- Weather
- 43°Ftypical start
- Field size
- ~2,000 runners
- Course
- Hilly
- Elevation
- 1,400 ft gain
Classic hilly Piedmont Park and downtown route
PR5.1Weather9.0Experience7.6
All marathons
Mid-April · Southeast · Mostly Loop
Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Roanoke, VA
Event: Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon | Verified 8/26/26: 7,430 ft total elevation change confirmed by 3 independent sources. Template estimate was accurate. Known as "America's Toughest Road Marathon."
Registration opens on the organizer's site
- Typical start temp
- 49°F(estimated)
- Field size
- ~1,000 runners(estimated)
- Course
- Hilly
- Elevation
- 3,715 ft gain · 0 ft net(estimated)
Why runners choose this race
A loop course around Roanoke, VA, with real climbing that will cost you time if you race it hard early.
Good fit if
- · Runners who want a low-key start
Think twice if
- · You are chasing a flat-course PR
Course and logistics
- Course type
- Mostly Loop
- Surface
- Road
- Total gain
- 3,715 ft(estimated)
- Total loss
- 3,715 ft(estimated)
- Net elevation
- 0 ft(estimated)
- Field size
- ~1,000 runners(estimated)
- Crowd support
- Pockets of spectators
- Entry
- Hard
- Entry fee
- $105(most recent listed price)
- Day of week
- Saturday
- Start / finish
- Start and finish in the same area
Race details
- Typical timing
- Mid-April
- Next confirmed date
- Saturday, April 17, 2027
- Registration
- Open now
- Region
- Southeast
- Editorial tier
- Recommended
- Prestige
- 7.0/10(estimated)
- Data last reviewed
- 2026-08-26
Event: Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon | Verified 8/26/26: 7,430 ft total elevation change confirmed by 3 independent sources. Template estimate was accurate. Known as "America's Toughest Road Marathon."
Good to know
- Loop course
- Hilly course
Race-day weather
Modelled from location, month and coastal proximity — not verified race history.
ExcellentGoodWarmHeat risk
Typical start sits at 49°F — excellent marathon conditions.
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