Race Details
The Loco Half & Full Marathon kicks off with packet pickup at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 22nd at Rockingham Ballroom in Newmarket, NH. Both races start at 8 a.m. and the party goes until 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 usually provides ideal running temps in the 50’s, in addition to amazing fall foliage. 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 Ballroom in Newmarket. 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.
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 six water stations on the loop course (meaning 11 for the full marathon):
WATER: Miles 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13.1, 15.5, 18.5, 20.5, 22.5 and 24
GATORADE: Miles 5, 9, 18.5 and 22.5
Energy Gel: Mile 6.6, 13, and 20.3
The course is USATF Certified at 13.10938 miles.
The course cutoff will be 5 hours and 45 minutes
The After-Party
Not only do you get a wonderful day of amazingly scenic running, but you’re also treated to an after-party in the Rockingham Ballroom, featuring FREE bone-warming soup. As if that weren’t awesome enough, runners 21+ get tasty craft beer from our friends at Smuttynose Brewing Company! The best part? It’s all included with your registration!
Packet Pick-up
Early packet pick-up will be held Saturday, October 21st, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Great Bay Athletic Club. Packet pick-up will also be held at the Rockingham Ballroom on the morning of the race from 6:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. 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 if you don’t pick yours up, so don’t oversleep!
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.
Bag Check
Bag check will be available at the gear check tent outside the Rockingham Ballroom. If there is inclement weather on race day, bag check will be made available inside the venue. Please remember to pickup your bag by 1:00 PM. Loco Races and Ventures Endurance are not liable for any losses or thefts that may occur.
Directions & Parking
Parking for runners and spectators is FREE and will be available at the Great Bay Athletic Club and in the Newmarket Industrial Park. The following businesses within the industrial park have graciously allowed participants to use their parking:
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
The Industrial Park is 1 mile from the Start/Finish at the Rockingham Ballroom. We strongly encourage you to use the shuttles provided since Rte. 108 is not safe to walk. We will provide a free shuttle service between the Industrial Park and the Start/Finish area according to the following schedule:
6:00 AM – 8:00 AM – 3 buses
8:00 AM – 1:30 PM – 2 buses
Participant and spectator parking is NOT allowed at the following locations:
PromoCentric – 5 Forbes Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
Sperry Tents Seacoast – 12 Forbes Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
Rockingham Ballroom – 7 Ash Swamp Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
Rockingham Country Club – 200 Exeter Rd, Newmarket, NH 03857
Please review the map below for exact parking locations.
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 Group | 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 and 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.
