Marshall University Marathon
Huntington, United States · November · Independent
Why people love it
- Finish inside Joan C. Edwards Stadium, carrying a football about 91 m (100 yd) to the goal line.
- Flat double loop; RaceRaves difficulty 2.0 out of 5.
- Easy parking, stadium toilets and packet pickup, 7:00 a.m. start.
- About 380 marathon finishers, open entry, no sell-out.
- Cool November start, around 2 to 14 °C (36 to 57 °F).
Watch out for
- Second loop is lonely; spectators and course food are sparse.
- Crushed limestone and gravel sections in Ritter Park slow some runners.
- Turn marking at the loop split caught out a 2025 runner.
- Early November can swing from -1 to 21 °C (30 to 70 °F).
- Small regional airport about 20 km (12 mi) away; flights are limited.
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 satisfactionLoved4.0
RaceRaves 4.0 from 53 ratings and MarathonGuide 4.5. Runners praise the flat course, football finish and medal; complaints are thin crowds and little course food. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
RaceRaves production 4.1. Packet pickup and race morning called easy and volunteers praised, but 2025 runners report poor turn marking at the loop split. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.2
Flat double loop, stadium start with parking and toilets, small friendly field. Course food is light and the cutoff was not found. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Flat course, cool November start of 2 to 14 °C (36 to 57 °F), winner 2:27:51. A crushed limestone and gravel section holds it back. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.0
RaceRaves scenery 3.0. Ohio River, Ritter Park and a stadium finish, but mostly town streets. Pleasant, not spectacular. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.8
About 380 marathoners spread over two loops, so little congestion. The loop split caused a missed turn in 2025. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
Mostly paved road, but a crushed limestone path in Ritter Park and a gravel section flagged by one 2025 reviewer slow runners. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
Not stated whether roads are fully closed. Town streets and park paths suggest partial closure; one reviewer called some sections unsafe at night. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.3
Reviewers say it felt flat and fast; findmymarathon says mostly flat. Gain not published, likely under 100 m (330 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Double loop starting and finishing at the stadium, so net elevation change is zero. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth4.2
Easy parking, stadium toilets, 7:00 start, packet pickup praised as simple by 2024 and 2025 reviewers. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
A 2019 reviewer mentions a pace group that went out too fast. The range of pace groups is not documented. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent2.8
Reviewers say spectators are sparse and the second loop felt desolate, though the stadium finish and town sections have fans. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.0
Elks lodge volunteers served Gatorade and food at the 2023 start area, but several 2023 to 2025 reviewers cite almost no food on course. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.5
No wind complaints in the reviews seen; river valley city. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Starts range from -1 to 12 °C (30 to 54 °F). Weather was ideal in 2023 and warm at 16 °C (60 °F) in 2019. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Early November highs ranged 8 to 21 °C (47 to 70 °F) over five years, so mild but variable. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.3
Stadium finish and downtown sections are viewable but a double loop with thin crowds. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Huntington sits about 170 m (560 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
Small city with hotels near campus and downtown. A football weekend could tighten supply. Little evidence. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
Smaller city, generally lower rates than big marathons, but no price data was found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Start and finish at the stadium near downtown hotels; limited evidence. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.8
Small regional airport about 20 km (12 mi) away; most flyers use Charleston WV or Columbus OH, 2 to 3 hours by road. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.3
Reviewers (2023, 2024) call packet pickup and race morning easy; stadium parking and restrooms on site. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.4
Small college town with downtown dining; Ritter Park neighbourhood. Not a destination city. · 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 entry on RunSignUp; about 380 marathon finishers so no sell-out. · High confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.9
RaceRaves swag 3.9. Reviewers praise the medal, shirt and football finish. Fee not found. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Huntington, Cabell County, United States
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 1 November 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 380 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- laps
- Start time
- 07:00
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Road with a crushed limestone path section in Ritter Park
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 2–14 °C (36–57 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 170 m (560 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Tri-State Airport (HTS), 20 km (12 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Huntington, Near Marshall campus
- Booking
- Small city with hotels in downtown Huntington and near the university; stadium parking and restrooms are used on race morning.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
53 ratings, 4.0 overall; difficulty 2.0, scenery 3.0, production 4.1, swag 3.9. Runners agree on a flat, fast course, easy logistics, and the football finish; most complaints are thin crowds, little course food, turn marking and pre-race emails.
“I really enjoyed the course! It felt flat and fast.”
- MarathonGuideRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
3 visible reviews, average 4.5 (page says 4 reviews). Praise for a very flat course, friendly town and moving stadium finish; second loop has fewer spectators and no food on course.
“Flattest Race Ever”
- RaceRaves (ilseberube)Raced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
Marathoner who found the weather ideal and parking and stadium restrooms convenient.
“ideal weather”
- RaceRaves (marcus)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Negative
Marathoner who missed a turn where the loops split and did not finish; wants better marking and volunteers at turns.
“course markings and volunteers at turns need some improvements”
- RaceRaves (kellymunn)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Found the second loop quiet and the food on offer limited.
“pretty desolate”
Show 4 more
- RaceRaves (jstick)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Marathoner who liked the race but thought a gravel section hurts the course.
“gravel section”
- RaceRaves (beachbum67)Raced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
No big problems but noted how little food was on course.
“lack of food on the course”
- Herald-DispatchRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Local coverage: about 1,800 participants across events; Elks lodge volunteers served 800 hamburgers and 450 gallons (1,700 L) Gatorade; marathoners finish in the stadium end zone.
- Marshall Parthenonarticle · Positive
Student paper coverage of record participation at the marathon; tradition of carnations in memory of the 1970 plane crash.
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Sources
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