Manchester's marathon starts and finishes on Elm Street in front of Veterans Park and sends you through the brick Millyard along the Merrimack, up into the North End, and across the river to the Goffstown Rail Trail, where about five and a half miles of hard-packed dirt give your legs a break from pavement and the city noise fades to the crunch of your own stride. The hills come early and add up to roughly a thousand feet, so pace the first half with care; the second half is flatter. Seventeen aid stations and a seven-hour limit make it manageable for a steady first-timer, and the field is small, 572 marathon finishers in 2025, so you will never be boxed in. The 2026 race is Sunday, November 8, with the half, 5K and relays the same morning. Expect a crisp start.
Hilly loop from Veterans Park on Elm Street through the historic Millyard and North End, across the Merrimack River to about 5.5 miles of hard-packed Goffstown Rail Trail, and back downtown; roughly 1,000 feet of climbing concentrated in the first half. Course map ↗
Open on RunReg (as of 2026-10-13). Relays limited to the first 125 teams; marathon/half caps not stated. Prices not captured. Organized by Millennium Running. Register ↗
- The marathon has a 7-hour limit and the half 4 hours, with 17 aid stations on the marathon course. ↗
- The course runs through the historic Millyard and North End and crosses the Merrimack to the Goffstown Rail Trail. ↗
- About 5.5 miles are on a hard-packed dirt recreational trail; the course ranges from 126 to 418 ft elevation. ↗
- 572 runners finished the marathon in 2025; 11.4% ran Boston-qualifying times. ↗
- Start and finish are at 799 Elm Street in front of Veterans Park. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.