RACE DAY INFO
JOIN US ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 10th ANNIVERSARY!!!
(The first 900 registrants will receive a FREE pair of goodr sunglasses!)
TIME: Both the full and half marathons will begin at 7 AM on Saturday, September 26, 2026. 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 begin and end on Main Street near First Street in downtown Belleville, IL (near 19 Public Square, Belleville 62220). The full marathon course is a USTAF-certified Boston Marathon-qualifying course. The FULL MARATHON is 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 is on city streets, including America's longest Main Street. Course maps can be found here.
COURSE SUPPORT AND TIME LIMITS: Water and Gatorade will be available about every 2 miles on the course, and 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). Porta-potties will be located at the start/finish line area and near all water stations on the course. Medical support also will be provided. 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 remain on the course after volunteers have been dismissed, those runners must move to the sidewalks and follow applicable traffic laws.
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 and will be marked accordingly. A yellow feather flag on 95th Street will mark the half marathon turnaround.
RESULTS
Race results will be published live with on-course timing splits. Race results can be viewed on your phone or at on-site kiosks during the event. All participants will receive text notifications at all on-course splits and their finish time immediately upon crossing the timing mats. At the conclusion of the race, all finishers will receive an email of their official race results and a link to the results on Athlinks. All past and present race results can be found on Athlinks. Results can be found at: BELLEVILLE MARATHON RESULTS (https://www.athlinks.com/event/170780)
PACKET PICKUP
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 (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: in the front courtyard at Bennie's Pizza Pub, 113 E. Main Street, Belleville, IL 62220.
RACE DAY
- 5:30 to 6:30 AM on Main Street near 19 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220
FINISHER MEDALS/AWARDS
All race finishers will receive a medal at the finish line. Event shirts will be provided at packet pickup. Awards will be given to the Top 3 Overall Male and Female, Overall Male and Female Master’s (40+), Male and Female Wheelchair finishers and to the Top 3 Finishers in each of the following Male and Female age group categories: 18-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; and 70 & older. Due to liability and safety concerns, the age limit requirement of being 18 or older will be enforced for the FULL MARATHON. There are no age restrictions for the half marathon.
POST-RACE CELEBRATION
Post-race refreshments include pizza from Belleville's Bennie's Pizza Pub (pepperoni, cheese, and vegan) and assorted snacks and a custom brew* to commemorate the event (*for those ages 21 and older) from Belleville's Shoehorn Brewing. The commemorative brew will be available to purchase in 4-packs at the brewery (225 E. Main St.) for those ages 21 and older starting a few days before the race and continuing post-race while supplies last.
PARKING
FREE AND CONVENIENT 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):
FREE parking garage at 1 Lincoln Street, which is a short walk to the start/finish line (RECOMMENDED). The garage will be monitored by county officials.
Lot at corner of North High Street and East A Street (behind Lincoln Theatre)
Lot at South Jackson and East Washington (behind Copper Fire)
Lot at corner of North 3rd Street and West Main (across from Governor French school)
MAPS FOR RUNNERS 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.
Recommended Viewing Locations for Spectators
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).
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 8 past in-person Belleville Main Street Marathons (2016-2019, 2021-2024) 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.
RACE ORGANIZERS
Belleville Running Club and Toolen's Running Start
Race proceeds benefit the Belleville Recreation Department, the Community Interfaith Food Pantry in Belleville, and a college scholarship fund for local high school runners.
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.
