Welcome to the 2026 New Orleans Marathon Relay Team Competition Guide

The FAQ's below and course maps with parking areas highlighted on each map, will help ensure that you and your relays members find your way through this double loop marathon course for the 2026 inaugural event.  Each Exchange Zone will offer a parking area, a portable restroom, a water table with cups and of course a pop up tent with signage signifying that the exchange zone is approaching.  Each exchange zone will have a volunteer on site to assist with any issues relay members may have at a particular location.  Each team member will have the same bib number with the same bib tag on the back of the number. (Example: Team 7350 will have 5 race bibs with the same number and with the same bib tag attached to each number).  Get your friends, family members and coworkers to commit today to join you in the finish chute for the last 250 feet of your 26.2 mile competition.  Sign Up Today!

FAQ’s

Will transportation be provided? NO!  Each team will have to use 1 personal vehicle to get to exchange points. Each team will be given an identification placard to be used for their team cars.  This will allow that car into secure zones.  At no time should a relay team vehicle drive on the race course.  

What if we don’t have all 5 runners?  That's not an issue, teams can have 2 to 5 members on a team.  The only place team members can hand off the Relay Team Wrist Band is at an exchange point listed below.  If, for example, you have 3 runners that want to race on a marathon relay team, members will have to decide who is running the extra legs of the event to cover the correct distance.

Do we physically hand something off?  YES, your NEW ORLEANS RELAY WRISTBAND TO THE NEXT PARTICIPANT IN AN EXCHANGE ZONE!  You will each have a bib tag on the back of your bib number and you’ll get a start time and finish time in and out of each exchange point.

Do we get to cross the finish line together? Absolutely!  That’s the best part of a relay. The final meet up zone is just before the finish line. Wait there for your last runner and run in as a team.

Does each relay member need to be present to pick up our team packet?  NO!  One person can pick up for the entire team. However, when picking up someone else’s packet, you will need a copy of their email confirmation.

Do we each get a medal, food, beer? Yes!  Every member of the relay gets all the goodies at the end of the race. You deserve it!

Where do we park to wait for our runner?  The maps in this guide will show you where to park.  At no time should relay members drive on the race course to get to their exchange zone. 

This is a timed event, and every exchange zone will have timing mats! 

Team Relay Information • Teams may have 2, 3, 4 or 5 members 

• Each member must run at least one complete leg.
• The minimum age requirement to compete in the Team Relay is 12.
• DO NOT leave the exchange point before your teammate arrives. 
• Each Relay Team will receive five (5) Bib's with 5 B-Tag on the back of your bib number, one for each team member. 
• The Timing Tag Bib allows for relay teams to have a net time and course timing split times for each zone covered      

       Award Competition:

• Male Open & Masters (All Male Team) 
• Female Open & Masters (All Female Team) 
• Mixed Open & Masters (any combination) Open Division - 12 years of age to 39 years of age.  Masters Division - 40 years of age to 50 years of age.    

       Important Notes:  

• There is NO TRANSPORTATION to the exchange zones
• Parking is available at each Exchange Zone
• Exchange Zones have water at each stop and a portable restroom.

       Exchange Zone Locations:

• #1 Located at the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and Pratt Drive
• #2 Located at the intersection of Magnolia Drive and Zack Taylor Drive in City Park
• #3 Located at Harwood Drive and Lakeshore Drive 
• #4 Located at Elysian Fields Avenue & Lakeshore Drive
• #5 Located at Finish Line in City Park

       Relay Leg Distances to Cover:

• Relay Leg Distance #1: 4.56 Miles
• Relay Leg Distance #2: 7.26 Miles
• Relay Leg Distance #3: 4.97 Miles
• Relay Leg Distance #4: 3.53 Miles
• Relay Leg Distance #5: 5.89 Miles

Relay Distance #1 - 4.56 miles - Exchange Point #1 - Pratt Drive & Lakeshore Drive 

Relay Distance #2 - 7.26 miles - Exchange Point #2 - Zachary Taylor Drive & Magnolia Drive

Relay Distance #3 - 4.97 miles - Exchange Point #3 - Harwood Drive & Lakeshore Drive 

Relay Distance #4 - 3.53 miles - Exchange Point #4 - Elysian Fields Avenue & Lakeshore Drive 

Relay Distance #5 - 5.89 miles - Finish Line in Roosevelt Mall