Baystate Marathon
Lowell, United States of America · Sunday 18 October 2026
The Baystate Marathon is an annual road marathon held in Lowell, Massachusetts every October. The event has been held consecutively since its first running in 1990. The course is recognized for being one of the flattest and fastest marathon routes in the northeastern United States, making it popular for runners seeking personal bests and Boston Marathon qualifying times. The race follows a double-loop format, starting and finishing at the Tsongas Center (located at the intersection of Fr.
Difficulty Calculator
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:m
:s
Adjusted Time
4:35:56
Time difference: +35.9 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Course Details
Elevation Gain155m
Elevation High44m
Elevation Low23m
Weather Forecast
High20°C
Low5°C
Chance of Rain1%
How hard is Baystate Marathon?
Very Difficultharder than 89% of marathons
Flattest / easiestHardest
On our difficulty model, Baystate Marathon plays about 38 minutes slower than an average road marathon for a 3:30 runner. It ranks #129 hardest of 1151 marathons we analyse, and #69 of 576 in United States of America. Use the calculator above to see the exact adjusted time for your own goal pace.
What will you run at Baystate Marathon?
Estimated finish times on this course versus the same effort on an average road marathon, based on its elevation, surface, and expected race-day temperature.
| Average-course time | On Baystate Marathon | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00:00 | 3:28:53 | +28:53 |
| 3:30:00 | 4:02:33 | +32:33 |
| 4:00:00 | 4:35:56 | +35:56 |
| 4:30:00 | 5:09:08 | +39:08 |
| 5:00:00 | 5:42:12 | +42:12 |
| 5:30:00 | 6:15:10 | +45:10 |
| 6:00:00 | 6:48:03 | +48:03 |
Use the calculator above for your exact goal time. Want a prediction from your own training? Try the marathon time predictor.
Baystate Marathon 2026 Course Analysis
Baystate Marathon is a full marathon held in Lowell, United States of America. It is scheduled for Sunday 18 October 2026. The course is run on trail surface with 155m of total climbing, with its high point near 44m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Baystate Marathon website.
Elevation Profile
With 155m of total climbing, this is a gently undulating course. The elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't greatly affect your pacing.
Expected Race Day Weather
Based on historical weather data for October, the expected race day conditions are as follows. Near-ideal running temperatures are expected, ranging from 5°C to 20°C. This temperature range is widely considered optimal for marathon performance, allowing efficient heat dissipation without cold-related issues. There is a low chance of rain (1%), so dry conditions are likely.
Surface Type: Trail
Baystate Marathon is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are usually slower than the road equivalent - often by 10-20% - because of uneven footing, technical sections, and frequently steeper gradients, though a smooth, non-technical or downhill trail can run faster than that suggests. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Baystate Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
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