Tunnel Hill Marathon 2019

Short review

The Tunnel Hill Marathon, a USATF/IAAF sanctioned, and certified course, is a great place to run a BOSTON QUALIFYING TIME*, or a personal best. Certification # IL18001BW. You can view the map and certification info here USATF certification info and map

We use 26.2 miles of the same fast course where Zach Bitter ran 12:08 for 100 miles last November, where Camille Herron shattered the World Record for 100 miles in 2017; where Mike Bialick ran the fastest 100 in North America in 2015; where Traci Falbo ran the Fastest Known Time for 100 by a woman in 2014; and where Coree Woltering ran a 5:30:15 50 miler in 2016. 

The race, presented by Durbin Race Management, takes place on Sunday November 10, beginning at 07:00 Central Time.

You will start at the same start line in Vienna, IL as the Tunnel Hill 100/50, exactly 24hours after the 100/50 start. You'll run 1.1 miles south on the Tunnel Hill State Trail, (a smooth, rails-to-trails dirt course, covered with crushed rock), then turn north, and proceed through the world famous tunnel, and to the northern turn-around, before running back through the tunnel, and on to the finish at Vienna Park. The final 9 miles is a gentle, gradual downhill.

You'll encounter hundreds of runners who are finishing the final miles of their 100 mile run, and everyone will have a great opportunity to cheer each other on as you work your way over dozens of train trestles, and among gorgeous rock formations. 

There will be a 6 hour limit, and the race course will close at 1pm on Sunday. 

* Note: Typically, registration opens for Boston around the second weekend in September. If the 2019 race is sold out when you run the 2018 TH Marathon, then a BQ time will still be good for the 2020 Boston.