2026 Pocatello Marathon - Sep 5

2026 Pocatello Marathon - Sep 5 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2026 Pocatello Marathon - Sep 5
CityPocatello
Date2026-09-05 at 06:15
Field Size~251 runners
Time Limit6 hours 30 min
Cutoff pace9:15/km
TimezoneAmerica/Boise
Official SitePocatello Marathon
RegistrationRegister

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Race Day Weather

Average Temperature18.9°C / 66°F
Humidity35%
Wind19 km/h
Rain Chance14%
Typical ConditionsCrisp early-September high-desert morning in southeast Idaho — around 48 to 54 degrees F (9 to 12 degrees C) at the 6:15 a.m. mountain start, warming into the 70s F by late morning at the lower finish

What to Prepare: You start high in the hills before dawn, where it can dip into the low 40s F (around 5 degrees C), then drop nearly 1,550 ft into a warmer valley finish. Dress in a throwaway layer for the cold bus ride and chilly start line, then shed it once you are moving — September skies in Pocatello are usually dry and clear, so sun and the 4,400-ft finish altitude matter more than rain.

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 19 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 12.9°C 19.5°C 23.9°C
Dew point -3°C 1.9°C 8°C
Wet-day chance: 14% Runnability: 82/100

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

Course Profile

Course TypeNet downhill
Elevation Gain30m
TerrainRoad (paved canyon road and city streets, steep early downhill then flat)
ProfileThis is one of the original fast downhill marathons in the American West, built for a personal best. The point-to-point course starts up at Buckskin Saddle in the hills south of town — runners ride a pre-dawn bus shuttle to the mountain start — and the first half plunges roughly 1,400 ft of net descent on canyon road before the second half flattens out into Pocatello, dropping only another ~150 ft. Total elevation falls from about 6,100 ft at the start to just over 4,400 ft at the finish, a net drop near 1,550 ft, with minimal climbing. The course is USATF-certified (cert. ID16002LAB) and times here can be used to qualify for the Boston and New York marathons, so it is a genuine BQ-hunting course. The catch is the altitude — even the low finish sits above 4,400 ft — and the aggressive early grade, which chews up quads if you go out too hard. Run the downhill controlled, protect your legs for the flat-and-fast second half, and this is a course where well-prepared runners post some of their quickest times.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Pocatello Marathon - Sep 5

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 Pocatello Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 Pocatello Marathon is on Saturday, September 5, 2026, the same Labor Day weekend slot the race traditionally uses. The full marathon starts at 6:15 a.m. Mountain Time up at Buckskin Saddle in the hills south of town. Because the start is at altitude with no parking, you must take the official bus shuttle, which loads near the TownePlace and Home2 Suites around 5:15 a.m. and departs promptly at 5:25 a.m. — miss it and you miss the start.

Is the Pocatello Marathon really that fast and downhill?

Yes. It is a net-downhill point-to-point course with a total drop of roughly 1,550 ft. The first half loses about 1,400 ft on canyon road from the ~6,100 ft start, and the second half flattens into Pocatello and only drops another ~150 ft to a finish just above 4,400 ft. There is very little climbing. It is a true PR and BQ course, but the steep early descent punishes quads — run the downhill controlled rather than letting gravity bomb you down the canyon.

Is the Pocatello Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified (cert. ID16002LAB), and the race states that times run here can be used to qualify for both the Boston and New York marathons. The net-downhill profile makes it one of the more attainable BQ courses in the Mountain West for runners who pace the descent smartly. Check your age-graded target on the Boston qualifying calculator before race day.

Does the altitude make the Pocatello Marathon harder?

It can. The start sits around 6,100 ft and even the finish is above 4,400 ft, which is high enough to nudge your effort and breathing if you live near sea level. The good news is the relentless downhill more than offsets the thin air for most runners, which is why the course stays fast. If you are flying in from low elevation, arrive a day or two early, hydrate well, and do not be surprised if early miles feel slightly harder than the pace suggests.

What is the time limit for the Pocatello Marathon?

The course has roughly a 6.5-hour limit. Runners must hold a pace under 14:53 per mile, and the event closes around 12:45 p.m. after the 6:15 a.m. start. Anyone notified of falling off pace gets one extra mile to recover before being offered a ride off the course, so this is a real cutoff — use a pace calculator to confirm your splits clear it.

How big is the Pocatello Marathon and how do I register?

It is a small marathon — the full had a few hundred finishers in recent years (about 250 in 2025) — which means an intimate, low-stress race rather than a big-city crowd. Registration is online and first-come, first-served with no lottery, and the entry fee climbs in tiers as race day nears (roughly $40 early up to about $120 at packet pickup). Registering early saves money, and the half marathon, 10K and 5K share the weekend.

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