Heart of America Marathon
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Heart of America Marathon & Relay
The Heart of America Marathon & Relay, presented by the Columbia Track Club, takes place on September 7, 2026 in Columbia, Missouri at the Boone County History and Culture Center at Nifong Park. This is the 67th running of the marathon and the 7th annual relay; the event is described as the second oldest continuously running marathon in the United States.
The main event is a USATF certified 26.2 mile course that starts and finishes at Nifong Park. The route follows the Katy Trail along the Missouri River, passes Cooper’s Landing, the historic Easley community and Easley Hill, Pierpont General Store, and skirts Rock Bridge State Park before returning to Columbia. Approximately 5 to 5.5 miles of the course are on well maintained gravel roads and trails. The course is an open course; runners must run single file where required. Certification number MO21024MU.
Aid is provided at 13 stations with water and ice at all stations and sports drink available beginning at Cooper’s Landing. No nutrition is provided by the event. Portable toilets are available at the start and at several points on course.
Relay teams of two to four share the same course; the event limits relay entries to 50 teams. Registration policies include no race day registration, no refunds, and a strict six hour time limit. Medical support and a sweep vehicle are provided. Shirts are lightweight unisex long sleeve quarter zips in white; preferred sizes are not guaranteed for late registrations. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
