Bank effort, not time
With two long climbs in the first 16 miles, the right first half is slower than even pace. Run steady effort up South Congress and through Hyde Park, and expect to come through halfway a little behind.
Austin, TX · Sunday, February 14, 2027
Austin Marathon race guide
Austin is a hilly city marathon, with about 750 feet of climbing, but the hills come early and the finish is kind. You climb South Congress for three and a half miles, drop back to Lady Bird Lake, then climb again through West Austin, past the University of Texas and up to Hyde Park around mile 16. From there the course descends into East Austin for five flat miles before a short climb to the Capitol and a downhill finish on Congress Avenue.
Pace plan
Plan your race on this course
Set your goal and start time. Your checkpoints, the time of day you’ll reach each one, and the course guide below all update to match.
Build your plan01
Pacing
A little slower on the climbs, a little faster on the downhills and flats, for the same finish time. Based on where this course climbs. Treat it as an effort guide.
Wave A starts at 7:00 a.m., and later waves follow within a few minutes. Enter your wave’s start time if it’s different.
Splits
Your Austin Marathon02
Average pace
8:01/mi
- First half
- 1:45:24
- Second half
- 1:44:36
- Finish line
- 10:30 a.m.
Hover or tap a bar to see that mile.
| Checkpoint | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|
| Ben White BoulevardMile 3.5 · Top of South Congress. Slow is right | 28:34 | 7:29 a.m. |
| Lady Bird LakeMile 6.2 · Back to goal pace | 49:40 | 7:50 a.m. |
| Half/full splitMile 12 · The field thins. Stay steady | 1:36:14 | 8:36 a.m. |
| Halfway, near UTMile 13.1 · Effort, not pace, until Hyde Park | 1:45:24 | 8:45 a.m. |
| Hyde ParkMile 16 · The last big climb is done | 2:08:35 | 9:09 a.m. |
| East AustinMile 20.3 · Flat from here. Race if you can | 2:42:40 | 9:43 a.m. |
| Red RiverMile 25.5 · One short climb, then downhill | 3:24:13 | 10:24 a.m. |
| FinishMile 26.2 · Congress Avenue at 9th Street | 3:30:00 | 10:30 a.m. |
Save it to your phone, or send the link to the people cheering for you.
- Date
- Sunday, February 14, 2027
- Start time
- 7:00 a.m. CT, in waves
- Start
- Congress Avenue at 2nd Street
- Finish
- Congress Avenue at 9th Street, below the Capitol
- Time limit
- 7 hours (16:00 per mile); the course closes at 2:18 p.m.
- Elevation gain
- About 750 ft
- Official site
- youraustinmarathon.com
- Profile
- Two long climbs in the first 16 miles, then downhill and flat, with a short climb near the finish
- Best for
- A tough, lively city race. A PR is possible if you pace the first half by effort
- Biggest mistake
- Charging up South Congress in the first miles because the crowd is loud and the legs are fresh
- Course split
- The half turns off after mile 12; the marathon keeps going north
The course
Mile by mile, at your pace
- Miles0–3.6
South Congress Climb
You cross the Congress Avenue Bridge and climb South Congress all the way to Ben White Boulevard, about 210 feet in three and a half miles. It’s the longest climb of the day and it comes first. Run it by effort; your splits will be slow, and that’s fine.
8:09 /miMile 3.6 at 29:227:29 a.m.
- Miles3.6–6.2
Down South 1st Street Downhill
The course turns back north on South 1st Street and drops about 230 feet to Lady Bird Lake. Get the time back gently, with a quick, short stride, not by hammering.
7:49 /miMile 6.2 at 49:407:50 a.m.
- Miles6.2–8.1
Lady Bird Lake & Veterans Drive Flat
Flat along the lake on Cesar Chavez Street, Stephen F. Austin Drive and Veterans Drive to Lake Austin Boulevard. Settle into goal pace and start fueling.
8:00 /miMile 8.1 at 1:04:528:05 a.m.
- Miles8.1–12
Enfield & West 15th Rolling
Enfield Road climbs about 70 feet into West Austin’s neighborhoods and rolls along to West 15th Street. The half marathon turns for home after mile 12, and the course gets quieter.
8:03 /miMile 12 at 1:36:148:36 a.m.
- Miles12–16
Guadalupe & Hyde Park Climb
North on Guadalupe past the University of Texas, then 38th Street, Speedway and 45th Street into Hyde Park, climbing about 130 feet to the course’s second high point near mile 16. You’re past halfway now. Keep the effort steady.
8:05 /miMile 16 at 2:08:359:09 a.m.
- Miles16–18.6
Red River & Dean Keeton Rolling
Red River, 41st and Duval Streets and Dean Keeton roll through a valley and back up. It’s the last real up-and-down. Take a gel at the energy zone near mile 19.5 if you need it.
7:58 /miMile 18.6 at 2:29:179:29 a.m.
- Miles18.6–20.3
Down to East Austin Downhill
Lafayette Avenue and Chicon Street drop about 140 feet into East Austin. This is where the race turns in your favor. Let the descent carry you, but stay controlled.
7:52 /miMile 20.3 at 2:42:409:43 a.m.
- Miles20.3–25
East Austin Flat
Five flat miles through East Austin on 12th Street, Pleasant Valley, Webberville, Tillery, 5th Street and Cesar Chavez toward Rainey Street. If you’ve paced the hills well, this is where to race.
7:58 /miMile 25 at 3:20:0810:20 a.m.
- Miles25–26.2
Up to the Capitol Climb
Waller Street, 6th Street and Red River climb about 70 feet toward the Capitol. Then you turn onto Congress Avenue and run downhill to the finish at 9th Street, with the Capitol behind you.
8:06 /miFinish at 3:30:0010:30 a.m.
Every mile split for 3:30:00
| Mile | Terrain | Pace /mi | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rolling | 8:07 | 8:07 | 7:08 a.m. |
| 2 | Climb | 8:21 | 16:28 | 7:16 a.m. |
| 3 | Flat | 8:08 | 24:36 | 7:25 a.m. |
| 4 | Rolling | 7:56 | 32:32 | 7:33 a.m. |
| 5 | Downhill | 7:44 | 40:16 | 7:40 a.m. |
| 6 | Downhill | 7:49 | 48:05 | 7:48 a.m. |
| 7 | Flat | 7:57 | 56:02 | 7:56 a.m. |
| 8 | Flat | 8:01 | 1:04:03 | 8:04 a.m. |
| 9 | Climb | 8:11 | 1:12:14 | 8:12 a.m. |
| 10 | Flat | 8:06 | 1:20:20 | 8:20 a.m. |
| 11 | Flat | 7:58 | 1:28:18 | 8:28 a.m. |
| 12 | Downhill | 7:56 | 1:36:14 | 8:36 a.m. |
| 13 | Climb | 8:17 | 1:44:31 | 8:45 a.m. |
| 14 | Flat | 8:01 | 1:52:32 | 8:53 a.m. |
| 15 | Flat | 8:02 | 2:00:35 | 9:01 a.m. |
| 16 | Flat | 8:00 | 2:08:35 | 9:09 a.m. |
| 17 | Rolling | 7:56 | 2:16:31 | 9:17 a.m. |
| 18 | Rolling | 8:02 | 2:24:33 | 9:25 a.m. |
| 19 | Downhill | 7:53 | 2:32:27 | 9:32 a.m. |
| 20 | Flat | 7:51 | 2:40:18 | 9:40 a.m. |
| 21 | Flat | 7:53 | 2:48:12 | 9:48 a.m. |
| 22 | Flat | 7:58 | 2:56:09 | 9:56 a.m. |
| 23 | Flat | 7:58 | 3:04:07 | 10:04 a.m. |
| 24 | Flat | 7:58 | 3:12:05 | 10:12 a.m. |
| 25 | Flat | 8:03 | 3:20:08 | 10:20 a.m. |
| 26 | Climb | 8:09 | 3:28:17 | 10:28 a.m. |
| Finish | Downhill | 7:51 | 3:30:00 | 10:30 a.m. |
Lap your watch at each marker; GPS distance drifts over 26.2 miles. Even-pace card for 3:30:00
Race strategy
How to pace the Austin Marathon
Use the descents gently
The drops down South 1st and into East Austin give time back. Take it with a quick stride rather than a surge, so your quads still work at mile 24.
Race the flat finish
Miles 20 to 25 are flat. If you’ve held back, that’s where to push, with one short climb to the Capitol and a downhill finish on Congress.
The last few weeks
Train for this course
- Start some long runs with a sustained 3- to 4-mile climb, then settle into goal pace.
- Put a second long climb between miles 12 and 16 of your longest runs.
- Finish long runs with flat miles at goal pace on tired legs, the way East Austin will feel.
Race-day weather
Mid-February in Austin swings widely. Many race mornings are cool, in the 40s or 50s°F, but a cold front can bring near-freezing wind, and some years are warm and humid. Check the forecast in race week and set your goal by the conditions.
Race morning
Getting to the start
- The marathon and half start on Congress Avenue at 2nd Street. Downtown streets close early, so plan parking or a ride ahead of time.
- Free gear check opens at 7th and Colorado Streets at 5:30 a.m. Only the clear bag from packet pickup is accepted.
- Aid stations are at almost every mile, with gels at the energy zones near miles 9.5 and 19.5.
- If storms threaten, the start can be delayed up to 45 minutes; longer delays shorten the marathon to a half.
Questions runners ask.
How hilly is the Austin Marathon?
Hilly for a city marathon: about 750 feet of climbing. The big climbs are South Congress in the first 3.5 miles and the climb north past UT to Hyde Park from about mile 12 to 16. The last 10 miles are mostly downhill or flat.
What is the time limit?
Seven hours, which is a 16-minute-per-mile pace. The marathon course closes at 2:18 p.m., and runners behind pace are directed to the sidewalk.
Where do the marathon and half split?
After mile 12. The marathon turns north toward the University of Texas, and the half turns south toward the finish.
Where should friends and family watch?
South Congress in the first few miles, the Lady Bird Lake area around mile 6, Hyde Park, and East Austin late in the race. The finish on Congress below the Capitol is lively.
Last checked October 21, 2026. This is an independent guide from Miles. We’re not affiliated with the race organizer. Start times, cutoffs, and logistics can change, so confirm everything on the official race site before race day.
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