North American Inline Skating Marathons

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.

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.

The organizers of the San Francisco Inline Marathon event hope to build it into the top inline marathon on the West Coast. The date has moved to May when San Francisco's fog is less likely. The racecourse runs across the city to Golden Gate Park, where skaters will find smooth pavement and a barbecue after the race. The San Francisco Inline Skate Marathon's full marathon features prize money in the pro categories for men and women. Skaters can choose the full marathon (26.2 miles, eleven laps) half marathon (13.1 miles, six laps), or the three-lap super-k.

The Badger State Inline Marathon is skated in the Wisconsin Dells. This event is part of the American Family Insurance-Badger State Games, a multi-sport festival modeled after the Olympics and run by the Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation. The course through the landscape of Portage, Wisconsin has a few gradual climbs but is mostly flat. This event is a vacation opportunity, since the Wisconsin Dells are one of the Midwest's top tourist attractions. The area is known for picturesque landscapes, resorts, waterparks and sporting activities.

The Big Granite Inline Marathon is skated in two laps around a 12.75 mile course that loops through some of Wisconsin's town roads and highways. The course is in dairy land near the Penokee hill range and offers a scenic mix of hills, flats, curves and straightaways. The course is an exciting course that will challenge skaters of all abilities. Beginners are advised not to register for this race. All registrants should be experienced skaters.

The annual Road America Inline 20k and 13k is a great inline skating event for inline skaters of all levels. Road America is a 4 mile closed auto racing course which provides skaters with a chance to enjoy Wisconsin's scenery on the smooth asphalt of a top race track. This event supports Special Olympics North America.

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.

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.

If you are new to inline marathon sports or interested in a skating a shorter distance, but still want to be part of the Saint Paul Marathon event, you can skate our the 10 Mile Tour. This event also allows children ages 7 to 12, who are not permitted to skate the full marathon, to participate in a shorter distance and enjoy the event.

The Saint Paul Inline Marathon has been a big event from the start. In 2004, it attracted more than 1500 skaters, to become second largest inline marathon in North America. This event offers a challenge as well as fun with 2,000 inline skaters in Saint Paul every August. The Saint Paul Inline Marathon still ranks as the second largest skate marathon in North America.