2025 Belleville Main Street Marathon & Half Marathon
Saturday, September 27
Course
The full and half marathons will begin and end on Main Street around First Street in historic downtown Belleville, IL. The full marathon course will be certified and is a Boston Marathon-qualifying course. The FULL MARATHON will be on about 16 miles of city streets, including America's longest Main Street, and about 10 miles on the St. Clair County Transit District's paved biking/walking trail. The HALF MARATHON will be on city streets, including America's longest Main Street. The courses are on open roads and open trails. Course support ends at 1:30 PM for the FULL MARATHON and 10:30 AM for the HALF MARATHON. In addition, full marathon participants must be at mile 13 by 10 AM or they will be transported by an official race vehicle to another point on the course and allowed to cross the finish line with an unofficial time and to receive a finisher medal. Half marathon participants must by at mile 6.5 by 8:50 AM and complete the course by 10:30 AM to receive an official race time. If runners of either race are on the course after volunteers have been dismissed, those runners must move to the sidewalks.
MILE MARKERS AND COURSE MARKERS: To help direct full marathoners, green arrows will be placed on the road/trail. To direct half marathoners, yellow arrows will be placed on the road. Mile markers for both the full and half marathons will have the same appearance (white, positioned horizontally) until the half marathon turnaround on 95th Street. Starting at mile 6.5 on 95th Street, half marathon mile markers will say “Half Marathon,” will have a yellow background, and will be positioned vertically versus horizontally. After mile 6.5, all white mile marker signs that are positioned horizontally are for the full marathon. A yellow feather flag on 95th Street will mark the half marathon turnaround.
Packet Pickup
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 (note: there are 2 options at different times of the day)
10 AM to 5:00 PM Toolen’s Running Start, 3260 Green Mount Crossing Drive, Shiloh, IL 62269.
6:00 to 8:00 PM Bennie's Pizza Pub, 113 E. Main Street, Belleville, IL 62220.
RACE DAY
5:30 to 6:30 AM Saturday, September 27, at near the start line near Main Street and First Street.
Course Hydration/Gu
Water stations that also will provide lemon lime flavored Gatorade will be located about every 2 miles on the course. Gu will be available at several locations (approximately mile 10 for the half marathon and approximately miles 11.5, 18, and 23 for the full marathon).
Restrooms
Porta-potties/restrooms will be located at the start/finish line area and near all water stations on the course.
Finisher Medals/Awards/Results
All race finishers will receive a medal at the finish line. Awards will be given to the top 3 overall male and female finishers, overall male and female Master’s finishers, and male and female wheelchair finishers and to the top 3 finishers in each of the male and female age group categories. In place of an official awards ceremony, awards will be distributed near the Toolen’s Running Start timing trailer as results become available and are posted. During the event, results will be posted on signage near the timing trailer. Final results will be uploaded to the marathon website after the event has concluded. At this time, results via text or email are not available. Awards will not be mailed but can be picked up at Toolen’s Running Start beginning September 30.
Post-Race Refreshments
Post-race refreshments include pizza from Belleville's Bennie's Pizza Pub and apples from Belleville's Eckert's Orchard; a specially brewed beer (for those ages 21 and older) from Belleville's Shoehorn Brewery, water, Gatorade, and other snacks. *Shoehorn Brewery's commemorative lager also will be available to purchase in 4 packs for those ages 21 and older (more information to come).
Parking
Free parking is available at numerous city owned parking lots indicated below or curbside where allowed, including the following (please do not park in business lots as many businesses are open Saturday):
Race-Day Taping and Stretching
ApexNetwork Physical Therapy staff will provide taping before the race from 6 to 6:45 AM near the start/finish line and stretching after the race.
Maps for Runner and Spectators Here are links to maps for the full and half marathon to get a better of view of the course and to share with family and friends who are planning to cheer you on. Both races begin at 7 AM.
Full Marathon: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5014871230
Half Marathon: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5210526790
Recommended Viewing Locations for Spectators Half Marathon and First Half of the Full Marathon
Second Half of the Full Marathon
Race-Day Photos
RACE DAY PHOTOS: Rutster Photography will be capturing professional race-day photographs, which will be available to download for FREE at the company's Belleville Main Street Marathon gallery (click here).
Post-Race Locker Rooms/Showers
The YMCA at 200 S. Illinois St., which is a few blocks from the finish line, offers runners use of its showers and locker rooms. To take advantage of this offer, you will need a state ID and to complete a waiver that will be available at packet pickup.
The Streaker Award
Participants who ran EACH of the 7 past in-person Belleville Main Street Marathons (2016-2019, 2021-2023) will be recognized with our commemorative Streaker Award. Please ask for your award at packet pickup.
Event Medical Support
BJC HealthCare Memorial Hospital staff and other medical officials will be prepared to treat injuries that may occur during this event, including a medical tent and personnel at the start/finish line area and medical staff on the course.
FOR MORE INFO: For specific questions, e-mail info@bellevillemarathon.com or contact Toolen’s Running Start at 618-628-9898 or www.runningstartsports.com.
PLATINUM SPONSORS