Lincoln Marathon course guide for the 50th running

The race does not publish an elevation profile or a net drop, so we do not quote one. The race's own pacers give the best hint of the terrain: they run all hills at an even effort, so expect some rises and plan to run them by feel.

For Boston qualifiers: the B.A.A. accepts qualifying times only from certified courses, and USA Track and Field lists active certifications for the Lincoln Marathon. The B.A.A. suggests confirming certification with the race you plan to run. See our Boston qualifying times for the standards and the BQ Course Index for other certified courses.

This section is Runsy's advice, not the race's. It is how we would run this course from the facts above.

• Loop one: settle, do not race. The half marathon shares the first loop, so the road is busy until about mile 13. Run goal pace or a touch slower.
• Decide about mile 13 before race day. The half turn-off is where the crowd thins and the finish is right there. Know you are carrying on, and you will not have to argue with yourself at the moment it is hardest.
• Run the hills by effort. That is what the race's own pacers do. Let the pace slip a little on the rises and do not chase it back on the descents.
• Use the out-and-back. On the second loop you pass the same aid stations twice, with GU at every one, and you see the runners ahead and behind you. Pick someone to catch after the turnaround.
• Train for 7:00 a.m. Start a few long runs at 7 and practise breakfast two to three hours before.

Turn a goal time into splits with the marathon pace chart, or sanity-check the goal with the race time predictor.

From the race's 2027 weekend schedule and race-day page.

• Weather: the race gives average May temperatures of 46°F low and 67°F high, and says it has never had to cancel for weather.
• Aid: water stations about every 1.5 miles and never more than 2.5 apart, with water, Gatorade Endurance and ice, a physician at each, and GU at every station on the back half.
• Time limit: 6 hours 15 minutes, or 14:18 per mile.
• Packet pickup: Friday, April 30, noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday, May 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Cornhusker Marriott, 333 South 13th Street. Race-morning pickup is at Cook Pavilion, 5:45 to 7:00 a.m.
• Event records: 2:16:16 for men and 2:38:17 for women.

The first Lincoln Marathon, in 1978, had 331 runners. It also hosts the National Guard Marathon Team Trials.

Training for it: our intermediate marathon plans are the base the plan bridge above builds from. The 16-week beginner plan suits a first marathon, and the advanced plans suit runners chasing a qualifying time.