Starved Rock Country Marathon
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Event overview
The Starved Rock Country races take place on May 9, 2026 in Ottawa, Illinois. The event includes multiple distances:
- Marathon
- Half Marathon
- 10K
- 5K
- Marathon - No Shirt
- Half Marathon - No Shirt
Each registered runner receives a participant shirt; finishers receive a race-specific medal that is the fifth in the series. The marathon is listed as record eligible.
Course and logistics
The courses start in downtown Ottawa and follow sections along the Illinois River and through areas around Starved Rock State Park. The marathon route includes trails, sandstone bluffs, wooded sections, and notable elevation changes. The half marathon begins inside Starved Rock State Park and is described as a flat, fast course that passes through Ottawa neighborhoods and riverside sites. The 10K is new in 2026 and is an out-and-back course along Rt 71 on the banks of the Illinois River. The 5K starts and finishes at the same lines as the marathon, follows part of the marathon route, and finishes along the river; a portion of the 5K benefits local charities.
The marathon course will have 16 aid stations stocked with Gatorade; organizers plan to stock one station for the half and two for the marathon with GU. In 2026 the course will remain open for 6 hours. Packet pickup and the health expo are scheduled for Friday, May 8 at Rivers Edge event center, 401 W. Main Street, Ottawa. The listed venue for the event is 805 LaSalle Street, Ottawa, IL. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
