Heart of America Marathon & Fun Team Relay

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

The Columbia Track Club Presents the 66th running of the Heart of America Marathon - the 2nd oldest continuously running marathon in the US and 6th annual Fun Team Relay to be held on Labor Day, Monday, September 1, 2025, 6AM. Labor Day, since 1960 ♥ Columbia, Missouri.

2024 Runner Instructions and Map (to be updated for 2025)

• History: Continuously running since 1960 – Be a part of history.
• Famous Hill: Home of the world-famous Easley Hill.
• Run Experience: Run the race with HEART! (heat, hills, and humidity included at no extra charge.)
• Time Limit: Please note: 6 hour time limit - Please do not ask us to extend the cutoff.

📍 Location Address

Boone County History and Culture Center (Nifong Park), 3801 Ponderosa St, Columbia, MO 65201

🕕 Starting Time

6:00 a.m. central daylight savings time (CDT), the first Monday in September.

💲 Marathon Pricing

• February 14 – May 26: $81.00 or less ($75.00 + $6.00 or less processing fee).
• May 27 – July 4: $102.20 or less ($95.00 + $7.20 or less processing fee).
• July 5 – August 25: $134.00 or less ($125.00 + $9.00 or less processing fee).
• August 26 - August 30 (noon): $159.50 or less ($150.00 + $9.50 or less processing fee).

(Shirt size not guaranteed if registering August 26 or later)

Final pricing depends on the number of people registered in one transaction. Please register as early as possible to get the shirt you want. Shirt deadline to be announced later.

💼 Fun Team Relay Pricing

Number of teams limited to 50.

• February 14 – May 26: $54.50 or less ($50.00 + $4.50 or less processing fee) per person: 2 - 4 person team.
• May 27 – July 4: $70.40 or less ($65.00 + $5.40 or less processing fee) per person: 2 - 4 person team.
• July 5 – August 25: $86.30 or less ($80.00 + $6.30 or less processing fee) per person: 2 - 4 person team.

NOTE: Each team member will register and pay separately. If you are a team captain, please instruct your team members to register no later than August 25. If you are the first team member signing up, we ask that you please strongly consider setting up a password for your team to avoid someone accidentally signing up for the wrong team. You will need to share this password with your team members so they can join your team. Also, do not join a team unless you have been invited by someone already on the team.

❌ Registration Guidelines

No Fun Team Relay registrations accepted after August 25. Please have any relay team changes submitted no later than August 30. Please contact us if any issues making changes online.

There is NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION.

🔄 Refund Policy

No refunds. Please consider purchasing race insurance (covers injury & illness, work travel conflict, severe weather, seriously ill family, layoffs/termination, mechanical breakdown). Please check the option to add or decline insurance as you check out.

🚶‍♀️ Transfer to Another Runner

Runners may transfer their entry as a gift to another runner (same event) until 8/29/25 by signing into their account. Transfer registration for Refund is not an option for this race but you can feel free to work out any payment arrangements with the person you transfer to. See https://help.runsignup.com/support/solutions/articles/17000062921-transfer-to-another-runner

🏥 Fitness for Event/Medical

No one should attempt this race without proper training and medical advice. Any runner must retire from the race at once if directed to do so by an event official or physician. A sweep vehicle will pick up runners who are not able to complete the marathon in the allotted time. THERE IS A SIX HOUR TIME LIMIT. The finish area will close at noon. Please do not ask us to extend the cutoff. This event is not recommended for participants under 16 years old. There will be medical support on the course and at the finish line.

⏱️ Chip Timing

Chip timing is by Kinetic Timing. Awards will be given based on gun times, while official results and records will be based on chip times.

📦 Packet Pickup

Sunday from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Boone County History and Culture Center (Nifong Park), 3801 Ponderosa St, Columbia, MO 65201. Race Day (Monday): 5:00 - 5:30 a.m. at the same location. No switching of shirt sizes at packet pick up. If we have extra sizes after the race, we might be able to swap your shirt.

We request that only 1 member per relay team pick up the packet. That person can distribute to your team members.

📞 Information Contact

“Like” Heart of America on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/heartofamericamarathon for updates and to send messages, or email the race directors at comoheart1960@gmail.com

🏞️ Course Description

26.2 miles starting at the Boone County History and Culture Center at Nifong Park, running 11 miles down to the Katy Trail, (formerly the MKT Trail Line, now part of the U.S Rails-to Trails system) for 1.5 miles along the scenic Missouri River, past Cooper’s Landing and the historic community of Easley, from where Easley Hill (Route N) affectionately takes its name. Picturesque rural landscape abounds along the winding uphill Route N. Passing the Pierpont General Store, a building which has stood since 1889, the course skirts Rock Bridge State Park before heading back toward Columbia, to Philips Lake, then back to the Boone County History and Culture Center. Please note, approximately 5.5 miles of the course is on well-maintained gravel roads/trail to include Smith Hatchery Rd, the Katy Trail, East Bonne Femme Church Rd and South Gans Creek Rd. This is an open course. Runners must run single file on trafficked roads.

🗺️ Course Certification

The course is USATF certified - # MO21024MU.

🗺️ Map of Course