Marathon
AWARD
The top male and top female finisher will receive a $5000 Tag Heuer watch courtesy of Fink’s Jewelers.
REGISTER
Registration for the Blue Ridge Marathon is handled by Setup Events. You will be directed to the Setup website to complete the registration process.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
- View USATF course map and elevation profile
- $5000 Tag Heuer watch to top male and top female finisher
- Total Elevation Gain=3076 ft
- Total Elevation Gain/Loss=6140 ft
- 7 hour cut-off time
- No walkers
The Blue Ridge Marathon course is not for the faint of heart. The course begins and ends in downtown Roanoke. In between, runners will enter the Blue Ridge Parkway, where they will make three significant climbs and descents.
Runners will start in the heart of the city in front of the magnificent Taubman Museum of Art. The course begins easily with one mile of rolling hills, before taking its first turn upward as runners begin the 2-mile climb up Mill Mountain. At the top of the day’s initial climb, the race enters the Blue Ridge Parkway, where there are several lengthy and challenging hills over the next two-plus miles. Then runners will encounter the most beautiful but challenging portion of the course – the climb up Roanoke Mountain.
Roanoke Mountain ascends approximately 780 feet in two miles with multiple switchbacks. Runners will see magnificent views of the region’s mountains and valleys as they pass the numerous overlooks, and will be rewarded with the best view at the top. The steep decent on the back of Roanoke Mountain is equally beautiful and difficult as the gradient forces runners to keep their speed in check.
After 4 miles of climbing and descending, the course returns to the Blue Ridge Parkway where runners will re-trace their steps toward Mill Mountain with a quick loop of the Roanoke Mountain campground. Participants will then ascend Mill Mountain (the part not covered on the first pass) to the famous Mill Mountain Star, overlooking the beautiful Roanoke Valley and — much of the course still to be run!
From the Star, runners will encounter another major 2-mile decent down Prospect Avenue – also known as the “old road” to Mill Mountain. Back on the valley floor the final 10 miles is rolling with several challenging hills, but no additional significant climbs.
The Valley section of the course briefly skirts the Roanoke River and a commercial district on Franklin Road before turning into the historic and scenic area known as South Roanoke, famous for its beautiful homes. Be aware of a long climb on Avenham Avenue as you turn into the neighborhood. You will crest the hill right at 20 miles.
The terrain flattens out for the next 3 miles as you emerge from the neighborhood and make your way along the Roanoke River on a portion of Roanoke’s greenway system. After a few miles on the greenway the course will head toward Southwest Roanoke, through Highland Park. The final two miles return you to downtown where the course takes you past the Virginia Museum of Transportation and back to the Taubman Museum of Art.
REGISTER
Registration for the Blue Ridge Marathon is handled by Setup Events. You will be directed to the Setup website to complete the registration process.
