Scroll Down for Course Maps & Spectator Viewing Locations
TIME: Both the full and half marathons will begin at 7 AM on Saturday, September 27, 2025. FULL MARATHON course support ends at 1:30 PM. HALF MARATHON course support ends at 10:30 AM.
COURSE: The full and half marathons will start and finish on Main Street near First Street in downtown Belleville, IL (close to 19 Public Square, Belleville 62220). The full marathon features a USTAF-certified course that qualifies for the Boston Marathon. The full marathon covers approximately 16 miles on city streets - including America's longest Main Street - and around 10 miles on the paved biking and walking trail of the St. Clair County Transit District. The half marathon also runs through city streets, showcasing America's longest Main Street. Scroll down to view course maps (we recommend viewing the links to the MapMyRun course maps).
COURSE SUPPORT AND TIME LIMITS: Water and Gatorade stations will be available approximately every two miles along the course, with Gu energy gels provided at various locations: around mile 10 for the half marathon, and at miles 11.5, 18, and 23 for the full marathon. Porta-potties will be situated at the start/finish line area and near all water stations. Medical assistance will also be on hand. Full marathon participants need to reach mile 13 by 10 AM; otherwise, they will be transported by an official race vehicle to a different point on the course, allowing them to finish with an unofficial time and receive a finisher medal. Half marathon runners must reach mile 6.5 by 8:50 AM and complete the race by 10:30 AM to obtain an official race time. If any runners remain on the course after volunteers have been dismissed, the participants must move to the sidewalks and adhere to traffic laws for their safety.
MILE MARKERS AND COURSE MARKERS: To guide full marathon participants, green arrows will be displayed along the road and trail. For half marathon runners, yellow arrows will be marked on the roadway. The mile markers for both the full and half marathons will look the same (white and horizontally aligned) until the half marathon turnaround point on 95th Street. Beginning at mile 6.5 on 95th Street, half marathon mile markers will be labeled “Half Marathon,” feature a yellow background, and will be oriented vertically instead of horizontally. After mile 6.5, all horizontally positioned white mile markers will indicate the full marathon. A yellow feather flag on 95th Street will signify the turnaround for the half marathon.
SPECTATOR VIEWING SUGGESTIONS
Half Marathon and First Half of the Full Marathon
- Catch both the half and full marathoners on their way out (at about mile 3) and on their way back (at about mile 11 for the full marathoners and at about mile or 10 for the half marathoners) at Geo's Wings & More (4307 West Main Street, Belleville, IL).
- Catch both the half and full marathoners on their way out (at about mile 4) and on their way back (at about mile 10 for the full marathoners and at about mile 9 for the half marathoners) at Althoff Catholic High School (5401 West Main Street, Belleville, IL)
Second Half of the Full Marathon
- Catch the full marathoners on their way out (at about mile 15) and on their way back (at about mile 25) at North End Park (1099 North Douglas Avenue, Belleville, 62220). If you plan to catch your runner on their way back, be advised that this is very close to the end so you may have trouble making it back to see them at the finish line.
- Catch the full marathoners on their way out and way back at the MetroLink College Station at Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) (2622 Carlyle Avenue, Belleville, IL 62221) or near the marathon turnaround at the Belleville East YMCA (2627 Carlyle Avenue, Belleville, IL 62221) (these are in the mile 20 to 21 range).
