Chevron Houston Marathon

One of America's most recognized marathons, held in Houston every January since 1972.

The Chevron Houston Marathon holds the World Athletics Gold Label and has hosted three U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons. It also runs the We Are Houston 5K alongside the main event, open to participants of every ability level. ESW manages three functions within the larger operation: the 5K, start line operations for the marathon and half marathon, and the race expo. Each has its own planning track and day-of staffing. The Houston Marathon Committee's permanent staff manages the broader event — our job is to make sure our three pieces run cleanly within it.

The Houston Marathon Committee has been producing this event since 1972. Over fifty years, it has grown into one of the largest winter marathons in the country, currently drawing more than 300,000 participants, volunteers, and spectators across race weekend. ESW's scope is focused: we manage the We Are Houston 5K, coordinate start line operations for the marathon and half marathon, and oversee the race expo. That means working within a well-established production framework and making sure our piece of it runs without friction. The logistics are city-scale. Our job is to plan carefully, staff appropriately, and make sure our portion of the event feels seamless to the people inside it.

The Houston Marathon Committee was formed in 1972 and has run the event continuously since. It is now one of the top 20 largest marathons in the United States by participation. World Athletics has awarded it the Gold Label — the highest international certification for road races — reflecting the quality of its elite field and operational standards. The event has hosted three U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons. The Aramco Houston Half Marathon has hosted 16 U.S. Half Marathon Championships and holds its own Gold Label designation. The Houston Marathon Committee received Gold Label Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport from 2011 to 2020 and won the 2015 AIMS Green Award for sustainability practices. Race weekend is broadcast live on ABC13, ESPN+, and Disney+.

Three distinct operations within one Gold Label event.

The Houston Marathon weekend spans multiple simultaneous events across a large footprint of downtown Houston. ESW's scope covers three functions that each require their own planning track, vendor relationships, and day-of staffing. We coordinate closely with the Houston Marathon Committee's permanent staff to keep timing, logistics, and participant experience consistent across all three — the 5K, the start line, and the expo.