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Bismarck Marathon

September 19, 2026 · 7:00 AMBismarck, North Dakota, United States

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Race snapshot

Race Day

61°F

50–75°F · Feels mild

Total elevation gain

479ft

Relatively flat course · Net elevation change +0 ft

Participants

1,715

Medium-sized race

Crowd Rating

3/ 10

Moderate spectator support

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The Lowdown

The Bismarck Marathon is North Dakota's longest-running marathon, first held in 1981 and now in its fifth decade under the Missouri Valley Family YMCA. The out-and-back full marathon course parallels the Missouri River before winding through historic downtown Bismarck neighborhoods, and its USATF certification (course code ND26007TRR) makes it an official Boston Marathon and NYC Marathon qualifier. In 2025 roughly 8.3% of the full marathon field ran Boston-qualifying times, and the wider race weekend drew 1,715 registrations across all events. The course is mostly flat: the region's rolling prairie terrain produces about 482 feet (146 m) of elevation gain and loss over the full marathon distance, a modest profile that has helped Bismarck earn one of the highest course-speed ratings of any U.S. marathon. All event proceeds benefit local health and wellness non-profits. For 2026, the Full Marathon and Marathon Relay have already sold out, but the Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, BisBark, and Kids Mini Marathon remain open for registration through Race Roster.

Course Highlights: 01North Dakota State Capitol grounds — start and finish line for all race-day events
02Missouri River — the marathon and half marathon courses parallel the riverfront for much of the out-and-back route
03Riverwood Golf Course — the course passes the entrance along Riverwood Drive
04Historic downtown Bismarck neighborhoods — later miles of the marathon route wind through the city's older residential streets
Also on this race weekend: Half marathon · 10K · 5K
Time Limit: 7 hours
Boston Qualifier: This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.

Entry Methods: Online Registration (Race Roster)
Eligibility: No minimum age to participate in any distance (per official FAQ)
Runners must be 18 or older on race day for the finishing time to count toward Boston Marathon qualification
Strollers are not permitted on course without advance Race Director approval
Dogs are not permitted on the marathon course; BisBark is the designated dog event
Course closes at 2:00 PM CT (7-hour limit from the 7:00 AM start)
Required Documents: Signed liability waiver
Photo ID for in-person packet pickup
Cancellation & Refund Policy: No published refund policy is available on official pages. Race Roster events of this type are typically non-refundable and non-deferrable.

01: The 2025 edition was the 44th annual running, making the Bismarck Marathon North Dakota's longest-running marathon.
02: Independent course-rating site findmymarathon.com scores the course 99.02, ranking it among the fastest-rated marathon courses in the United States.
03: All net proceeds from the race weekend are donated to local non-profits supporting health and wellness in the Bismarck-Mandan area.

Prepare for This Race

Pace CalculatorPlan splits for marathon Race PredictorPredict your marathon time BQ CalculatorBQ-eligible course Fuel PlannerPlan nutrition for marathon, moderate weather Difficulty Analyzer479ft gain, 61°F avg, marathon Training PacesTraining zones for marathon

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