2027 Louisiana Marathon - Jan 17 Countdown

Q: Is the Louisiana Marathon course flat or hilly?

It is one of the flattest marathons in the country. There is only about 40 feet of separation between the course's high and low points, and the roughly +132 m (436 ft) of cumulative climbing is spread across gentle, barely noticeable undulations along the river levee, the University Lakes and the LSU campus. There is no real hill to manage, which makes it a strong choice for an even-paced effort or a first-time marathon. Use the pace calculator to lock in flat-course splits.

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

The full marathon has a 6-hour course time limit, which works out to a 13:45 per mile (about 8:33 per km) pace. There are timed checkpoints along the route, and runners who fall behind the cutoff are picked up by a SAG vehicle and moved forward. If you are near the limit, the race time predictor can help you set a realistic finish goal before race day.

Q: How do I register for the Louisiana Marathon?

Registration is open now on the official site (RunSignup), with no lottery. Entry is priced in date tiers that climb toward race day: the current rate is $110 for the full marathon and $100 for the half, and the next increase lands after 11:59 p.m. CDT on August 17, 2026 — so the month ahead is your window to lock the lowest price. Online entry closes on race morning, January 17, 2027, and the full, half, quarter marathon and 5K all share the weekend.

Q: How big is the Louisiana Marathon?

It is a mid-sized but fast-growing regional marathon. The full marathon drew about 1,477 finishers in 2026, up from roughly 1,224 in 2025 and 999 in 2024 — steady year-over-year growth. The full weekend, with the half, Quarter Marathon and 5K, brings several thousand runners to downtown Baton Rouge. Expect a relaxed Southern-hospitality atmosphere and the well-known Finish Fest with local Cajun food and music.

Q: What makes the Louisiana Marathon worth traveling for?

Beyond the flat, fast course, the draw is the destination. The race showcases Baton Rouge — the Mississippi riverfront, the University Lakes and the live-oak LSU campus — and finishes at the Finish Fest, a celebration of Louisiana food, music and culture. Mid-January timing makes it a warm-weather escape from a Northern winter, and the city is an easy drive from New Orleans for runners who want to extend the trip into a Cajun-country weekend.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Louisiana Marathon - Jan 17
City	Baton Rouge
Date	2027-01-17 at 07:00
Field Size	~1,477 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Timezone	America/Chicago
Official Site	The Louisiana Marathon

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	9.7°C / 49°F
Humidity	84%
Wind	17.6 km/h
Rain Chance	37%
Typical Conditions	Cool, often humid mid-January Baton Rouge morning — temperatures around 46 degrees F (8 degrees C) at the 7:00 a.m. start, climbing into the 50s and low 60s by midday with Gulf humidity

What to Prepare: A January morning in Baton Rouge usually starts cool and damp, around 46 degrees F (8 degrees C), then warms steadily under Gulf-Coast humidity — comfortable racing early, but the later miles can feel muggy if the sun comes out. Dress for the start with a throwaway long-sleeve and gloves you can shed, and watch the forecast: a passing front can swap a mild day for cold rain or a stiff river wind. The flat course rewards even effort, so do not let the cool first miles tempt you into banking too much time.

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 17.6 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	2.5°C	9.2°C	17.9°C
Dew point	-2.2°C	5.8°C	16.7°C

Wet-day chance: 37% Runnability: 68/100

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

Course Profile

Course Type	City and lakes tour (loop)
Elevation Gain	132m
Terrain	Road (flat paved levee, lakeside and campus streets)
Profile	One of the flattest marathons in the United States and built for fast times. The point-to-point feel of a city tour wraps around a course with only about 40 feet separating its high and low points, so the +132 m (436 ft) of cumulative gain is spread across gentle, barely perceptible undulations rather than any real hill. Starting downtown on North 4th Street, the route runs along the Mississippi River levee, threads the historic neighborhoods of Baton Rouge, circles the scenic University Lakes and rolls through the live-oak-lined campus of Louisiana State University before returning to the downtown finish and the Finish Fest. It is USATF-certified (LA23010DJR) and a Boston qualifier, and the field is genuinely fast: roughly 9 percent of recent finishers ran a Boston-qualifying time, one of the higher BQ rates among mid-sized US marathons. The main variable is not the terrain but the weather — Gulf humidity and the occasional warm, muggy front are the only thing standing between you and a flat-course PR here.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Louisiana Marathon - Jan 17

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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What to Wear Running by Temperature — Clothing Guide

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

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Marathon Predictor — 5K, 10K & Half Marathon Race Predictor

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Louisiana Marathon is held in Baton Rouge over the weekend before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, with the full marathon on Sunday, January 17, 2027. The full marathon and half marathon both start at 7:00 a.m. Central Time downtown at 660 North 4th Street. A 5K and the Quarter Marathon run on the Saturday, so plan around a two-day race weekend.

Is the Louisiana Marathon course flat or hilly?

It is one of the flattest marathons in the country. There is only about 40 feet of separation between the course's high and low points, and the roughly +132 m (436 ft) of cumulative climbing is spread across gentle, barely noticeable undulations along the river levee, the University Lakes and the LSU campus. There is no real hill to manage, which makes it a strong choice for an even-paced effort or a first-time marathon. Use the pace calculator to lock in flat-course splits.

Is the Louisiana Marathon a good Boston qualifier?

Yes — it is one of the better flat-course BQ options in the South. The course is USATF-certified (LA23010DJR) and a Boston-qualifying race, and the cool January weather plus the lack of hills produces a high success rate: roughly 9 percent of recent finishers ran a Boston-qualifying time. If you handle Gulf humidity and run an even effort, this is a realistic PR-and-BQ course. Check your target on the Boston qualifying calculator.

What is the time limit for the Louisiana Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6-hour course time limit, which works out to a 13:45 per mile (about 8:33 per km) pace. There are timed checkpoints along the route, and runners who fall behind the cutoff are picked up by a SAG vehicle and moved forward. If you are near the limit, the race time predictor can help you set a realistic finish goal before race day.

How do I register for the Louisiana Marathon?

Registration is open now on the official site (RunSignup), with no lottery. Entry is priced in date tiers that climb toward race day: the current rate is $110 for the full marathon and $100 for the half, and the next increase lands after 11:59 p.m. CDT on August 17, 2026 — so the month ahead is your window to lock the lowest price. Online entry closes on race morning, January 17, 2027, and the full, half, quarter marathon and 5K all share the weekend.

How big is the Louisiana Marathon?

It is a mid-sized but fast-growing regional marathon. The full marathon drew about 1,477 finishers in 2026, up from roughly 1,224 in 2025 and 999 in 2024 — steady year-over-year growth. The full weekend, with the half, Quarter Marathon and 5K, brings several thousand runners to downtown Baton Rouge. Expect a relaxed Southern-hospitality atmosphere and the well-known Finish Fest with local Cajun food and music.

What makes the Louisiana Marathon worth traveling for?

Beyond the flat, fast course, the draw is the destination. The race showcases Baton Rouge — the Mississippi riverfront, the University Lakes and the live-oak LSU campus — and finishes at the Finish Fest, a celebration of Louisiana food, music and culture. Mid-January timing makes it a warm-weather escape from a Northern winter, and the city is an easy drive from New Orleans for runners who want to extend the trip into a Cajun-country weekend.