For the fourth year in a row, the City of St. Joseph is officially hosting the St. Joseph Marathon on September 26. Presented by Gray Manufacturing, this hometown race has grown to nearly 700 participants over the years and is expected to draw another great turnout for its 2026 event.
Hosted by the St. Joseph Sports Commission in partnership with the Junior League of St. Joseph, the marathon continues to attract runners from surrounding cities and states while showing off everything that makes St. Joseph special. It’s one of those events that not only brings people to town but also gives them a chance to experience our history and community in one grueling footrace.
Starting at 7 a.m., runners leave Civic Center Park in downtown St. Joseph to tackle the full 26.2-mile marathon. If you’re not much of a marathoner yourself, don’t worry; the event also features a half marathon, 10K, and 5K, so you can still get in on the fun without enduring the long trek. The course stretches from the north end to the south end of town, featuring many of the city’s landmarks while weaving through St. Joseph’s historic parkway system. We can’t think of a more unique way to experience the city than on foot alongside hundreds of fellow runners.
The full and half marathon courses are USATF-certified, meaning top competitors can officially qualify for the Boston Marathon right here in St. Joseph. You’ll find elite runners from around the region competing alongside first-time marathoners, with hundreds of volunteers, local businesses and spectators helping make race day something special. It’s remarkable to see so many people come together to put on an event of this scale. If you’re free that Saturday morning, come downtown, grab a cup of coffee and cheer on the athletes as they make their way through the city.
What better way to put St. Joseph on the map than by welcoming runners from all around to experience our community for themselves? Best of all, proceeds from the race benefit several Junior League of St. Joseph initiatives, as well as United Way of Greater St. Joseph.