Idaho Falls Marathon (formerly the MAD Marathon)
Idaho Falls, United States · July · Independent
Why people love it
- Early 6:00 start, with parking about 90 m (100 yd) from the start and no bus ride.
- Second half runs on the paved Snake River Greenbelt trail, away from traffic.
- Small field with a community feel; a 2024 runner praised the new race director.
- Open registration on RunSignup; a 2025 runner counted fewer than 100 marathoners.
Watch out for
- Roads are open to traffic, so expect waits at major crossings.
- July 2026 runners reported a heat warning, almost no shade and aid stops out of water.
- Altitude is about 1,430 m (4,700 ft), and the race is not a Boston qualifier.
- 2021 and 2022 runners reported poor marking, and the course changed again for 2026.
- Few spectators, and no pace groups mentioned in any review.
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: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLiked3.0
Mixed: MarathonGuide 2.9 out of 5 (3 reviews), RaceRaves 3.0 (17), RaceEntry about 3.9 (8). Recent runners praise the new race director. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationAdequate2.7
2021 and 2022 runners reported poor marking and no finish clock. A 2024 runner saw improvement, but July 2026 runners again found empty aid stops. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.8
Small field and a flat layout help, but open roads, thin aid, heat and no published cutoff make it a risk for a first marathon. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.8
Flat on paper, but a 2024 runner stopped several times for traffic and altitude of 1,430 m (4,700 ft) costs speed. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.3
Farm roads with open fields in the first half, then the Snake River path. RaceRaves scenery averages 3.2 out of 5. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
A small field means no crowding, but traffic stops and confusing turns break rhythm. A 2021 runner met a last-minute change at a busy intersection. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Paved country roads and paved bike trail. No reviewer mentions potholes or rough sections. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly open1.7
Roads are not closed. Runners wait at major crossings, with volunteers at some of them, per 2024 and 2025 reviews. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.0
Organisers and 2024 and 2025 reviewers describe a flat course; a 2021 runner mentions pretty but tough rolling hills. No gain figure published. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Start and finish are at the same place, so no net drop. Older point-to-point editions started in the foothills, but that course is gone. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.8
Parking within 90 m (100 yd) of the start, plenty of toilets, easy packet pickup. 2021 had late buses and no drop bags. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingFew1.8
No pace groups appear in any review, and 2021 runners reported no finish clocks. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse1.9
2024 and 2025 reviewers say there were not many spectators, with only some cyclists, walkers and roadside vendors on the riverbank trails. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsThin2.4
Stops every 3 to 5 km (2 to 3 mi) in 2024, but 2021, 2022 and July 2026 runners found unmanned stops and empty cups. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.4
A light breeze in 2024, a windy day in 2021. Open farmland leaves the course exposed. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.3
A 6:00 start gives 10 to 21 °C (50 to 70 °F) in a typical year, but July 2026 runners reported a heat warning. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Late July is usually dry, but one edition was windy and rainy (2021) and another hot (2026). · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.4
Few spectators and a spread-out course. The start and finish area is easy to reach by car. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeElevated2.2
Idaho Falls sits at about 1,430 m (4,700 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
A 2024 runner found a hotel about 400 m (a quarter mile) from the start and finish. Idaho Falls is a mid-sized city with lodging. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
No hotel price reports. Mid-sized city, no big-event surge reported. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
Some hotels sit within about 400 m (a quarter mile) of the start. Most visitors will drive. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.3
Served by Idaho Falls Regional Airport and by car from Utah and Montana. Distance unknown. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.9
No bus ride, easy parking and packet pickup, start and finish at the same place. The website lacked information in 2026. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.3
Riverside greenbelt and a small downtown. One reviewer mentions the town is walkable. Little detail on food. · 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 entry4.6
Open registration and a small field, with no sellout. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.0
Fee unpublished. Reviewers describe a small medal and shirt, with mixed views on swag (RaceRaves swag 2.9 out of 5). · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, United States
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 24 July 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 100 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 06:00
- Boston qualifier
- No
- Surface
- Paved country roads, city streets and paved Snake River Greenbelt bike trail
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 10–21 °C (50–70 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry high-desert summer air
- Altitude
- 1,430 m (4,690 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA)
- Where to stay
- Snake River Landing, Near the Greenbelt
- Booking
- A 2024 out-of-town runner stayed in a hotel about 400 m (a quarter mile) from the start and finish.
What racers and reviewers say
- MarathonGuide (Idaho Falls MAD Marathon)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Three runner reviews average 2.9 out of 5 (overall 3.6, course 3.0, organisation 3.0, spectators 2.8). A 2025 runner ranked it last among many marathons for poor marking, open roads and sporadic aid. A 2024 reviewer enjoyed a community event with easy parking, enough toilets, riverbank trails and a cool 6:00 start. A second 2024 runner praised a new race director and a hotel 400 m (a quarter mile) from the start.
“The new race director has really turned this race around.”
- RaceRaves (Idaho Falls Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
17 ratings average 3.0 out of 5 (difficulty 2.9, scenery 3.2, production 3.1, swag 2.9). Marathon runners in 2021 and 2022 describe unmarked courses, late buses and long aid gaps; a 2024 runner calls it a big improvement. July 2026 marathon and half reviewers report heat, almost no shade, aid stops out of water and traffic left open.
- RaceEntry (Idaho Falls Marathon)Raced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Eight reviews average about 3.9 out of 5, split between five 5-star and a few poor scores. Fans like the scenic, peaceful rural course, early start, rain-day fun and a friendly mix of runners. Critics in 2021 and 2022 cite unmanned crossings, missing mile marks and a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) gap with no aid on the half.
Raced Idaho Falls Marathon (formerly the MAD 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 Idaho Falls Marathon (formerly the MAD Marathon)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.