North American Inline Skating Marathons

Find a Marathon That is Just Right for You

There are many North American skating marathons. This selection includes many well-known marathon events that recur annually and the approximate month they are held. There are also inline skating festivals international marathons on other continents that you may want to attend or follow.

You may even want to skate in a fundraising or charity race event. If you know of a popular yearly marathon that should be included in this list, please contact your inline skating guide via the Inline Skating Forum or send a direct email message. Need a little help getting ready to race? North American skating schools or international workshops can help.

March - Metrodome Inline Marathon

people inline skating

Reinhard Krull / EyeEm

The Metrodome Inline Marathon is the world's only regularly scheduled indoor marathon. It is held in March on the silky smooth concourse of the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. To avoid congestion on the concourse, skaters compete in waves and are sent out on the race course one at a time. Drafting is allowed, although pacelines are limited to five skaters. The marathon also includes a team time trial.

June - Apostle Islands Inline Race

The Apostle Islands Inline Marathon is skated in a one-of-a-kind location on scenic Madeline Island - one of the Apostle Islands in northwest Wisconsin. This event features a full inline marathon, an ALMT (a little more that) half marathon and a fun race - something for every inline skating enthusiast. The course will easily accommodate skaters of all skill levels.

April - Texas Road Rash Inline Skate Marathon

Round Rock's Parks and Recreation Department and Hill Country Speed hosted the first annual Texas Road Rash Inline Skate Marathon and Half Marathon in Central Texas in 2004. The course is a smooth, closed multiple looped course with both start and finish in Old Settlers Park.

The course is swept the morning of the event to eliminate gravel and any obstacles. City of Round Rock staff and police maintain the course throughout the race for safety. The half marathon participants will loop the course three times and full marathon skaters will loop the course six times. On the final lap, all skaters will cross the finish line through the finishing chute.

June – Annual Baxter Inline Marathon

The Baxter Inline Marathon is an annual inline skating race that attracts participants from all over the United States and Canada. This event was founded in 2001 by Terry Holm, and now it presents awards to top finishers in a variety of categories, including age classes and men’s and women’s race divisions.

June – North Carolina Skate Marathon

The North Carolina Skate Marathon, 5k Sprint, and Derby Challenge is a new race event for 2012 in Greensboro, North Carolina. This skating event is appropriate for almost every skill level, allows inlines skated and traditional quads and welcomes skaters aged 9 to 99. The race takes place on a safe, traffic-free 1.6-mile paved loop around Country Park. There are a variety of distances to choose from, and there is also a derby challenge for all of the quad-racing roller derby skaters.

July - Annual Chicagoland Inline Marathon

The Annual Chicagoland Inline Marathon event offers prize money, lots of participants, an excellent course, and a great location just 9 miles from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Come for the event and stay for all that the Windy City has to offer. There are additional family events including a free Young Guns Race, a 2-mile kids sprint, a half and full marathon. Skate the distance, get a commemorative shirt, and support the Special Olympics of North America, too.

July - Napa Valley Inline Marathon

The Napa Valley Inline Marathon caters to inline skaters and provides an exciting skating weekend. The scenic course goes past vineyards and wineries along a 7 mile closed section of the Silverado Trail in the world famous Napa Wine Valley. The course has long stretches of flatland and rolling hills.

The 3-day skating event starts with the San Francisco Friday Night Skate, a winery tour and Calistoga Skate Party on Saturday and the Napa Valley Inline Marathon and picnic on Sunday. There are two distances for participants. The traditional 26.2-mile marathon is for seasoned skaters and the 13.1 mile half marathon is for recreational and fitness skaters.

August - Minnesota Half Marathon

The Minnesota Half Marathon is the biggest event in the nation that involves both runners and skaters. Each athlete does either one or the other – skate it or run in it. Each sport will have it's own totally unique race, skaters will roll with skaters and runners with runners.  Skaters go first because they generally move a bit quicker than runners do. The roadway is completely clear of traffic and the course is USATF certified. It is a great running and skating event. 

August - North of the 49th Inline Marathon

August is the season for Roller Sports Manitoba's annual inline race - the Annual North of the 49th Inline Marathon. This event is held at Birds Hill Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada and includes a full marathon, a half marathon and a youth division event with prizes and awards. Be sure to bring your passport, if you are not a Canadian resident.

September – Ottawa Inline Festival

The Ottawa Inline Skating Club Festival is an opportunity to try a variety of race events from a 5km family race to a full marathon. The events are held on the newly paved Rockcliffe Parkway in Ottawa, Canada. This route is safe, smooth and fast with a beautiful view of the forest along the Ottawa River. This marathon festival is for suitable for recreational, fitness or competitive skaters. There are rules and a referee on hand to make sure that all skaters enjoy a safe event, and practice good sportsmanship.

September - NYC Marathon and 100K

The New York City Marathon and 100K is an old and popular inline event. Everyone is welcome, but it is a small race and is usually attended by more inline speed skaters than recreational and fitness skaters. There is an optional marathon distance, too.

September - 24 Hour Inline Montreal

The 24 Hour Inline Montreal will once again bring together hundreds of skaters from around the world, of all ages and every level of ability. The relay race is for teams of up to 10 inline skaters and lasts a total of 24 hours. The challenge is to complete, as a team skating in relays, as many laps as possible around the 4.27 km course within the 24 hour time period.

September - NorthShore Inline Marathon

The NorthShore Inline Marathon is the largest inline marathon in the U.S.A. Almost 4,000 inline skaters test their endurance and follow the same scenic course that marathoners have used for the past 30 years. The 26.2-mile marathon begins just south of Two Harbors and continues along Scenic Hwy 61, goes through the I-35 tunnels, and finishes at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

October - Athens to Atlanta Road Skate

The Athens to Atlanta Road Skate is the oldest and most famous road skate in America. It starts in Athens, Georgia, and participants skate through beautiful country roads, quiet suburbs, and city streets to cross the 87-mile finish line in Atlanta's Piedmont Park. The course is challenging and requires experienced skating ability and stamina. Skaters who are not ready for the 87-mile event can skate the 52 mile or 38-mile event. Both four and five wheeled skates are welcome and anyone from 8 to 80 years old may enter.

November - Houston Inline Marathon & Fun Skate

The Houston Inline Marathon is a great opportunity for inline skaters of all skill levels to get together for a fun and exciting weekend of racing, casual skating, and socializing. The inline marathon, half-marathon and Fun Skate provide a set of great inline skating events.