RUN AUSTIN The running social event of the year

New For 2025: Start Corrals

We’re always working on ways to make your Austin Marathon experience smoother, safer, and more fun! For 2025, we’re excited to announce the introduction of start corrals—a key improvement that’s going to level up the race for everyone, whether you’re running the full marathon, half marathon, or 5K.

So, what’s a start corral? Think of it as a way to group runners, so everyone gets a more organized and enjoyable race experience from the moment you cross the starting line to your post-race celebrations. Here’s how these new corrals are going to make your Austin Marathon experience even better:

  1. Less Congestion on the Course: With corrals, runners are grouped by their race distance, pace, and registration date. This means less crowding right out of the gate and everyone can settle into their groove more easily. This leads to a better experience for everyone—whether you’re aiming for a PR or just enjoying the sights of Austin.
  2. Increased Safety at the Finish Line: Corrals mean fewer bottlenecks as you approach the finish line. A safer, more controlled finish ensures you can celebrate your victory without the chaos. Plus, there’s more room for those all-important finish-line photos!
  3. Easier Meet-Ups with Friends & Family: After crossing the finish line, it’ll be easier to find your crew! Making it simpler to reunite with loved ones and share the joy of completing your race.
Transportation and Parking to the Austin Marathon Start Line

Corral Times & Locations

Corral Start Time
ELITE 7:00 AM
A 7:00 AM
B 7:05 AM
C 7:10 AM
D 7:20 AM
E 7:30 AM
F 7:40 AM
Isometric map of the city detailing the Austin Marathon route, beginning at Caesar Chavez with starting corrals for runners. The path weaves along 2nd Street past checkpoints A to F, surrounded by buildings and trees. Streets, points of interest, and animated crowds are clearly illustrated. Austin Marathon Half Marathon & 5K

How Are Corrals Assigned?

We’ll assign each runner to a specific corral using the following criteria:

  1. Race Distance – Marathon, Half Marathon, or 5K.
  2. Estimated Pace Per Mile – Based on the pace you provided during registration.
  3. Registration Date – We can only account for you if you are registered, late registrations will be placed as closely as we can to their pace groups. 
  4. Space Available per Distance – Space will be allocated for each distance to make sure everyone has a smooth start.

Emails will be sent to participants letting them know their assigned corral closer to the event. 

Corral Rules

  • We understand that you may be assigned a different corral than your family or friends, and you are more than welcome to move back in corrals to run together. 
  • In order to comply with the City of Austin road closure schedule, all Full 26.2 Marathon runners must start in corrals A, B, or C to stay on track for the 10:30 a.m. course closure at Mile 12.3.
  • You can’t move to an earlier corral (e.g., from C to B), but you’re welcome to start in a later one if you prefer.
  • If you miss your assigned corral start time, no worries! Just head to the next one. The gates will be monitored to ensure an orderly flow of participants.
  • If an athlete is not in their assigned start corral by its start time, then they must go to the next corral.  Gates will be closed and monitored.

Will this change course closure times?

While we’ve introduced corrals, there’s no change to the marathon course cut-off times from previous years. In fact, with the corral system, some slower marathon runners may actually cross the start line sooner as the efficiency and less congestion on course will aid them on course. That means more time to soak in all the excitement Austin has to offer.

For half marathoners, the course will close at 11:50 a.m., giving you a full 4 hours to complete your race.