IronHorse - Riceville, IA
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Event overview
The IronHorse races take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Riceville, Iowa, with the finish at the Wapsi-Great Western Line Welcome Center (110 East Main Street). The event is USATF sanctioned (Event Licence ID: #142954). The program includes the following distances:
- Full Marathon (Boston qualifier; course crosses into Minnesota)
- Half Marathon
- 10K
- 5K
The Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K are USATF certified.
Course and logistics
The Full Marathon runs partly on the Wapsi-Great Western Line (WGWL) Trail in Iowa and the Shooting Star Trail in Minnesota. The Half Marathon, 10K and 5K are on the WGWL Trail in Iowa. Races use the paved and concrete northern branch of the WGWL Trail, which connects interstate to the Shooting Star Trail. The Full and Half Marathon courses are point-to-point; the 10K and 5K are out-and-back. The Full Marathon includes about four miles of crushed rock at the midpoint. Aid stations and port-a-potties are placed along the routes. Shuttle service is provided for Full and Half Marathon starters; shuttle and apparel purchase deadlines apply and some registration deadlines are enforced. Awards are given to the first three finishers by gender in each race; Full and Half finishers receive a finishers award. No strollers and no dogs are allowed. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
