How do I register for the Quad Cities Marathon?

Registration is open to all runners through Race Roster. There is no lottery or qualifying standard required. The registration window typically opens in late fall, so check the race website after the previous year's event to catch it early.

Is the Quad Cities Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is USATF certified and qualifies for Boston Athletic Association standards. The flat point-to-point layout makes it a popular choice for runners targeting a BQ.

What is the time limit?

The time limit is 7 hours, giving a wide range of runners the opportunity to finish.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course is essentially flat, with a net elevation change of zero feet. The total relief between the highest and lowest points is about 135 feet, spread gradually across the full distance. There are no significant climbs or steep descents.

What is the weather typically like on race day?

The race starts at 7:00 AM in late September, when morning temperatures are typically around 52°F. By midday the high can reach around 75°F, so runners finishing in the back half of the field may feel the heat build. Conditions are mostly sunny with low chance of rain.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the Quad Cities Marathon course is USATF certified, meaning it meets the standards required for official finishing times and Boston qualifying purposes.

Sun, Sep 27 · 2026Moline, ILSince 1998

Quad Cities Marathon

The Quad Cities Marathon runs point-to-point through the Illinois and Iowa communities along the Mississippi River, with cool September mornings and a flat, fast course that gives Boston-qualifying legs a real shot.

FlatOpen

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QUAD CITIES · US

Quad Cities

SUN, SEP 27

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 1998

The Quad Cities Marathon runs point to point across the Illinois-Iowa border, crossing the Mississippi River twice. The course is flat, net zero elevation, and USATF certified, which means most runners come here with a time goal in mind. Morning temperatures at the 7 AM start are usually cool, in the low 50s, and conditions are often good for a fast effort. By midday it can warm into the mid-70s, so if you go out easy and bank the cool air, you'll be in better shape late. Don't let the flat course tempt you into a hot first half.

This race is genuinely PR-friendly. The point-to-point layout gives you a true start-to-finish course to work with, not loops or out-and-backs. It qualifies for Boston, and the course has seen some seriously fast times. Registration is open through Race Roster, no lottery, no qualifying standard to get in. It typically opens in late fall for the following September. If you've been chasing a BQ or a personal best and want a low-drama, well-organized race without a big city price tag, this is a solid choice. Sign up early and show up fit.

Field size

—

BQ rate

—

Boston qualifier

Time limit

7:00

Generous cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:14:04

Kiplangat Terer

2013

Women

2:30:29

Damaris Areba

2022

The Course

Total ascent

—

Total descent

—

Net elevation

—

Highest point

689 ft

Lowest point

554 ft

Course shape

Point to point

Different start and finish

This point-to-point course carries a net elevation of zero feet, with the highest and lowest points separated by roughly 135 feet across the full distance. That range is spread gradually rather than concentrated in one brutal climb, so there are no major quad-busting descents and no walls to fear from sudden elevation gain. The course runs through urban and riverside stretches, which limits wind shelter on exposed segments. With no meaningful net drop, you earn whatever time you run here. Pacing discipline from the gun matters. The flat profile rewards even splits, so resist going out fast in the cool morning air and you will have something left in the final 10K.

View official course map Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

52°F

High

75°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Late September in the Quad Cities can go either way. The mornings tend to be cool and comfortable at the gun, but by the later miles you may be running into warmth if the afternoon sun comes out early. The average high sits in the mid-70s, so it's not a heat-management nightmare, but it's not a crisp fall day either. Keep an eye on the forecast in the week before and don't skip the early aid stations just because you feel fine.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration through Race Roster; registration window varies by year but typically opens in late fall.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

ORD

138 mi

from the start

≈ 218 min transferLonger haul

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into ORD, about 138 miles from the start, a longer haul by rideshare or transit, roughly a 218-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Moline, IL so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.