St. Joseph prepares for qualifying marathon
By Leah Rainwater
The St. Joseph, Missouri Marathon, put on by the St. Joseph Sports Commission, is back for another year.
The race will return on Saturday, Sept. 28, with the start/finish line at Civic Center Park.
Registration will close the day before the race. Participants will receive marathon gear, including a branded T-shirt, towel, finisher’s medal, swag bag and a race bib and timing chip.
Participants will also have free food and drink at the Post Race Chill Out at Civic Center Park.
Last year, the St. Joseph, Missouri Marathon drew 532 participants from 30 different states, and is expected to have over 600 participants for this year.
This is something that the Director of Development at the St. Joseph Sports Commission says will be great for St. Joe’s economy.
”That is an estimating economic impact of $191,000,” said Brett Esely. “That (number) is essentially based on number of participants, number of participants that we estimate will stay overnight, because they all won’t. That also takes into account that this is really a two day event, our packet-pickup is the day prior.”
With so many people traveling to St. Joe for this big event, Esely says he’s being precautious.
”We have folks from St. Joseph Fire Department, we have folks from the St. Joseph Police Department, Buchanan County EMS,” said Esely. “… Mosaic Life Care, who provides all of our medical assistance in the park and just general preventative care that day for anybody that might get on the route and get dehydrated. Those things happen.”
The marathon serves as a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon, where in 2023 the St. Joseph, Missouri Marathon had 12 racers hit qualifying times for the Boston Marathon.
A portion of the proceeds will go toward the Junior League of Greater St. Joseph.
