The Cheap Marathon

The Cheap Marathon

The Cheap Marathon is a USATF-certified marathon and half marathon held on April 3, 2027 on the Windham and Derry Rail Trail. The course is an out and back route with the half marathon run as one loop and the marathon as two loops. The event lists total elevation gain as 203 feet for the half and 406 feet for the marathon and notes mapping software can overstate elevation on the rail trail.

Distances include:

• Marathon, 26.2 miles
• Half Marathon, 13.1 miles

The event uses a time trial start format with athletes seeded fastest to slowest and started two at a time; bib numbers include a group and start number and runners are expected to line up at their assigned cone. The marathon has a strict six hour course limit and two mandatory cutoffs at mile 13 and mile 17; participants who miss these cutoffs are recorded as half marathon finishers and may be turned around to return to the finish.

Aid stations are placed roughly every three miles and provide Gatorade, water, and port O Johns. Mile markers count down to the finish for both distances. Race services include gear check, shuttle bus service from a dedicated parking lot to race headquarters, limited pre purchased VIP parking, free digital race photos posted two to three business days after the event, and a finisher video link sent after the race. Each finisher receives a ribbon; digital awards are emailed to top finishers and age group winners. The event supports local trail and youth running organizations. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Events nearby