IronHorse Full Marathon

About the Event

The IronHorse Races include a Full Marathon (Boston Qualifier), Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Run. All are USATF Sanctioned.  The Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K are USATF Certified.  The Full Marathon takes place on the Wapsi-Great Western Line (WGWL) Trail located in Riceville, Iowa and the Shooting Star Trail in Minnesota.  The Half Marathon, 10K and 5K take place on the WGWL Trail in Iowa.  The WGWL Trail has a Northern Branch and a Southern Branch.  The races take place on the Rails-to-Trails recognized paved and concrete laid Northern Branch.  The Iowan WGWL Trail is the first and official interstate trail connecting to Minnesota's Shooting Star Trail.

5K and 10K runners will experience an out-n-back course on railroad level grades on a paved trail.  Full and Half Marathon runners will experience a point-to-point course through winding woodlands on a railroad level grade paved trail.  Full Marathon runners will also experience a four-mile section on crushed rock at the midway point.  

Safety is paramount.  The race is located largely on a dedicated recreational trail.  Shuttles provide Full and Half Marathon racers transportation to the starting points.* 

Starting points:

Full Marathon starting point is the Shooting Star Trailhead in LeRoy, Minnesota. 

Half Marathon starting point is the Minnesota/Iowa stateline 

10K and 5K starting point is the WGWL Trailhead in Riceville. 

Course types:

Full and Half Marathon courses are point-to-point.

10K and 5K course is an out-n-back. 

Aid stations and port-a-potties are located along the race route.  The finish of all races is at the WGWL Trailhead Welcome Center in Riceville, Iowa (110 Main Street).  

Scenery is extraordinary.  Rural and quiet, yet full of American beauty like cattle grazing, Amish farming by horse and hand, modern energy advancements in the form of a 30+ wind turbine farm, a 240 acre Oak savanna, a wetland boardwalk, the small village of McIntire, and the wide expanse of farmland being planted in May.

Awards:

Awards given to the first three finishers in each gender in each race. 

Awards arenotgiven out by age category. 

All Full and Half Marathon registrants who finish will receive a finishers award (this is not a typical medal).  

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