The hilly course coupled with the typically warm race day temperatures make the Mad Marathon a challenging race. The scenic course is approximately 70% on roads and 30% on gravel.
Runners will travel through this extraordinary rural community on 26.2 miles of back and dirt roads withbreathtaking views of the Green Mountains, rolling farm lands, quaint villages, historical barns, coveredbridges and fields of cows.
The Mad Marathon was the 197th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 182nd largest in 2022.
Last year 2.3% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 4.2% of runners qualified for Boston in 2022.
This gives the Mad Marathon the 418th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 358th highest percentage in 2022.
Its Course Score of 95.79 ranks it as the 400th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 3rd fastest course in Vermont.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are above the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the Mad Marathon a PR Score of 92.72. This PR Score ranks it as the 419th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 4th fastest in Vermont.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
Mad Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 1516 feet (462m) Min Elevation: 638 feet (194m)
Hotel & VRBO Accommodations for the Mad Marathon
View available accomodations around the Mad Marathon Finish Line and Course. Book your Reservation now before the best places are sold out.
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How Fast Can You Go?
If you ran the Mad Marathon in 3:00:00, what would your time in other marathons be?
See how your race times would compare on other marathon courses with our time conversion tool.
This is a small (300 plus in full; 400 plus in half) low stress race. Packet pick-up and pre-race logistics are stress free. The race is well organized and even slow runners (me) feel well supported. Even when I finished there was plenty of food left! The race is as scenic as advertised and you get to run thru 2 covered bridges.
Race Tips
This is a very hilly race and in July heat and humidity almost certainly will always play a part. They should probably start the race @ 6:00 rather than 7:00 to help with heat. Pay attention to the elevation change on the chart. Luckily most of the hills are in the first 17 miles so pace yourself.
Local accommodations are pricey and fill up quickly. I stayed in Barre (35 minutes away) and I noticed quite a few runners at my hotel. Parking is easy race morning. I arrived an hour early and had no stress (always my goal)
