bg26.2 & half marathon and bg6000 2026

Description

Boston Marathon qualifying USATF Certified Course

The course starts (and finishes) at the Bowling Green Ballpark and runs a 13.1 mile loop through historic downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky and the beautiful campus of Western Kentucky University. All proceeds from the bg26.2 & half marathon go to the National MS Society in memory of Susan B. Riherd. All finishers will receive a finisher's medal along with post-race refreshments. Post-race stretches and massages will be available.

Start time for the bg26.2 & half marathon is 7:00 a.m. Central Time.

Marathoners will run the course twice

There will be 5 checkpoints on the course that all marathon runners must past and 2 checkpoints for the half marathoners.

If registered as a marathoner and only run one loop (13.1 mile), when crossing the finish line you will be a DNF.

Event Categories

Marathon

Half Marathon

6k (bg6000)

There is a 6 hour time limit on the race .

Marathon participants must maintain a 14:00min/mi pace or reach the halfway point of the course [mi 13.1] within 3 hours. There will not be any course support or police service/protection after the 6 hour mark. There will not be any course support after 1pm.

EXPO & PASTA DINNER

Packet pick-up, the expo, and pasta dinner will be held on Saturday, October 31st at Bowling Green Ballpark from 5 - 7pm.

RACE DAY PACKET PICKUP - Sunday, November 1st 6:00-6:30am @ BG Ballpark Concession Window (no packets will be given out after 6:30am)

The pasta dinner is free to each paid participant. Guest may purchase $3 tickets at the door .

Course Information:

Map and printable turn-by-turn instructions are available here: Race Maps

No Strollers or Dogs on the course :

The bg26.2 & half marathon complies with the recommendations of the RRCA since the bg26.2 & half marathon is an RRCA sanctioned event. The RRCA strongly recommends against the use of baby strollers/joggers by participants in road races if the child does not meet the age restriction outlined for the event. The bg26.2 & half marathon including the bg6000 will follow the RRCA guidelines and not permit strollers on the course. Since the bg26.2 is an open course, no roads are closed and parts of the course are limited to a bike lane, we feel that this could allow for a potential dangerous situation.

Things to keep in mind out on the course...

The bg26.2 is an open course with the exception of the coned lanes of UNIVERSITY BLVD, FAIRVIEW AVENUE, KENTUCKY STREET and ADAMS STREET. Please keep in mind that the side streets will be accessible and cars will be entering and exiting.

Running with Headphones? We suggest the bg26.2 "one-ear" policy: Leave your left ear free.

Please, no unauthorized cyclist. Due to insurance regulations and request from the BGPD, we cannot allow bicycles on the course unless they are official race crew bg26.2 cyclists. All official race crew bg26.2 cyclists will be wearing orange vests. Contact person for cyclist race crew is Randy Hansbrough.

Bibs MUST be visible at ALL times and placed on the front!

Important information about your bib:

Placement of your bib on the front is important for accurate timing. Spotters need to see your bib as you cross the finish line.

The photographers on the course will use your bib number to associate pictures with your name. If you want to receive the free download with your race day pictures, please attach your bib to the FRONT and it must be completely visible. They use "human taggers" and if they can't read your bib number, you won't get your free download!!

AWARDS

Awards for overall finishers are determined by gun times, chip times will be used to determine other award winners.

There will not be an awards ceremony. Look for the bg26.2 awards tent on the concourse area to claim your award. Bluegrass Timing will update the results board so check it to see if you are eligible for an award.

Marathon

1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards to bg2