Loco Half & Full Marathon Race Details
The Loco Half & Full Marathon kicks off with early packet pickup from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Great Bay Athletic Club. Packet pick-up will also be held at the Rockingham Country Club on the morning of the race from 6:00am to 7:45am. Full & Half marathon start times will be at 8 a.m. with the after-party ending at 1 p.m.! Click a section below for more details.
The Course
The Loco Half & Full Marathon offers runners a scenic 13.1 mile loop course along winding country roads through four coastal NH towns: Newmarket, Lee, Epping, and Newfields. Half marathoners will run one loop, while marathoners run two. The late October date generally provides ideal running temperatures in the 50’s in addition to incredible fall foliage along the course!
The course elevation has a change of less than 100 feet – so it is flat and fast! For the past two years, over 32% of our marathoners qualified for the Boston Marathon! The race starts and finishes at the Rockingham Country Club. There are just the right number of flat sections, a few rolling hills for working those different muscle groups, and a spectacular 3-mile section on the Rail Trail.
*Please note the 3-mile section of the rail trail is NOT paved. Participants will be expected to be comfortable running on a hard packed, dirt trail. The trail will be leaf blown with rocks painted prior to the event to ensure runner safety.*
Shaded Roads and Beautiful Trails
The first three miles are rolling and take you down a shaded road to Lee, NH. Next up is an almost totally flat section until Mile 5. After which, you’ll head into a gentle incline into Epping where you’ll likely see a pair of Clydesdale horses grazing in the field as you pass Clarke Farm! You’ll then run through Newmarket and up a small hill before heading out onto the last 3-mile stretch on the beautiful Rail Trail. It’s relatively flat with almost imperceptible, gradual downhill sections. Take the time to look around and enjoy the views of beaver ponds and unspoiled forests!
There are (6) water stations for the half marathon and (13) water stations for the full marathon
WATER: Miles 2, 3.7, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13.1, 15.5, 16.9, 18.5, 20.5, 22.5, & 24
Gatorade: Miles 3.7, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13.1, 16.9, 18.5, 20.5, 22.5, & 24
UnTapped Energy Gels will be featured on course!
UnTapped Energy Gel: Mile 7, 13.1, and 20.5
The course is USATF Certified at 13.10938 miles.
USATF Marathon Course Certificate
USATF Half Marathon Course Certificate
The course cutoff will be 5 hours and 45 minutes.
Packet Pick-up
Early packet pick-up will be held Saturday, October 21st, 2023 from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Great Bay Athletic Club. Packet pick-up will also be held at the Rockingham Country Club on the morning of the race from 6:00am to 7:45am where you’ll receive your bib and commemorative race jacket! You’ll get your medals at the finish, as always. Jackets won’t be mailed out after the event.
All marathon runners will be required to show ID in order to pick up their bibs.
There’s no parking at the ballroom or country club! Please refer to the parking section below for details on the free shuttle service.
Packet Pick-up
Early packet pick-up will be held Saturday, October 21st, 2023 from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Great Bay Athletic Club. Packet pick-up will also be held at the Rockingham Country Club on the morning of the race from 6:00am to 7:45am where you’ll receive your bib and commemorative race jacket! You’ll get your medals at the finish, as always. Jackets won’t be mailed out after the event.
All marathon runners will be required to show ID in order to pick up their bibs.
There’s no parking at the ballroom! See the parking section below for details on the free shuttle service.
Directions & Parking
Parking for runners will be available at several locations near the venue. The following businesses within the nearby industrial park have graciously allowed participants to use their parking for the 2023 event:
Paul White Tile Company – 1 Forbes Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
Hagan Design & Machine – 8 Forbes Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
Profile Metal Forming – 10 Forbes Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
PromoCentric – 5 Forbes Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
These locations offer FREE parking. The Industrial Park is located 1 mile from the Start/Finish at the Rockingham Ballroom. All participants will be required to use the shuttle buses provided since Route 108 is not safe to walk on. A free shuttle service between the industrial park and the start/finish area will be provided according to the following schedule:
6:00 AM – 8:00 PM – 4 buses
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM – 2 buses
Participant and spectator parking is NOT allowed at the following locations:
Sperry Tents Seacoast – 12 Forbes Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
Rockingham Country Club – 200 Exeter Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
Great Bay Athletic Club – 191 Exeter Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
Please review the map below for exact parking locations.
Gear Check
Bag check will be available at the gear check tent outside the Rockingham Country Club. If there is inclement weather on race day, bag check will be made available inside the venue. Please remember to pickup your bag by 2:00 PM. Loco Races and Ventures Endurance are not liable for any losses or thefts that may occur.
The After Party
Not only do you get a wonderful day of amazingly scenic running, but you’re also treated to an after at the Rockingham Country Club, featuring food from The Old Salt Restaurant. The Old Salt will be serving soup and chili for all participants! Runners 21+ will also get a tasty craft beer or hard seltzer. For those under 21 and not interested in drinking, no worries! Non-alcoholic drink options will be available as well. The best part? It’s all included with your registration!
The After Party
Not only do you get a wonderful day of amazingly scenic running, but you’re also treated to an after at the Rockingham Country Club, featuring food from The Old Salt Restaurant. The Old Salt will be serving soup and chili for all participants! Runners 21+ will also get a tasty craft beer or hard seltzer. For those under 21 and not interested in drinking, no worries! Non-alcoholic drink options will be available as well. The best part? It’s all included with your registration!
Qualifying for Boston
Only the full marathon serves as a qualifying race (not the half). To qualify for the Boston Marathon, your finish time must meet (or be better than) the following times*:
| Age Groups | Men | Women |
| 18-34 | 3hrs 00min 00sec | 3hrs 30min 00sec |
| 35-39 | 3hrs 05min 00sec | 3hrs 35min 00sec |
| 40-44 | 3hrs 10min 00sec | 3hrs 40min 00sec |
| 45-49 | 3hrs 20min 00sec | 3hrs 50min 00sec |
| 50-54 | 3hrs 25min 00sec | 3hrs 55min 00sec |
| 55-59 | 3hrs 35min 00sec | 4hrs 05min 00sec |
| 60-64 | 3hrs 50min 00sec | 4hrs 20min 00sec |
| 65-69 | 4hrs 05min 00sec | 4hrs 35min 00sec |
| 70-74 | 4hrs 20min 00sec | 4hrs 50min 00sec |
| 75-79 | 4hrs 35min 00sec | 5hrs 05min 00sec |
| 80 & Over | 4hrs 50min 00sec | 5hrs 20min 00sec |
Important Notes
*Please check BAA site for any changes to qualifying standards.
-Achieving a qualifying time doesn’t guarantee entry, but simply the opportunity to submit a registration.
-If the total amount of submissions surpasses the allotted field size for qualified athletes, then those who are the fastest among the pool of applicants in their age and gender group will be accepted.
Disclaimer: The Loco Marathon is organized by Loco Sports, Inc. This marathon, like other USATF certified marathons, serves as a qualifying race for the BAA Boston Marathon. There is no formal relationship or agreement between Loco Sports and the BAA. We submit results to the BAA so that it may accept or deny applicants according to its own rules and regulations. Please check the Boston Athletic Association website for up-to-date info on qualifying standards and registration info.