Galveston Marathon & Half Marathon

Sunday, February 25, 2024 • Galveston, TX • Course Map

After more than two decades since its last running, the Galveston Marathon returned to the streets and seawalls of this Texas port city in 2012 for a Mardi Gras-themed revival of a race that takes runners through the city’s historic Strand district and along the highways that look out onto the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which runners will be able to see for a several miles toward the end of the race.

From the race starting and finish line area near Galveston’s Stewart Beach Park, the out-and-back course takes runners in the half marathon along a single loop out towards Seawall Boulevard, which was built in the early 20th century to protect the city and its inhabitants following the historic Galveston hurricane of 1900, which cost an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 people their lives.

Heading north along Seawall Boulevard, runners complete a loop consisting of East Beach Drive and Apffel Park Road, a stretch of grassland with few houses or businesses to distract from the views. The grassland continues as runners head north along Seawall Boulevard and turn right onto Boddeker Road. After reaching the turnaround point near the end of Boddeker Road, the course returns to Seawall Boulevard, this time heading south.

Runners will get to see several miles of the seawall, which still stands today after a beating from storm surge caused by 2008’s Hurricane Ike. After heading down along Seawall Boulevard toward the Galveston Pier, runners then turn around and head back along a stretch of the route they’ve just run, back northeast along Seawall Boulevard toward Stewart Beach Park. The home stretch of the race brings them along a straightaway back into the park for the half marathon finish. Those running the full, 26.2-mile marathon make a second loop of the exact same route. Those running the full, 26.2-mile marathon make a second loop of the exact same route.

The race organizers note that there is a 6 hour time limit for the full marathon; however, the half marathon has no time limit, making the event a good choice for runners and walkers alike, including first-timers.

More than 1,200 runners crossed the finish line in all three races combined in 2016, including more than 800 finishers in the half marathon alone. For runners looking to qualify for the Boston Marathon, the Galveston Marathon is a USA Track and Field-certified course and a Boston Marathon Qualifier course.

Courtesy Boston Public Library/Flickr

Race Weather & Climate

Nestled along the Texas Gulf coast here on the northeastern tip of Galveston Island, just over 50 miles southeast of downtown Houston, the city of Galveston typically experiences milder, drier weather in the winter than in the summer, when hot and wetter weather are the norm.

In February, temperatures average between 47°F and 63°F — on the day of the race (Feb. 25), the average low is 54°F and the average high is 61°F — while rainfall totals average just over 2.6 inches, making February Galveston’s second-driest month of the year.

Past Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the Galveston Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

7:30 AM – half marathon, full marathon
7:45 AM – 5K

Fees

$70 – $95 for the half marathon
$90 – $115 for the full marathon
$25 – $35 for the 5K

Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2024 running of the Galveston Marathon, Half Marathon or Cupid 5K race, register online at RunSignUp.com here.

Official Race Website

www.galvestonmarathon.com

Comments

Ever run in the Galveston Half Marathon? Share your impressions here, or post your review in the Comments box below.

See more races in: February, Texas

1 comment… add one

Ginger Trimble Knox December 20, 2014, 1:56 pm

I think I already registered. Please confirm. Ginger Trimble Knox. Age 58. Might be under gingertrimble@gmail.com

Reply