Run the Rail

This is our 8th annual half-marathon race and our 3rd marathon race. The half marathon is run from DeKalb, Texas, to New Boston, Texas. The full marathon will run from Avery, Texas through De Kalb, Texas and into New Boston, Texas. All of our races take place on the northeast end of the longest hike/bike trail in Texas (130 miles). We also feature two and four-person relays in addition to the traditional marathon and half marathon.

The Northeast Texas trail runs from Trailhead Pavilion in New Boston, Texas, to Farmersville, Texas. In the late 1990's, two railroads, the Union Pacific and the Chaparral, decided to cease active service and "railbanked" this stretch of rail bed making it available for non-motorized activities.

Race Day is October 14, 2023. The half marathon starts on the trail just off of Highway 82 in DeKalb, Texas, at approximately the 900 block of Grizzly Drive across from the Maranatha Christian Center. The marathon will start from the junction of CR 4310 and CR 4315 in Red River County and finish at the Three Bostons' Museum located in downtown New Boston, Texas, at  #1 Trail Head Park Plaza. A post-race celebration will take place at the finish line. On the morning of the race, shuttles will carry participants from Trailhead Park in New Boston to the start line in DeKalb and Avery.

Registration Packet pick up will be under the Trailhead Pavilion (just west of the Three Bostons' Museum) on October 13, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and again on the day of the race from 6:00 a.m. until 7:30 a.m.

Please keep up to date with our latest news on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/runtherailhalfmarathon.