My marathons

U.S. Polo Assn. Palm Beaches Marathon

06:006:00 AM West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach. Photograph by Don Ramey Logan, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The course

The organiser calls the course 100% flat, running through downtown West Palm Beach, historic neighbourhoods and along Flagler Drive, with the start and finish on Flagler Drive.

The course in short 2 lines
  • Flagler Drive, historic streets and a flat Boston qualifierUSATF certified, a Boston Qualifier, ranked by the organiser as the 2nd fastest in Florida.
  • A two-loop course shared with the half marathonSame 6:00 start for the marathon and half, with shared pace groups on a two-loop course.
Course notes 2 short reads on the course
km 0 to 42.2GeometryFlagler Drive, historic streets and a flat Boston qualifierUSATF certified, a Boston Qualifier, ranked by the organiser as the 2nd fastest in Florida.

The organiser describes 26.2 miles from the lively downtown area through historic areas and quiet neighbourhoods, on shaded city streets and on palm-lined Flagler Drive past Manatee Lagoon, museums and parks with water views. Its words for the profile are “100% flat”. The marathon course is USATF certified, a Boston Qualifier, and the organiser ranks it the 2nd fastest in Florida. Start and finish are on Flagler Drive by 104 Datura Street.

Sourced

km 0 to 42.2TacticsA two-loop course shared with the half marathonSame 6:00 start for the marathon and half, with shared pace groups on a two-loop course.

Pace teams are provided for both races, and on the two-loop course the half and full marathoners share the same pace groups. The marathon starts at 6:00 am on Sunday 13 December 2026, and so do the half marathon and the marathon relay. The relay follows the marathon course in four legs of 7.9, 4.9, 8.3 and 5.1 miles.

Sourced

Race fuel

Energy gel
An energy gel sachet
Illustration · drag to turn

Race fuel for West Palm Beach

One gel every 40 minutes once you are past about 75 minutes of running, plus a spare.

Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side.

Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.

Order by 22 November to test them on two long runs first.

Get it on Amazon

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In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.

Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.

Anti-chafe
Compeed Anti-blister stick
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.

Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.

Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.

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We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Number belt
A race number belt
Illustration · drag to turn

Compressport Race Belt

Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.

Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.

Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.

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We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Electrolytes
A tube of electrolyte tablets
Illustration · drag to turn

SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20

One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.

One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.

Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Blister plasters
Compeed Blister plasters, medium, 6
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.

Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.

Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
race
Road/trail

Race week

Timetable

Friday 11 December 2 days before

  1. 12:0012:00 PM

    Expo and packet pick-up Meyer Amphitheatre, 105 Datura Street. Open noon to 6 pm. Marathon, half marathon and relay packets must be picked up at the expo on Friday or Saturday.

Saturday 12 December The day before

  1. 10:0010:00 AM

    Expo and packet pick-up Meyer Amphitheatre, 105 Datura Street. Open 10 am to 6 pm. There is no packet pick-up or race registration on race day.

Sunday 13 December Race day

  1. 06:006:00 AM

    Marathon start Flagler Drive by 104 Datura Street. The marathon, half marathon and relay share the 6:00 am start on Flagler Drive.

Times as published by the organiser, in West Palm Beach time, checked .

Add to calendar .ics file, times in West Palm Beach time

Trip

Getting a place

Entry through the organiser

Entry details on the organiser’s site →

The organiser, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.

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