Marathon Relay Registration

• • Sept. 1: $70 per runner

Registration fees for The Bismarck Marathon are non-refundable. Deferrals are not offered to future years. However, runners are welcome to use the transfer feature on Race Roster at their own expense to change to a different distance or runner.

Our route for the 2025 Bismarck Marathon will start and finish at the North Dakota State Capital Grounds!

Our full marathon route (same as marathon relay) is a fully paved course with breathtaking scenery along the Missouri River!

The race starts and finished right in front of the North Dakota State Capital Building, making for a picture-perfect finish. Plus, parts of the route now run through historic downtown Bismarck neighborhoods.

Water Station Location Descriptions

● 1: (Marathon mile 1 and 25, half mile 1 and 12) On N 1st St, east side of road, in front
of 409 N 1st St. Open: 7:00 AM. Closing estimate: 1:45 PM.
● 2: (Marathon mile 2.5 and 24, half mile 2.5 and 11) On Main Avenue, south side of
road, on the corner of Lake Ave and W Main Ave, west of Lake Ave. Open: 7:15 AM.
Closing estimate: 1:30 PM.
● 3: (Marathon and half mile 4): On path behind Broken Oar, near break in fence by
parking lot. Open: 7:15 AM. Closing estimate: 8:30 AM.
● 4: (Marathon and half mile 5): On path along Riverwood Drive, just east of the
entrance to Riverwood Golf Course. Open: 7:30 AM. Closing estimate: 8:45 AM.
● 5: (Marathon and half mile 6.5) On Munich Dr, on south side of road, between Reno
and Washington. Open 7:45 AM. Closing estimate: 9:15 AM.
● 6: (Marathon mile 8) On University Dr path, south side of road, just to the east of S
12th St. Open: 7:45 AM. Closing estimate: 9:30 AM.
● 7: (Marathon mile 9.75 and 10.25) On University Dr path, west side of road, at first
turn off south of E Burleigh Ave and south of United Tribes tunnel. Open: 8:00 AM.
Closing estimate: 10:15 AM.
● 8: (Marathon mile 11.5) On Cottonwood path, south of lake, near path intersection of
north and south trails. Open: 8:00 AM. Closing estimate: 10:30 AM.
● 9: (Marathon mile 12.5) On Cottonwood path, just prior to crossing Santa Fe. Access
through the soccer parking lot. Open: 8:15 AM. Closing estimate: 10:30 AM.
● 10: (Marathon mile 13.5) On Marietta Dr, where road travels east-west, south side of
road, mid way down road. Open: 8:15 AM. Closing estimate: 11:00 AM.
● 11: (Marathon mile 15) On Lennox Dr, north side of road, halfway between Peach Tree
Dr and Boston Dr. Open: 8:30 AM. Closing estimate: 11:15 AM.
● 12: (Marathon mile 16) On Burleigh bike path, at intersection with Meridian Dr, west of
Meridian Dr. Open: 8:30 AM. Closing estimate: 11:30 AM.
● 13: (Marathon mile 18) On Santa Maria Ln, east side of road, halfway down road.
Open: 8:45 AM. Closing estimate: Noon.
● 14: (Marathon mile 19.5) On Burleigh path, east of Tavis Rd at entrance to open land
near a tornado siren. Open: 9:00 AM. Closing estimate: 12:30 PM.
● 15: (Marathon mile 21, half mile 8) On Riverwood Drive path, just north of entrance to
Nishu Bowmen Club archery range. Open: 7:45 AM. Closing estimate: 12:45 PM.
● 16: (Marathon mile 22, half mile 8.5) On Riverwood Drive path, at maintenance
entrance to Riverwood golf course, just to the south of the W Bismarck Expy tunnel.
Open: 7:45 AM. Closing estimate: 1:00 PM.
● 17: (Marathon mile 23, half mile 10) On Riverfront Trail along Riverside Park Rd, in
front of Sertoma Community Center near Superslide Amusement Park. Open: 8:00
AM. Closing estimate: 1:15 PM.
● 18: (10k mile 2.5) On Ward Road bike path, at entrance to Lady J’s Catering (west
parking lot). Open: 7:30 AM. Closing estimate: 9:00 AM.
● 19: (10k mile 4.3, 5k mile 1.3) On N 1st St, south side of road just east of N Mandan
St. Open: 7:30 AM. Closing estimate: 9:30 AM.

Spiffy Biff Location Descriptions

● S1: (Capitol start / finish area): Quantity 36. 24 of them located near rear
parking lot for DOT, just west of the Sakakawea statue, south side of the road.
11 of them located south of finish line, on capitol loop, on east side of road,
north of the library entrance sidewalk. 1 located near start/finish line for race
announcer and timer use.
● S2: (Marathon mile 2.5 and 24, half mile 2.5 and 11) Quantity 5 on Main
Avenue, south side of road, on the corner of Lake Ave and W Main Ave, west of
Lake Ave.
● S3: (Marathon and half mile 5): Quantity 5 on path along Riverwood Drive, just
west of the entrance to Riverwood Golf Course.
● S4: (Marathon mile 7.5 and 13): Quantity 4 on South 3rd St, just south of
Ascension Church and north of drainage ditch, on the west side of 3rd St along
path that travels to the west along the drainage ditch.
● S5: (Marathon mile 11.5) Quantity 4 on Cottonwood path, south of lake, near
path intersection of north/south and east/west trails.
● S6: (Marathon mile 18) Quantity 3 on Santa Maria Ln, west side of road,
halfway down the road.
● S7: (Marathon mile 21, half mile 8) Quantity 4 on Riverwood Drive path, just
south of entrance to Nishu Bowmen Club archery range.
● S8: (Marathon mile 23, half mile 10) Quantity 3 on Riverfront Trail along
Riverside Park Rd, in front of Sertoma Community Center near Superslide
Amusement Park.
● S9: (10k mile 4.5, 5k mile 1.5) Quantity 5 on E Arikara Ave, south side of road,
near N 2nd St.
● S10: Quantity 1 located by crosswalk near Expressway tunnel to the west of
Riverwood golf course parking lot entrance for police/volunteer use.

Saturday, September 20 – Race Day Schedule

• The BNSF Railway Marathon Relay starts a 7:30 AM CT.
• The course closes at 2 PM CT.

This schedule is subject to change. The Bismarck Marathon will never change the schedule without notifying its registrants.

The following times are the pace times for the Full Marathon: 3:30, 3:40, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 5:00

The following times are the pace times for the Half Marathon: 1:50, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, 2:30

Pacers from On Pace Race

Send this to your teammates

• It can be a challenge for relay teams who do not know their team members and thus have difficulty finding their teammate when handing-off. It is important that teams communicate with each other to ensure everyone on the team knows who they will be handing off to during the event.
• Have your team wear something unique or a distinctive color to help them stick out from the crowd.
• It is your team’s responsibility to make sure each team member is at the exchange zone in plenty of time to make the hand-off of the ankle strap with the timing chip.

Distances

• 5.1 mi. – Riverwood Golf Course Parking Lot (at mile 5)
• 6.5 mi. – Cottonwood South Parking Lot (at mile 11.5)
• 6.2 mi. – Santa Maria Ln. between Voyager Pl. and Calypso Dr. (mile 17.75)
• 3.1 mi. – Nishu Bowmen Club (mile 20.75)
• 5.4 mi. – Finish line (ND State Capitol Grounds)

* Relay exchange zone 4 participants SHOULD NOT park in the Nishu Bowmen Club Archery parking lot*

The location of aid stations will be released when available before the race. The Bismarck Marathon route starts at the North Dakota State Capital Grounds.

Aid stations are located every 1 to 2 miles with water and Powerade.

At the finish line, we also have a recovery tent with Sanford athletic trainers and our MDU power-up station with bananas, chocolate milk, and other snacks to refuel.

An ambulance is also on-site at the event.

Marathon Relay Awards:

• Corporate Relay Winner: $500 to the charity of their choice, a traveling Bismarck Marathon trophy, and (5) Bismarck Marathon blankets
• Additional Categories of Relay Teams: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place awards, blankets for each member of the team

Categories:

• Corporate
• All Male
• All Female
• Co-Ed
• Masters (40+)

Parking at the North Dakota State Capital Grounds is limited and will fill up quickly on race day. 

The Bismarck Marathon and officials from the North Dakota State Capital are working together to create the best parking experience for all runners on race day. Stay tuned for an updated parking map with the best locations to park, where not to park, and more.

Parking will not be allowed along the main loop of the Capital Grounds to prioritize runner safety.

Race Packet Pick-up

All runners are sure to check-in, pick up their race bib & swag at the Bismarck SCHEELS prior to attending the race from 10 AM to 9 PM on Friday, September 19th.

More information can be found on the Packet Pick-Up page.