Houston Marathon

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Held every January in Houston, Texas, US

title: "Houston Marathon" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["marathons-in-the-united-states", "recurring-sporting-events-established-in-1972", "sports-competitions-in-houston", "1972-establishments-in-texas"] description: "Held every January in Houston, Texas, US" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Marathon" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Held every January in Houston, Texas, US ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox athletics race"]

FieldValue
bgcolour#00aeef
imageHoumarathonlogo.png
dateThird Sunday in January
locationHouston, Texas, United States
typeRoad
est
distanceMarathon, Half marathon, 5K run
homepage
recordMarathon:
Men: 2:05:45 (2026)
MAR Zouhair Talbi
Women: 2:19:12 (2022)
USA Keira D'Amato
Half Marathon:
Men: 59:17 (2025)
ETH Addisu Gobena
Women: 1:05:03 (2022)
KEN Vicoty Chepngeno
sponsorChevron (marathon)
Aramco (half marathon)
participants~33,000 (all races) (2020)
23,613 (2019)
::

| bgcolour = #00aeef | image = Houmarathonlogo.png | date = Third Sunday in January | location = Houston, Texas, United States | type = Road | est = | distance = Marathon, Half marathon, 5K run | homepage = | record = Marathon: Men: 2:05:45 (2026) MAR Zouhair Talbi Women: 2:19:12 (2022) USA Keira D'Amato Half Marathon: Men: 59:17 (2025) ETH Addisu Gobena Women: 1:05:03 (2022) KEN Vicoty Chepngeno | sponsor = Chevron (marathon) Aramco (half marathon) | participants = ~33,000 (all races) (2020) 23,613 (2019)

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/2007_Houston_Marathon_08_(357323558).jpg" caption="Marathon runners in 2007"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Houston_run_mirrored_in_Afghanistan_DVIDS362298.jpg" caption="A shadow run of the half marathon, held at [[Forward Operating Base Ghazni]] in [[Afghanistan]] in 2011"] ::

The Houston Marathon is an annual marathon usually held every January in Houston, Texas, United States, since 1972. With thousands of runners and spectators, it is the largest single day sporting event in the city. It is run concurrently with a half marathon and a 5 km race. The 2007 race included the first-ever satellite running of the event, run simultaneously in Fallujah, Iraq.{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/lopez/4470573.html |title=Houston Marathon detours to Fallujah |publisher=Houston Chronicle |date=January 15, 2007 |access-date=2007-02-28}}

The races bring crowds of nearly one half million to view the runners.

History

The first marathon, run on December 30, 1972, featured 113 runners and a crowd of approximately 200 people. The course was a loop of 5 mi, and runners were served beef stew after the race.

The 1979 edition of the competition hosted the national marathon championship race for men and women. Houston was selected for the women's Olympic Trials in 1992 and held the USATF women's marathon championship in 1998. The half marathon course hosted the USATF Men's Half Marathon Championship from 2005 to 2008, and also hosted the women's event in 2007 and 2008. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials for both men and women were held the Saturday prior to the Sunday races.

George W. Bush ran in the Houston Marathon at age 46 in 1993, finishing with a time of 3 hours, 44 minutes, 52 seconds.

The 2014 edition included a 5K event run on Saturday, January 18th and the marathon and half marathon run on Sunday, January 19th. The 5K event had close to 5,000 runners while the marathon and half marathon had nearly 13,000 runners each.

The 2021 in-person edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants given the option of running the race virtually (and receiving a discount for the race in 2022), or transferring their entry to 2022 or 2023. The virtual marathon was planned for January 2021.

Course

The fast and flat course starts in the downtown area near Daikin Park and takes runners past scenic Houston areas and communities—including Houston Heights and Neartown, past Hermann Park and Rice University, over to Uptown, and then through Memorial Park and Allen Parkway, finishing at the George R. Brown Convention Center downtown. The course is USATF certified and is popular with runners seeking to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The race time limit is 6 hours and a limit of 27,000 entries is enforced, divided evenly between the full and half marathons.

The course was changed for 2014. Changes included starting on Congress St. downtown, eliminating a section of the course through the Heights, and adding 2 miles along Kirby Dr.

Community impact

The event supports many charities, including CanCare, Texas Children's Hospital, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Sponsorship

The current corporate sponsor of the marathon is Chevron Corporation. Aramco sponsors the half marathon and Chevron and Aramco co-sponsor the 5K run.

Winners

Key: : Course record : † = Time was a record mark for the state of Texas

Marathon

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Holly_Koester,2007_Chevron_Houston_Marathon(357322273).jpg" caption="Holly Koester, winner of the 2007 marathon, approaching Mile 10"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Paul_Cummings_after_winning_1985_Houston_Marathon.jpg" caption="[[Paul Cummings]] after winning the marathon in 1986"] ::

::data[format=table]

Ed.YearMen's winnerTimeWomen's winnerTime
53January 10, 2026Zouhair Talbi2:05:45†Calli Hauger-Thackery2:24:17
52January 19, 2025Haimro Alame2:08:17Kumeshi Sichala2:20:42
51January 14, 2024Zouhair Talbi2:06:36Rahma Tusa2:19:33
50January 15, 2023Dominic Ondoro2:10:36Hitomi Niiya2:19:24
49January 16, 2022James Ngandu2:11:03Keira D'Amato2:19:12†
2021cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
48January 19, 2020Kelkile Gezahegn2:08:36Askale Merachi2:23:29
47January 20, 2019Albert Korir2:10:02Biruktayit Degefa2:23:28
46January 14, 2018Bazu Worku2:08:30Biruktayit Degefa2:24:51
45January 15, 2017Dominic Ondoro2:12:05Meskerem Assefa2:30:18
44January 17, 2016Birhanu Gedefa2:10:54Biruktayit Degefa2:26:07
43January 18, 2015Birhanu Gedefa2:08:03Yebrgual Melese2:23:23
42January 19, 2014Bazu Worku2:07:32Abebech Afework2:25:52
41January 13, 2013Bazu Worku2:10:17Merima Mohammed2:23:37
40January 15, 2012Tariku Jufar2:06:51Alemitu Abera2:23:14†
39January 30, 2011Bekana Daba2:07:04†Mamitu Daska2:26:33
38January 18, 2010Teshome Gelana2:07:37†Teyba Erkesso2:23:53†
37January 18, 2009Deriba Merga2:07:52†Teyba Erkesso2:24:15†
36January 13, 2008David Cheruiyot2:12:32Dire Tune2:24:40
35January 14, 2007Feyisa Tusse2:11:39Dire Tune2:26:52
34January 15, 2006David Cheruiyot2:12:02Firiya Sultanova2:32:25
33January 16, 2005David Cheruiyot2:14:50Kelly Keane2:32:27
32January 18, 2004Marek Jaroszewski2:18:51Margarita Tapia2:28:36
31January 19, 2003Sean Wade2:24:43Albina Gallyamova2:42:37
30January 20, 2002Drew Prisner2:28:43Becky Sondag2:50:49
29January 14 2001Chris Ciamarra2:29:27Stacie Alboucrek2:43:40
28January 16, 2000Stephen Ndungu2:11:28Tatyana Pozdnyakova2:32:25
27January 17, 1999Stephen Ndungu2:14:56Tatyana Pozdnyakova2:33:23
26January 18, 1998Stephen Ndungu2:11:23Gwyn Coogan2:33:37
25January 12, 1997Åke Eriksson2:19:21Claudia Dreher2:36:13
24January 21, 1996Tumo Turbo2:10:34Adriana Fernández2:31:59
23January 15, 1995Peter Fonseca2:11:52Tatyana Pozdnyakova2:29:57
22January 16, 1994Colin Moore2:13:34Alevtina Naumova2:34:47
21January 24, 1993Frank Bjorkli2:13:21Kristy Johnston2:29:05
20January 26, 1992Filemon López2:13:12Janis Klecker2:30:12
19January 20, 1991Carey Nelson2:12:28Véronique Marot2:30:55
18January 14, 1990Paul Pilkington2:11:13María Trujillo2:32:55
17January 15, 1989Richard Kaitany2:10:04Véronique Marot2:30:16
16January 17, 1988Geir Kvernmo2:11:44Linda Zeman2:34:52
15January 18, 1987Derrick May2:11:51Bente Moe2:32:37
14January 19, 1986Paul Cummings2:11:31Véronique Marot2:31:33
13January 6, 1985Marty Froelick2:11:14Silvia Ruegger2:28:36
12January 15, 1984Charlie Spedding2:11:54Ingrid Kristiansen2:27:51
11January 16, 1983Hailu Ebba2:12:17Ingrid Kristiansen2:33:27
10January 24, 1982Benji Durden2:11:12Laurie Binder2:40:56
9January 10, 1981Bill Rodgers2:12:20Patti Catalano2:35:28
8January 19, 1980Ron Tabb2:13:35Vanessa Vajdos2:44:45
7January 20, 1979Tom Antczak2:15:28Sue Petersen2:46:17
6January 21, 1978Ron Tabb2:17:11Peggy Kokernot3:01:54
5January 22, 1977Clent Mericle2:27:46Dorothy Doolittle3:00:34
4January 17, 1976Jeff Wells2:17:46Marsha Johnson3:37:04
3January 18, 1975Clent Mericle2:35:00Dorothy Doolittle3:31:24
2December 29, 1973Juan Garza2:37:47Nancy Laird4:29:07
1December 30, 1972Danny Green2:32:33Tanya Trantham5:11:55
::

Half marathon

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/HoustonMeb.jpg" caption="[[Meb Keflezighi]], winner of the 2009 half marathon, on the race course"] ::

::data[format=table]

YearMen's winnerTimeWomen's winnerTime
2025Addisu Gobena59:17Senayet Getachew1:06:05
2024Jemal Mekonen1:00:42Sutume Kebede1:04:37†
2023Leul Gebresilase1:00:34Hiwot Gebremaryam1:06:28
2022Milkesa Mengesha1:00:24Vicoty Chepngeno1:05:03†
2021cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2020Jemal Yimer59:25Hitomi Niiya1:06:38
2019Shura Kitata1:00:11Brigid Kosgei1:05:50
2018Jake Robertson1:00:01Ruti Aga1:06:39
2017Leonard Korir1:01:14Veronica Nyaruai1:07:58
2016Lelisa Desisa1:00:37Mary Wacera1:06:29
2015Diego Estrada1:00:51Kim Conley1:09:44
2014Meb Keflezighi1:01:23Serena Burla1:10:48
2013Feyisa Lilesa1:01:54Mamitu Daska1:09:53
2012Feyisa Lilesa59:22Belaynesh Oljira1:08:26
2011Jeffrey Eggleston1:08:26Colleen De Reuck1:16:19
2010Antonio Vega1:01:54Shalane Flanagan1:09:41
2009Meb Keflezighi1:01:25Magdalena Lewy-Boulet1:11:47
2008James Carney1:02:21Kate O'Neill1:11:57
2007Ryan Hall59:43Elva Dryer1:11:42
2006Nicodemus Malakwen1:02:07Asmae Leghzaoui1:11:53
2005Julius Koskei1:03:17Olga Romanova1:12:36
2004Gilbert Koech1:03:08Colleen De Reuck1:10:55
2003Scott Strand1:05:13Beth Old1:17:03
2002Justin Chaston1:08:42Christy Nielsen-Crotta1:21:37
::

National records

The current National Records were established during the Houston Marathon:

Notes

References

;Lists of winners

References

  1. (20 February 2020). "Register for the 2021 Houston Marathon and watch the 2020 finish line below".
  2. "Our History". Houston Marathon.
  3. "USATF - Events - 2008 USA Half Marathon Championships".
  4. "Stars Who've Run Marathons". That's fit.
  5. (10 July 2020). "2021 Chevron Houston Marathon Event Update".
  6. Ponder, Erica. (October 5, 2020). "2021 Chevron Houston Marathon canceled because of coronavirus pandemic". Click2Houston.com.
  7. "Course Info".
  8. "Chevron #HouMarathon Registration Info".
  9. (11 June 2013). "Houston Marathon changes course for 2014".
  10. [http://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/birhanu-gedefa-declared-2016-mens-marathon-winner/ Birhanu Gedefa Declared 2016 Men’s Marathon Winner]. Houston Marathon. Retrieved on 2017-05-25.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

marathons-in-the-united-statesrecurring-sporting-events-established-in-1972sports-competitions-in-houston1972-establishments-in-texas