Champlain Islands Marathon & Half Marathon
Sun, Oct 18, 2026, 4:30 AM EDT
- Type
- Run
Finish signup on the organizer site (check fees and dates there).
Race feel
Run a USATF-certified course through Vermont's scenic Lake Champlain Islands, with Boston Marathon qualifying potential.
- Scenic
- Competitive
Scenic
CompetitiveGreat for
- All Genders Welcome
All Genders WelcomeDiscover the Champlain Islands Marathon & Half Marathon in picturesque South Hero, Vermont. This USATF-certified event offers a flat to rolling, paved course through a charming landscape of farms, apple orchards, and summer cottages along Lake Champlain. Both distances begin and end near the former home of seven-time Boston Marathon winner Clarence H. DeMar, with the full marathon serving as a Boston Qualifier. Experience the serene beauty of the Islands in mid-October while pursuing your race goals.
What to expect
- Expect a paved, flat to rolling course through picturesque island scenery.
- Aid stations with water and electrolyte drink are available approximately every two miles.
- All participants receive a race shirt, and finishers earn a medal.
Standout details
- Boston Marathon Qualifier
- USATF Certified Course
- Scenic Lake Champlain Islands views
- Sold out in recent years
Perks & features
- Shirt
- USATF Certified
Shirt
USATF CertifiedFrom the public listing; confirm on the official site.
Distances & registration
2 optionsUse the official signup link above for all distances.
Half Marathon
1 option · closes Oct 18, 2026, 4:59 PM EDT
5mo 19d 7h 43m leftGeneral entry
Closes Oct 18, 2026, 4:59 PM EDT · From $54.00
Marathon
1 option · closes Oct 18, 2026, 4:30 AM EDT
5mo 18d 19h 14m leftGeneral entry
Closes Oct 18, 2026, 4:30 AM EDT · From $75.20
Summaries use public event text. Confirm schedule, fees, and rules on the official page before you sign up.
Past race snapshot
What the field usually feels like
A plain-English read from past public results. It is helpful context, not a prediction.
Crowd
Comfortable field
233 Marathon finishers in 1980. A manageable crowd with enough runners for company on course.
Typical finish
3:34:00
Think middle-of-the-pack, using gun time when available.
Competitive feel
Relaxed front
Past results suggest the front of the field is less intense than many races. Front-group read: 2:52:04.
People mix
Mixed field
Gender mix needs more complete finish rows before we summarize it.
Quick read
For the Marathon in 1980, this looks like a comfortable field: 233 finishers are represented here. A middle-of-the-pack finish was around 3:34:00. The quicker front of the field averaged about 2:52:04. Use it as a feel check, not a promise about race day.
Where runners came from
Aggregated city counts only. Small groups stay hidden in public views.
Essex Junction, VT
Travel draw
Burlington, VT
Travel draw
South Burlington, VT
Travel draw
Plattsburgh, NY
Travel draw
South Hero, VT
Close-to-home draw
Award clues
Historic placement clues only. Race-day awards can use different rules.
Overall observed placement
Top 3 (from finish order in our sample)
Show the year-by-year numbers
| Distance | Year | Finishers | Typical | Average | Front 10% | Fastest M / W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | 1980 | 233 | 3:34:00 | 3:36:57 | 2:52:04 | Not enough data / Not enough data |
Last summary update: May 2, 2026
From the organizer
Race Date, Time and Location for 2026 Events
DATE: Sunday, October 18, 2026
TIME: 8:30 AM
LOCATION: Folsom Elementary School, 75 South St, South Hero, VT 05486
The Full and Half Marathon will both start at 8:30 AM directly in front of the Folsom Elementary School.
Course
The marathon and half-marathon begin and end near the house where Clarence H. DeMar, seven-time Boston Marathon Winner, once lived. The half-marathon course is out and back on the west shore of South Hero and Grand Isle; a land of farms, apple orchards, and summer cottages. The terrain is flat to rolling.
USATF Certification (VT24002JK)
The entire course is paved. The full marathon course is two out-and-backs of the half-marathon course.
The time cut off for the marathon is 6 hours. The time cut off for the half-marathon is 4 hours.
Aid Stations
There will be an aid station approximately every 2 miles starting at mile 2 and stopping at mile 24 for a total of 12 aid stations (2-3 porta-potties on course). Water and electrolyte drink will be supplied at all aid stations. Additional assistance will be available to runners in the form of sweep vehicles.
Registration
Pre-registration is now open. This event has sold out in recent years. Register early for guaranteed entry and best pricing.
GMAA members subtract $10 for Full Marathon, $5 for Half Marathon. Race day registration is from 7am to 7:45am. Maximum total number of runners is 500. There is no race refund if you cannot participate. There are no deferrals. There is no wait list. There are no bib transfers. You may change the race distance. There is a $10 charge for switching from the full marathon to the half-marathon (no refund will be given for the difference in price). There is a $10 charge for changing from the half-marathon to the full marathon plus the difference in price. To transfer event follow these instructions:
1) Log into your Runsignup account at this link: https://runsignup.com/Profile#tab-upcoming-races
2) Find the Champlain Islands Marathon & Half Marathon section under "Upcoming Events" and Click on "Manage Registration"
3) Click on "Transfer Event" at the top.
4) Follow the prompts to continue the process.
Please confirm that you are registering for the correct event: Half-Marathon or Full Marathon before your complete your transaction. Thank you!
Shirts
All participants will receive a race shirt.
Restrictions
Runners must be age 16 or older.
Packet Pickup
Other runners may pick up a friend or family member's race packet.
Friday, Oct. 16th - 12-6 pm at SkiRack Saturday, Oct. 17th - 12-6 pm at SkiRack Sunday, Oct. 18th - 7-8 am at Folsom School SkiRack is located at 85 Main Street , in Burlington, VT.
Awards
Awards will be given to the top overall male, female & non-binary finishers, the top masters, as well as the top finisher in each age-group. Please see the race director if you need leave before the awards ceremony.
Medals to all marathon and half-marathon finishers.
Lodging
Island Lodging on the race course (primarily small inns and B&Bs):
Crescent Farm Bay Farm B&B 1-802-324-5563 (mile 2-3) Ferry Watch Inn 1-802-777-2530 (mile 8-9) link to full list of island lodging (maintained by the Islands Chamber of Commerce) Lodging at exit 16 off Route 89 (Colchester/Winooski)
Residence Inn 1-802-655-3100 Hampton Inn 1-802-655-6177 Lodging at exit 14 off Route 89 (Burlington/South Burlington)
Best Western 1-800-780-7234 Holiday Inn 1-800-863-6363
Attractions
If you can picture the Lake Champlain Islands in mid-October, then you have reason to join us. If you have never seen Vermont or the 'Islands' in October, then you have even more reason to join us with your entire family.
Lake Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce (800) 262-5226 Burlington Things-To-Do Lake Champlain Ferries (802) 864-9804
Past Runner Testimonials
Follow this link to hear what other runners have had to say about the our event.
The GMAA Champlain Islands Marathon is held for runners by runners. Our goal is to offer a quality marathon at an affordable price in a relaxed setting. Come join us!
Volunteers
As with any event, it takes volunteers to make things happen. If you or anyone you know would like to volunteer at our race, we would greatly appreciate it. We need volunteers in the following areas: Water Stops/Aid Stations, Crossing Guards/Course Marshals, Packet pick-up, Finish Line, Traffic/Parking, and Runner Food Preparation.
Please sign up on our Volunteer Registration Page
Information
Please see " Race Day Instructions " sheet for all latest logistics. If you can't find the answers you need, please email Race Directors, Nik Ponzio and Heather Feldman at: cim@gmaa.run
Course Features
Certified Marathon with miles 1-13 marked Can be used to qualify for the Boston Marathon Start and finish at 190' elevation Max elevation: 210' (miles 1 and 25) Min elevation: 100' (several locations) Lake Champlain elevation: 95'
NOTE: GMAA/Insurance rules prohibit running with a baby jogger or dog. For safety reasons and as a courtesy to fellow runners, GMAA strongly discourages the use of headphones.
There are no refunds, deferrals, or transfers.