City of Roses Half Marathon
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City of Roses Half Marathon & 5K
The City of Roses Half Marathon and 5K takes place on September 27, 2026 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, centered at the Osage Center and 1625 N. Kingshighway. The event marks the 46th consecutive year of the races and includes in-person and virtual options.
Distances offered:
- Half Marathon 13.1 Miles
- 5K 3.1 Miles
- Half Marathon Relay team of three sharing 13.1 Miles
- Virtual Half Marathon run between September 1 and September 30, 2026
The half marathon course follows paved trails, residential streets and county roads, passing horse farms, tree-filled woods and homes. The course has volunteer support and water stops every two miles early in the race, then every mile from mile 8 onward. Gatorade is available at water stops from mile 6 through the finish. An early non-competitive start is offered for participants who expect to take longer than three hours.
Post-race provisions include pancakes, coffee, traditional snacks, water, and locally brewed beer. Packet pickup is held on the weekend prior to race day. Shirt order deadlines differ by distance: half marathon shirts are guaranteed for registrations by August 31 and 5K shirts are guaranteed for registrations by September 13; later orders may be fulfilled after the event.
Half marathon prize amounts are listed for overall and masters categories, and both races include age-division awards. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
