Zydeco Marathon
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Event overview
The 2026 Zydeco Marathon is a two-day running event held March 7-8, 2026 in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Distances and event types include:
- 26.2 miles Full Marathon
- 13.1 miles Half Marathon
- Half Marathon 2-person relay
- 5K
- 1 Mile Fun Run
Saturday features the 1 Mile Fun Run and the 5K. Sunday features the full marathon, half marathon, and team relay. The Sunday Finish Line Festival at Parc International includes live music, food, and drinks.
The full marathon, half marathon, team relay, and 5K are chip timed by Pelican Timing. The 1 Mile Fun Run is not timed. The marathon and half marathon events are USATF sanctioned and the courses are USATF certified; the races are listed as qualifying events for the Boston Marathon.
Logistics and policies
The event is hosted by Funraisers for St Jude Inc.; all proceeds from Zydeco Marathon 2026 will go to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Packet pickup is scheduled on the days before and the day of the weekend events (Friday and Saturday); there is no packet pickup or race-day registration on Sunday. Late registration is available at packet pickup. Packet pickup is the last chance to register and February 13, 2026 is the deadline to be guaranteed a race shirt with registration.
Age minimums set by race rules are 15 for the full marathon, 13 for the half marathon or relay, and 12 and under for the 1 Mile Fun Run. Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Hydration stations are placed about every 1.5 miles; medical staff are located at the finish line and EMS services are notified in advance. A secure, sectioned-off area exists immediately after the finish line where spectators are not allowed. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
