2027 Lincoln Marathon - May 2 Countdown

Q: When is the 2027 Lincoln Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2027 Lincoln Marathon is on Sunday, May 2, 2027 — the event's 50th running. It uses a wave start: wheelchair and rucksack athletes go off around 6:55 a.m. CT, then Corral A starts at 7:00 a.m. CT with the remaining corrals released in roughly three-minute intervals through about 7:35 a.m. The full and half marathon run together on race morning, starting at 14th & Vine on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.

Q: Is the Lincoln Marathon a Boston qualifier and how hard is the course?

Yes — the Lincoln Marathon is USATF-certified and a Boston Marathon Qualifier, so a qualifying time here counts toward Boston with no adjustment. The course is gently rolling rather than flat, with only about 520 feet (158 m) of total climb and no single steep hill, which makes it a solid PR and BQ option for the region. Check your target with our Boston qualifying calculator and plan splits with the pace calculator.

Q: How much elevation gain does the Lincoln Marathon have?

The course gains roughly 520 feet (about 158 m) over 26.2 miles, all in rolling hills rather than one big climb — the high point sits near 1,306 ft and the low near 1,146 ft. It is generally considered a fast course for the Midwest, though open prairie sections can mean a headwind on a breezy day.

Q: Does the Lincoln Marathon still finish on the 50-yard line of Memorial Stadium?

The race became famous for finishing on the 50-yard line inside Memorial Stadium, home of the Nebraska Huskers. After the university installed new field turf, the finish was moved onto Stadium Drive just outside the stadium (near Stadium Drive and T Street) — so you still finish in the heart of campus alongside the iconic venue, even though runners no longer cross the gridiron itself. The course also passes the landmark Nebraska State Capitol tower earlier on.

Q: What is the time limit for the Lincoln Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6-hour-15-minute time limit, which works out to about a 14:18 per mile average pace. A dedicated final-finisher pacer runs the exact cutoff pace to help runners stay ahead of the limit. Use our pace calculator to map your splits against the cutoff.

Q: What is the weather like for the Lincoln Marathon in May?

Early May in Lincoln is typically cool and mostly clear — a race-morning start near 47°F (8°C) warming to a daytime high around 69°F (20°C), with a mean near 57°F (13°C). It is comfortable spring racing weather; dress for a chilly corral and shed layers as you warm up, and be ready for some wind on the open, exposed stretches of the course.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Lincoln Marathon - May 2
City	Lincoln
Date	2027-05-02 at 07:00
Time Limit	6 hours 15 min
Cutoff pace	8:53/km
Timezone	America/Chicago
Official Site	Lincoln Track Club
Registration	Register · 149 USD

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	13.9°C / 57°F
Humidity	66%
Wind	29.5 km/h
Rain Chance	38%
Typical Conditions	Cool, mostly clear early-May Great Plains morning — comfortable spring racing

What to Prepare: Early May in Lincoln usually means a cool start near 47°F / 8°C climbing to a high around 69°F / 20°C, with a mean close to 57°F / 13°C. The wave start sends you off before the day warms up; a throwaway long-sleeve at the corral is smart, and open prairie stretches can be breezy, so plan for some wind on exposed sections.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 29.5 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	7.9°C	13.9°C	20°C
Dew point	0.3°C	6.7°C	13.6°C

Wet-day chance: 38% Runnability: 73/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Loop / point-to-point through the city
Elevation Gain	158m
Terrain	Road (paved city streets, boulevards and recreational bike path throughout)
Profile	A gently rolling tour of Nebraska's capital that runners describe as fast for the Midwest. The course starts at 14th & Vine on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus and winds through the city's tree-lined neighborhoods, passing the distinctive 400-foot Nebraska State Capitol tower — the tallest building in the state and the course's signature landmark — along with Sheridan Boulevard's stately homes and stretches of the recreational bike path. Total climb is modest at roughly 520 feet (about 158 m) of gain spread over rolling hills rather than any single big climb, with the high point near 1,306 ft and low near 1,146 ft. It is USATF-certified and a Boston Marathon Qualifier, so finishing times count toward Boston. The race traditionally finished on the 50-yard line inside Memorial Stadium; after new turf was installed it now finishes on Stadium Drive just outside the Huskers' stadium, still in the heart of campus.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Lincoln Marathon - May 2

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Wind Effect on Running — How Much Does Wind Slow You?

How much does a headwind actually slow you down? This free calculator turns wind speed and direction...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Lincoln Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2027 Lincoln Marathon is on Sunday, May 2, 2027 — the event's 50th running. It uses a wave start: wheelchair and rucksack athletes go off around 6:55 a.m. CT, then Corral A starts at 7:00 a.m. CT with the remaining corrals released in roughly three-minute intervals through about 7:35 a.m. The full and half marathon run together on race morning, starting at 14th & Vine on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.

Is the Lincoln Marathon a Boston qualifier and how hard is the course?

Yes — the Lincoln Marathon is USATF-certified and a Boston Marathon Qualifier, so a qualifying time here counts toward Boston with no adjustment. The course is gently rolling rather than flat, with only about 520 feet (158 m) of total climb and no single steep hill, which makes it a solid PR and BQ option for the region. Check your target with our Boston qualifying calculator and plan splits with the pace calculator.

How much elevation gain does the Lincoln Marathon have?

The course gains roughly 520 feet (about 158 m) over 26.2 miles, all in rolling hills rather than one big climb — the high point sits near 1,306 ft and the low near 1,146 ft. It is generally considered a fast course for the Midwest, though open prairie sections can mean a headwind on a breezy day.

Does the Lincoln Marathon still finish on the 50-yard line of Memorial Stadium?

The race became famous for finishing on the 50-yard line inside Memorial Stadium, home of the Nebraska Huskers. After the university installed new field turf, the finish was moved onto Stadium Drive just outside the stadium (near Stadium Drive and T Street) — so you still finish in the heart of campus alongside the iconic venue, even though runners no longer cross the gridiron itself. The course also passes the landmark Nebraska State Capitol tower earlier on.

How do I register for the Lincoln Marathon and does it sell out?

Registration is handled online through the official site (processed via GetMeRegistered) on a first-come basis with tiered pricing — recent years opened around $99 and rose in steps to about $149 as deadlines passed, closing at the end of April. It is a popular race that fills its field and closes early, with only a very limited number of entries left for the race-weekend Expo, so signing up well in advance is strongly recommended. English-language online registration is straightforward for international runners.

What is the time limit for the Lincoln Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6-hour-15-minute time limit, which works out to about a 14:18 per mile average pace. A dedicated final-finisher pacer runs the exact cutoff pace to help runners stay ahead of the limit. Use our pace calculator to map your splits against the cutoff.

What is the weather like for the Lincoln Marathon in May?

Early May in Lincoln is typically cool and mostly clear — a race-morning start near 47°F (8°C) warming to a daytime high around 69°F (20°C), with a mean near 57°F (13°C). It is comfortable spring racing weather; dress for a chilly corral and shed layers as you warm up, and be ready for some wind on the open, exposed stretches of the course.