bg26.2 Marathon
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bg26.2 & half marathon and bg6000 : event overview
The event takes place October 31 - November 1, 2026 at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It includes the following races:
- Marathon (26.2 miles)
- Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
- bg6000 (6k)
- bgKIDS (1 km) Virtual options are offered for the marathon, half marathon, and bg6000. The event is an RRCA Southern Region Marathon Championship and the marathon course is USATF certified and Boston-qualifying. Proceeds benefit the National MS Society in memory of Susan B. Riherd. All finishers receive a finisher's medal and post-race refreshments; post-race stretches and massages are available.
Course, rules and awards
The course starts and finishes at Bowling Green Ballpark and follows a 13.1-mile loop through downtown Bowling Green and the Western Kentucky University campus. Marathoners run the loop twice. There are five checkpoints for marathon runners and two for half marathon runners. The event has a six-hour time limit; marathon entrants must maintain a 14:00 min/mi pace or reach the halfway point (13.1 mi) within three hours. The course is open to traffic except for certain coned lanes on University Blvd, Fairview Avenue, Kentucky Street and Adams Street. Strollers, dogs, and unauthorized cyclists are not permitted on the course. Awards are given by overall place, masters and grandmasters, and by listed age groups; minimum ages are 16 for the marathon and 12 for the half marathon. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
