Series Dates:&nbsp;Saturday, July 11 &ndash; Friday, July 17, 2026
Race Times:&nbsp;Ohio and Michigan will begin at 7:00 AM (ET). Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota will begin at 6:00 AM (CT).
Early Start:&nbsp;Yes, optional for marathon, half marathon, and 50K only. One hour before Regular Start, every day.&nbsp;Highly recommended for participants expecting a 6+ hour finish time.
Packet Pickup Options
<ul>
<li>Pre-Series Packet Pickup:&nbsp;Friday, July 10, 4-5:30 PM &ndash; Location: Defiance County Fairgrounds in Hicksville, Ohio.</li>
<li>Race Day Packet Pickup/Registration:&nbsp;90 minutes before Regular Start (30 minutes before Early Start on race day, at the start line.</li>
</ul>
Time limit:&nbsp;None. We have a &ldquo;no runner left behind&rdquo; policy, and we happily stay until the final finisher crosses the line. Walkers are always welcome!
Pets/strollers:&nbsp;Pets are not allowed, for the safety and comfort of our runners/walkers; you&rsquo;re welcome to bring a stroller if you have small children.
Group dinners, hotels, and airports:&nbsp;Check&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1401168363431179/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Heartland&nbsp;Series Facebook Group</a>.
Hotel Searches:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Hicksville?g2lb=2502548%2C2503771%2C2503781%2C4258168%2C4270442%2C4306835%2C4317915%2C4371334%2C4401769%2C4419364%2C4429192%2C4509341%2C4515404%2C4545890%2C4561951%2C15891619%2C4270859%2C4284970%2C4291517&amp;hl=en-US&amp;gl=us&amp;ssta=1&amp;ap=SAEwAFqpAQoFCJYBEAAiA1VTRCoWCgcI5g8QBRgMEgcI5g8QBRgNGAEgAbABAFgBaAFyBAgCGACaATESCEhpYXdhdGhhGiUweDg3OTU2MjlmMTkwMjdmZmQ6MHhiZjMyZjIwNjkzZDA1OGJlogERCggvbS8wejh6XxIFTWlhbWmqAQoKAggcEgIIcxgBqgEKCgIIERICCDgYAaoBDgoCCDUSAggTEgIIMRgBkgECIAFoAA&amp;rp=QABIAg&amp;ictx=1&amp;utm_campaign=sharing&amp;utm_medium=link&amp;utm_source=htls&amp;ts=CAESCgoCCAMKAggDEAAaVQo3EjMyJTB4ODgzZGU1MjQ0NzkxNDc2MToweDM2Mzk3OTY1YmEyNDU3ZTk6CkhpY2tzdmlsbGUaABIaEhQKBwjmDxAFGA4SBwjmDxAFGA8YATICCAEqCwoHKAE6A1VTRBoA&amp;ved=0CAAQ5JsGahgKEwj4v52LgPzxAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQtAQ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">OH</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Niles?ap=SAEqVAoSCfTOoaXPykRAEZwdxoIOllXAEhIJdlhEfv33REARTFPnc9aJVcAaKgobEXS4Vnvyj1XAGbUT85Fm4URACZyUtdf52wRBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQTACWsoBCgUIrwEQACIDVVNEKhYKBwjiDxAMGBcSBwjiDxAMGBgYASgAcgIIAooBVAoSCX7rDiKY0ERAEa8mucK_lVXAEhIJDAJw2r39REAROUr0s4eJVcAaKgobEXS4Vrujj1XAGcV2P_4q50RACQW4kY452ARBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQZoBLhIFTmlsZXMaJTB4ODgxMTJhZWY1NGFiNDAxNToweDY4Yzk4ZDNjNzU3YzkyMjmiARIKCS9tLzAxM2R6MRIFTmlsZXOSAQIgAWgA&amp;g2lb=4181926%2C4208993%2C4209588%2C4223281%2C4227717%2C4207631%2C4215556%2C4220469&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;un=0&amp;rp=QAA&amp;ictx=1&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjisO3fkKzfAhXona0KHVB8AZAQtgMIYA&amp;hrf=CgUIrwEQACIDVVNEKhYKBwjiDxAMGBcSBwjiDxAMGBgYASgAcgIIAooBVAoSCfTOoaXPykRAEZwdxoIOllXAEhIJdlhEfv33REARTFPnc9aJVcAaKgobEXS4Vnvyj1XAGbUT85Fm4URACZyUtdf52wRBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQZoBLhIFTmlsZXMaJTB4ODgxMTJhZWY1NGFiNDAxNToweDY4Yzk4ZDNjNzU3YzkyMjmiARIKCS9tLzAxM2R6MRIFTmlsZXOSAQIgAQ&amp;tcfs=EiwKCS9tLzAxM2R6MRIFTmlsZXMaGAoKMjAxOC0xMi0yMxIKMjAxOC0xMi0yNBgCUgA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">MI</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Portage?ap=SAEqVAoSCVHpdOdxxkRAEcoq4kvbzFXAEhIJhTUVdsTRREAR9if-Ys3JVcAaKgobEWApcFdUy1XAGWsPxS4bzERACevE5yvM6eRAGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQTACWnYKBQiWARAAIgNVU0QqFgoHCOIPEAwYFxIHCOIPEAwYGBgBKAByAggCmgEwEgdQb3J0YWdlGiUweDg4MTFiZTA5MzIzOWI5YjE6MHg0YjM4YzgwOTQ2MjhlYTQyogETCggvbS8wc3BnYhIHUG9ydGFnZZIBAiABaAA&amp;g2lb=4181926%2C4208993%2C4209588%2C4223281%2C4227717%2C4207631%2C4215556%2C4220469&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;un=0&amp;rp=QAA&amp;ictx=1&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjisO3fkKzfAhXona0KHVB8AZAQtgMIYA&amp;hrf=CgUIlgEQACIDVVNEKhYKBwjiDxAMGBcSBwjiDxAMGBgYASgAcgIIAooBVAoSCVHpdOdxxkRAEcoq4kvbzFXAEhIJhTUVdsTRREAR9if-Ys3JVcAaKgobEWApcFdUy1XAGWsPxS4bzERACevE5yvM6eRAGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQZoBMBIHUG9ydGFnZRolMHg4ODExYmUwOTMyMzliOWIxOjB4NGIzOGM4MDk0NjI4ZWE0MqIBEwoIL20vMHNwZ2ISB1BvcnRhZ2WSAQIgAQ&amp;tcfs=Ei0KCC9tLzBzcGdiEgdQb3J0YWdlGhgKCjIwMTgtMTItMjMSCjIwMTgtMTItMjQYAlIA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">IN</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Fulton?ap=SAEqVAoSCXBMpmF91kRAEdyAXIP6kVbAEhIJeA97z5oDRUARHBmydMKFVsAaKgobEfxMB3zei1bAGfStkBgM7URACSyreL9l1ARBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQTACWssBCgUIlgEQACIDVVNEKhYKBwjiDxAMGBcSBwjiDxAMGBgYASgAcgIIAooBVAoSCcxa6i-O1kRAESJbXAPIj1bAEhIJotgZhqsDRUAR1j6y9I-DVsAaKgobEfxMB_yriVbAGbcZAtsc7URACcRKKtVa1ARBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQZoBLxIGRnVsdG9uGiUweDg3ZTI2MzMwYTdkNjEzOTU6MHgzMWY2MjVkOGI4Mzg1MWM4ogESCggvbS8wc2o1OBIGRnVsdG9ukgECIAFoAA&amp;g2lb=4181926%2C4208993%2C4209588%2C4223281%2C4227717%2C4207631%2C4215556%2C4220469&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;un=0&amp;rp=QAA&amp;ictx=1&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjisO3fkKzfAhXona0KHVB8AZAQtgMIYA&amp;hrf=CgUIlgEQACIDVVNEKhYKBwjiDxAMGBcSBwjiDxAMGBgYASgAcgIIAooBVAoSCXBMpmF91kRAEdyAXIP6kVbAEhIJeA97z5oDRUARHBmydMKFVsAaKgobEfxMB3zei1bAGfStkBgM7URACSyreL9l1ARBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQZoBLxIGRnVsdG9uGiUweDg3ZTI2MzMwYTdkNjEzOTU6MHgzMWY2MjVkOGI4Mzg1MWM4ogESCggvbS8wc2o1OBIGRnVsdG9ukgECIAE&amp;tcfs=EiwKCC9tLzBzajU4EgZGdWx0b24aGAoKMjAxOC0xMi0yMxIKMjAxOC0xMi0yNBgCUgA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">IL</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Clinton?ap=SAEqVAoSCdzGA1Rb1URAEdU-Isppk1bAEhIJsp7pWXoCRUARA8FyuzGHVsAaKgobEex_ysJNjVbAGcey9tbq60RACbtEkB4i1QRBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQTACWs0BCgUIlgEQACIDVVNEKhYKBwjiDxAMGBcSBwjiDxAMGBgYASgAcgIIAooBVAoSCSFrWQZj00RAEX-qJkphlFbAEhIJ5aKR0YQARUARWVVuOymIVsAaKgobEex_ykJFjlbAGQOH9evz6URACfvKUo5p1gRBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQZoBMBIHQ2xpbnRvbholMHg4N2UyNjAyZWYxNjU2MjM1OjB4YTM5MzQwMzBhOTMyYWFmZaIBEwoIL20vMHN0ajcSB0NsaW50b26SAQIgAWgA&amp;g2lb=4181926%2C4208993%2C4209588%2C4223281%2C4227717%2C4207631%2C4215556%2C4220469&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;un=0&amp;rp=QAA&amp;ictx=1&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjisO3fkKzfAhXona0KHVB8AZAQtgMIYA&amp;hrf=CgUIlgEQACIDVVNEKhYKBwjiDxAMGBcSBwjiDxAMGBgYASgAcgIIAooBVAoSCdzGA1Rb1URAEdU-Isppk1bAEhIJsp7pWXoCRUARA8FyuzGHVsAaKgobEex_ysJNjVbAGcey9tbq60RACbtEkB4i1QRBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQZoBMBIHQ2xpbnRvbholMHg4N2UyNjAyZWYxNjU2MjM1OjB4YTM5MzQwMzBhOTMyYWFmZaIBEwoIL20vMHN0ajcSB0NsaW50b26SAQIgAQ&amp;tcfs=Ei0KCC9tLzBzdGo3EgdDbGludG9uGhgKCjIwMTgtMTItMjMSCjIwMTgtMTItMjQYAlIA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">IA</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Sparta?ap=SAEqVAoSCfFWq1dbykVAEftP8NlfwFbAEhIJuS18nJ8hRkARBUBcre6nVsAaKgobEQBIpkMntFbAGVXCE3r99UVACT5BhihnJBRBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQTACWnUKBQiWARAAIgNVU0QqFgoHCOIPEAwYFxIHCOIPEAwYGBgBKAByAggCmgEvEgZTcGFydGEaJTB4ODdmZTkwOTlhMTdlODcwYjoweGJhOTQ0MzUxZTk3ZGRhN2OiARMKCS9tLzAxbW00ORIGU3BhcnRhkgECIAFoAA&amp;g2lb=4181926%2C4208993%2C4209588%2C4223281%2C4227717%2C4207631%2C4215556%2C4220469&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;un=0&amp;rp=QAA&amp;ictx=1&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjisO3fkKzfAhXona0KHVB8AZAQtgMIYA&amp;hrf=CgUIlgEQACIDVVNEKhYKBwjiDxAMGBcSBwjiDxAMGBgYASgAcgIIAooBVAoSCfFWq1dbykVAEftP8NlfwFbAEhIJuS18nJ8hRkARBUBcre6nVsAaKgobEQBIpkMntFbAGVXCE3r99UVACT5BhihnJBRBGgYIlgIQsQUlmplRQZoBLxIGU3BhcnRhGiUweDg3ZmU5MDk5YTE3ZTg3MGI6MHhiYTk0NDM1MWU5N2RkYTdjogETCgkvbS8wMW1tNDkSBlNwYXJ0YZIBAiAB&amp;tcfs=Ei0KCS9tLzAxbW00ORIGU3BhcnRhGhgKCjIwMTgtMTItMjMSCjIwMTgtMTItMjQYAlIA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">WI</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/St.%20Cloud?g2lb=4208993%2C4209588%2C4223281%2C4207631%2C4220469%2C4226113&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;un=0&amp;q=st.%20cloud%2C%20mn%20hotels&amp;rp=OAFAAA&amp;ictx=1&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiOipiJtu7fAhXHyoMKHZ_oBEYQjGoIbA&amp;hrf=CgUIrwEQACIDVVNEKhYKBwjjDxABGBsSBwjjDxABGBwYASgAmgELEglTdC4gQ2xvdWSiARYKCS9tLzAxM2Y5dhIJU3QuIENsb3VkkgECIAE&amp;tcfs=EjAKCS9tLzAxM2Y5dhIJU3QuIENsb3VkGhgKCjIwMTktMDEtMjcSCjIwMTktMDEtMjhSAA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">MN</a>.
Discounts:&nbsp;$10 discount on marathon/half marathon to active military, as well as members of any club that will list these events on their calendar. (Active.com requires a code to receive discount, which you can find on the club&rsquo;s site or by contacting us.) We also offer a discount for local participants;&nbsp;<a href="https://mainlymarathons.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">contact us</a>&nbsp;for details.
Food/aid stations:&nbsp;Due to our unique multi-loop course setup, we have one giant &ldquo;aid station,&rdquo; with more food and drink than you could ever need! Ask anyone who&rsquo;s run at least one of our races; we&rsquo;ve got everything from fruit to jelly beans to sandwiches, water to Gatorade to hot coffee, and everything in between. Way more than just granola bars and bananas&ndash;we even have our very own mobile kitchen,&nbsp;<a href="https://mainlymarathons.com/loony-lunchbox/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Loony Lunchbox</a>!
What about the bling?
All participants, regardless of distance, receive a shirt, a Starter Medal (traditional medal with ribbon), a Year Tab Medal (year of completion), and a State Medal (in the shape of the state and details specific to the state) for each state/race they complete in the series. A bonus Series Finisher Medal is earned by those completing all days/states in a series. All of the medals then connect to make a string of bling!
We even give a special award to each person participating in his or her first full or half marathon!
The best part, the caboose medal, which is earned by the final finisher of each marathon and half marathon!
Registration information is below. You may do any number of races; special medals are awarded to those who complete all seven!

Heartland Series - IA - Race Reviews