Come out and enjoy a full marathon, half marathon, relay, the John Beishline Memorial 5K or the Kids Mini-Marathon. Now in its 18th year, this is a fast, scenic Boston Marathon qualifier, taking you through the best streets, parks and waterways in Buffalo.

RACEDAY EXPERIENCE

You will not find a race more convenient than the Buffalo Marathon. The full and half both use a common start and finish line that are less than 900 feet apart.  We finish directly in front of the Buffalo Convention Center where the expo and post-race party are held.   The Hyatt our host hotel is attached to the Convention Center and there are numerous other hotels in close proximity to the start and there is also an abundance of parking.  If you are flying in,  the Buffalo Niagara Airport is about 20 minutes from down town. 

WHERE AND HOW TO PARK FOR THE BUFFALO MARATHON

Have you ever had one of those running-related nightmares where you’re trying to find a spot to park your car,

only to hear the starting gun for the race go off in the distance? Here’s all the information you’ll need to not let that

nightmare happen in real life!

The Buffalo Marathon is primarily held in Downtown Buffalo, North Buffalo, the West Side and Canalside Buffalo.

The roads to the west of the route will be difficult to navigate throughout the duration of the race. If you choose

to find on-street parking, we recommend parking anywhere EAST of the marathon route downtown. Streets like

Ellicott and Washington, anywhere between Chippewa and Broadway, will put you within walking distance of the

start and finish lines. 

Parking east of the marathon route will also allow you to easily access the 190 expressway, which will take you

to I-90. You will also be able to easily access the 33/Kensington Expressway, which will take you through the city

and out to the airport, or back to I-90. There will be several parking lots available near the Buffalo Convention

Center.

GENERAL BAGGAGE POLICY

As in past years, there will be a strictly enforced bag check policy for the 2018 Buffalo Marathon. We reserve the

right to screen bags entering any Buffalo Marathon venue.

PRE-RACE GEAR CHECK

You may check a bag on the morning of the Buffalo Marathon if you would like to have a change of clothing

available when you’re done with your race.

• Pick up a gear-check bag at Packet Pick-up. The only bag that may be used will be the clear plastic bag,

specifically intended for gear check, provided to you by the Buffalo Marathon at Packet Pick-up. For gear check,

use the gear tag from your bib

• No other bags will be accepted.

• Runner should give bib tear off strip to volunteers with their bag. Volunteers will label your bag with your name

and bib number so you may retrieve it after the race.

• Beginning at 5:30 am on race morning (Sunday, May 27), leave your gear check bag at the Gear Check Area

located in room 106 of the Convention Center on the 1st floor.

• Retrieve your bag from the same Gear Check Area when you finish the race. The Gear Check Area will remain

open until 1:00 PM race day.

• Bags that are not picked up will be donated to a local charitable organization.

Please be advised the Buffalo Marathon is not responsible for any lost or stolen items – any valuable items that

you place in gear check bags, such as cell phones, are placed in bags at your own risk. If cell phones are left in

bags, please be sure to turn them off. 

START TIME. 6:30 AM SHARP!

CORRAL OPENING: 5:45 AM

START LINE FIREWORKS PRESENTED BY SKYLIGHTER FIREWORKS

The Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay start at 6:30 AM sharp, so please allow yourself enough time to get into the

starting corral. The corral will open at approximately 5:45 AM

START LINE

The Start Line Is Located on Delaware Avenue between Huron & Mohawk Streets.

PORTA POTTIES

There will be 110 porta potties positioned between the start and finish lines on and around Franklin Street for your

convenience. Additionally, there will also be numerous porta potties at every water station along the race course.

WARMING UP

Anyone wishing to warm up before the race may use Franklin Street and streets south of the Marathon start line.

WHAT’S ALLOWED IN THE STARTING CORRAL

ONLY RUNNERS may enter the starting corral, and only race essentials may be brought into the corral. Items brought

into the coral may be inspected by volunteers when entering. Acceptable race essentials include:

• fuel belts

• fanny packs

• race nutrition

• camel packs

• water bottles less than a liter in size

• extra layers of clothing intended to be discarded

• American flags to be used for the annual Stars & Stripes Relay or by TeamRWB race participants.

When discarding clothing, please place items in the clothing donation bins located in the corral, or on the barricades,

and not in the road. Clothing discarded in the first mile will be collected and donated to a local charitable organization.

WHAT’S NOT ALLOWED IN THE STARTING CORRAL OR ON THE RACE COURSE

• Backpacks, any similar item carried over the shoulder, or bags of any size

• Dogs

• Baby strollers

• Glass containers

• Props of any sort, including any sporting equipment, military gear, or weaponry

• Roller blades/roller skates

• Runners may not be accompanied by family or friends on bicycles at any point along the course

CORRAL ENTRY

You may enter from the BACK of the starting corral at Mohawk Street & Delaware Avenue, or from one of the barricade

openings on EITHER SIDE of the starting corral on Delaware Avenue. You WILL NOT be allowed to enter the corral

from the FRONT at Delaware Avenue & Huron Street.

Runners must show their bib number to be allowed into the starting corral. 

STARTING LOCATION WITHIN THE CORRAL

15 foot flags with anticipated pace times will be posted at the openings along the barricades

so you may line up accordingly.

Flags will be posted for the following anticipated per-mile paces: 7:15, 8:25, 9:30, and 10:40.

Runners planning to run at a pace over 10:00/mile should enter the start corral from the back.

GETTING AN OFFICIAL TIME

Please be aware that this is a chip-timed race – your time starts ONLY when you cross the starting mat located under

the starting arch. You will not be at a disadvantage by lining up further back in the corral according to your appropriate

anticipated pace.

Also remember, you must wear your bib (which contains your chip) on the front of your shirt to get an official race time.

Live Music Throughout The Course!

Live bands will be performing a variety of music every couple of miles on the race course. Make sure those dancing...we mean running...shoes are laced up nice and tight. Runners will be serenaded by a variety of music from classical to classic rock, punk rock to jazz, and everything in between will be performed by local artists.

Post Race Party

The party begins as soon as YOU finish!

Refuel after the race with Flying Bison Mile 27 Pilsner, water, pizza, cookies, yogurt and other goodies. 

MILE 27 Will Not be served until 9:00am