marathoners merge with 5K and 10K walkers near the finish.
- Concrete path throughout; minimal expo and swag.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLiked3.1
RaceRaves 3.3 from 19 ratings and MarathonGuide 2.3. Fans like the flat riverside route, potato bar and volunteers; detractors cite course mix-ups and crowding. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationAdequate2.7
Wrong turns adding about 0.8 km (0.5 mi), misleading arrows, poor mile markers and a timing error, 2019 to 2025. Packet pickup was easy. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
Flat, small field and friendly volunteers, but the cutoff is unknown and marking has been an issue. One first-timer struggled after mile 18 (29 km). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Flat Greenbelt, USATF Boston qualifier; 31 of about 280 finishers qualified in 2025. Path congestion and concrete underfoot hold it back. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.3
RaceRaves scenery 3.3. Pleasant river views along the Greenbelt, but two repeated loops, and one runner wanted a route through the city. · Medium confidence
- Room to runCrowded2.3
Narrow paths, congestion in the first 5 km (3 mi) and merging with 5K and 10K participants; one bridge was so crowded runners walked. · High confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
Mostly concrete path which reviewers disliked, shared with scooters and bikes. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly open1.8
Greenbelt is open to the public: reviewers report cars and pedestrians crossing the route and a scooter collision. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.7
Described as flat by every source; no gain published, treated as under about 60 m (200 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Two loops from the same start; no net drop. BQ by certification. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.3
7:00 a.m. marathon start. Earlier editions bused runners to Lucky Peak, one bus late; recent starts are at the Morrison Center. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.0
One half runner had a timing error moving a 1:46 finish to 1:47:01; pacing details not found. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse2.2
One 2025 marathoner said the course emptied after the half finished and spectators were scarce; another noted lacking spectators. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
Eight well-staffed aid stations in a 2025 half; marathon runners liked volunteers. Complaints: watered-down sports drink and no calories on the 10K. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.6
River corridor, no wind complaints. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Start mornings of 5 to 12 °C (41 to 54 °F) fit the ideal range; some years warm to 29 °C (84 °F) by midday. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
Mid-May highs ranged from 64 °F (18 °C) to 84 °F (29 °C) over five years; rain soaked one packet pickup. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
Loops pass the start area several times, but spectators were few. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow3.6
Boise is at 825 m (2,705 ft), a mild effect. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
Mid-sized city with a range of hotels near the Boise State area; no sell-out reports. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Not covered in the reviews seen. Boise is generally less costly than coastal cities. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Start and finish at the Morrison Center on the Boise State campus, close to downtown hotels. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
BOI is 5 km (3 mi) from the area; direct flights from many western cities. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.2
Packet pickup is easy but expo is small at the host hotel and pre-race pickup was required in one year. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.7
Reviewers praise the post-race baked potato bar; Boise itself not discussed in detail. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inOpen entry4.5
Open registration; does not appear to sell out; 16+ age minimum. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.0
Fee about $90 to $110 plus sign-up fee. Medals called cheap and swag 2.7 out of 5; the potato bar is liked. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Boise, Ada County, United States
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 15 May 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 264 athletes
- First held
- 1978
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- laps
- Start time
- 07:00
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved Greenbelt path, mostly concrete
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Entry fee
- About $100
- Air temperature
- 5–25 °C (41–77 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry
- Altitude
- 825 m (2,710 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Boise Airport (BOI), 5 km (3 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Boise, Boise State campus, Riverside
- Booking
- Hotels downtown and near Boise State; race weekend not known to sell out the city.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves YMCA Famous Idaho Potato MarathonRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Rated 3.3 of 5 by 19 runners, difficulty 1.6, scenery 3.3, production 3.0, swag 2.7. Fans: flat, friendly volunteers, potato bar, easy pickup. Critics: wrong-turn and signage errors in several years, a crowded narrow path shared with 5K and 10K runners, no crowd after the half finishes, concrete underfoot, minimal expo.
“The course was flat and pretty scenic.”
- MarathonGuide Famous Idaho Potato Marathon reviewRaced 2024 · aggregator · Negative
Rated 2.3 of 5. Liked the goodies and medal; disliked watered-down sports drink, a crowded narrow course, cars and pedestrians crossing the path, and 5K walkers merging in. Notes marathon is a double loop of the half and 142 finishers.
“All courses are flat and fast!”
- BibRave Famous Idaho Potato Marathon reviewsRaced 2018 · aggregator · mixed-positive
Three reviews. A Lucky Peak canyon start was scenic, chilly and congested for the first mile; packet pickup was quick; the expo was small with few vendors.
“Expo - Small with a few vendors”
- KIVI-TV on Good Morning America visitRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Local TV piece in which a GMA correspondent called the Greenbelt route flat and a runner's dream. Promotional.
“flat and a runner's dream”
Raced YMCA Famous Idaho Potato Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for YMCA Famous Idaho Potato Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.