Modesto Marathon
The Lowdown
The Modesto Marathon is a USATF-certified Boston and New York qualifier through California's Central Valley, founded in 2009 and organized by the ShadowChase Running Club to benefit the youth mentoring nonprofit Teens Run Modesto. Sutter Health has served as title sponsor since 2016. The flat, mostly out-and-back course starts and finishes near 11th and I Streets in downtown Modesto, passing through shaded historic college neighborhoods with only one notable rise, a short overpass runners call "Mount Modesto," making it a frequent pick for first-time marathoners and Boston-qualifying attempts; MarathonGuide.com has ranked it among the top 30 U.S. races "Most Likely to Qualify" for Boston. Race weekend also includes a Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K, plus assisted and virtual entry options. All finishers, including 10K and 5K runners, receive a shirt, swag item, and finisher medal, with a 7-hour course cutoff.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Moderate spectator support
Boston Qualifier
This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.
Start/finish near 11th and I Streets, downtown Modesto
"Mount Modesto" railroad overpass
Historic shaded college neighborhoods
Other distances available during the event weekend:
1325 11th St, Modesto, CA
US
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Runners under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
Required Documents
- Photo ID for packet pickup
Entry Methods
- Online registration via RunSignUp
Cancellation & Refund Policy
All registrations are final; no refunds are given.
Course closes at 2:00 PM (7-hour time limit)
Packet pickup at 610 N. 9th Street, Modesto, CA 95350, plus race-morning pickup starting 6:00 AM
All finishers (including 10K/5K) receive a shirt, swag item, and finisher medal; race-day registrants are not guaranteed swag
Registration uses RunSignUp tiered/dynamic pricing that rises as the event approaches; recorded price reflects the current tier as of research date
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Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
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