Runners' Almanac
All marathons

Mid-September · Mountain West · Out-and-Back

Malad Valley Marathon

Malad City, ID · Saturday, September 12, 2026

Event listed as: Marathon

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Registration opens on the organizer's site

Typical start

56°

Cooler than 14% of U.S. marathons

Modeled historical conditions

Elevation gain

400ft

Flatter than 38% of races

Estimated total climb

Field size

300

Larger than 0% of races

Estimated field

PR potential

6.8/10

Ahead of 21% of races

Almanac model

Percentiles compare this race against all 224 U.S. marathons in the Almanac.

Course profile

400 ft gain · 0 ft net

Rolling course, out-and-back.

0510152026.2
Schematic profile drawn from total gain, total loss and course category, on a shared vertical scale of 200 ft. Not a surveyed GPS trace.

Race-day weather

Modeled from location, month and coastal proximity, not verified race history.

6 AM

48°

Start

56°

Midday

67°

ExcellentGoodWarmHeat risk

Typical start sits at 56°F, good conditions.

Typical dew point 44°F, 16% chance of precipitation, wind around 7 mph. All modeled.

The bottom line

A small race that trades atmosphere for room to run.

Malad Valley Marathon is a strong choice for a first marathon, and the course rolls gently without any sustained climbing. The tradeoff is atmosphere: expect long quiet stretches and few spectators.

Why runners choose this race

A out-and-back course around Malad City, ID, with steady rollers that reward even pacing.

The case for it

  • Runners who want a low-key start

The tradeoffs

  • You want crowds and on-course energy

Course and logistics

Course type
Out-and-Back
Surface
Road
Profile
Rolling
Total gain
400 ft(estimated)
Total loss
400 ft(estimated)
Net elevation
0 ft(estimated)
Field size
~300 runners(estimated)
Crowd support
Quiet, low-key
Entry
Easy
Entry fee
$70(most recent listed price)
Day of week
Saturday
Start / finish
Start and finish in the same area

Race details

Typical timing
Mid-September
Next confirmed date
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Registration
Open now
Region
Mountain West
Editorial tier
Recommended
Data last reviewed
2026-08-26
  • Out-and-back
  • Easy entry

Similar races

Races with a comparable profile.

Mid-September · Mountain West

Priest Lake Marathon

Priest Lake, ID

Weather
48°Ftypical startModelled estimate
Field size
~300 runners
Course
Rolling
Elevation
1,100 ft gain · 0 ft net

Event listed as: Marathon

PR7Weather9Experience6

Early October · Mountain West

Colorado Springs Marathon, Half, 5K, and Kids K

Colorado Springs, CO

Weather
52°Ftypical startModelled estimate
Field size
~800 runners
Course
Rolling
Elevation
900 ft gain · 0 ft net

Event listed as: Marathon

PR7Weather9Experience7