Mankato Marathon

Registration is open to all runners via Race Roster online. The entry window opens December 1, 2025, and online registration closes at 11:59pm on October 16, 2026. In-person registration is also available at the Scheels Wellness Expo on October 16. The marathon is capped at 500 participants, so don't wait until the last minute.

Yes, it is a certified Boston qualifier. The course is USATF certified, and your finish time is eligible for a BQ attempt. Keep in mind the rolling terrain makes it a tougher qualifier than a flat course, so plan your effort accordingly.

The time limit is 6 hours and 15 minutes.

The course is a loop with close to 900 feet of total climbing and a nearly flat net elevation. The gain and loss are distributed throughout rather than concentrated in one place, so you'll face rolling hills across the full distance rather than one big climb. It rewards even, effort-based pacing.

Average temperatures in mid-October run in the low-to-mid 40s at the start and climb into the mid-50s by late morning. Conditions are generally good for racing, but wind and overcast skies are common. Dress for the starting temperature and expect to warm up within the first few miles.

Recent finisher counts have been well under 500, making this a small-field race. The marathon is capped at 500 participants total, so it stays an intimate event with less crowding on the course.

Yes, the Mankato Marathon course is USATF certified, which means finish times are eligible for Boston qualifying purposes and other sanctioned race requirements.