Heart of America Marathon
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Heart of America Marathon & Relay : Columbia, Missouri
The Heart of America Marathon & Relay takes place on September 7, 2026 at the Boone County History and Culture Center (Nifong Park) in Columbia, Missouri. The event offers a full marathon (26.2 miles) and a team relay with teams of two to four runners; each relay member registers and pays separately.
The certified 26.2 miles course starts and finishes at Nifong Park and follows rural roads and trails. The route includes sections on well‑maintained gravel roads and the Katy Trail, views along the Missouri River, Cooper’s Landing, Easley Hill, Pierpont General Store, and parts of Rock Bridge State Park. The course is an open course; runners must run single file where required.
Thirteen aid stations are provided with water and ice at every station and sports drink available starting at Cooper’s Landing; no nutrition is provided. There is a strict six hour time limit and a sweep vehicle and medical support will assist runners who cannot continue.
Relay legs and distances:
- Leg 1 : 3.8 miles (Start to Veterans United)
- Leg 2 : 7.7 miles (Veterans United to Cooper’s Landing)
- Leg 3 : 6.9 miles (Cooper’s Landing to Pierpont General Store)
- Leg 4 : 7.8 miles (Pierpont General Store to Finish)
Chip timing is used; awards are based on gun times while official results use chip times. Awards include overall and masters categories for the marathon, overall relay awards, and special awards for most improved, first-time marathon winners, and closest to the mean finishing time. The Columbia Track Club organizes the event. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
