Races Marathon · Bismarck, USA
Bismarck Marathon
Bismarck Marathon is a flat marathon in Bismarck, USA, held each September. An out-and-back route along the Missouri River from the State Capitol Grounds, mostly on paved roads and paths. The organiser calls it fast and flat, with newer sections through older Bismarck neighbourhoods. Mid-September mornings in Bismarck are usually cool and dry, around 5 to 20°C, with some wind off the plains. The Bismarck Marathon's flat profile means your pacing discipline, not the terrain, decides the day.
Page rebuilt 2026-11-14 · race facts not independently verified — confirm dates and entries on the official race site
When
September
next: Saturday 18 September 2027
Course
flat
Marathon
Conditions
Mid-September mornings in Bismarck are usually cool and dry, around 5 to 20°C, with some wind off the plains.
Racing this course well
An out-and-back route along the Missouri River from the State Capitol Grounds, mostly on paved roads and paths. The organiser calls it fast and flat, with newer sections through older Bismarck neighbourhoods.
The Bismarck Marathon's flat profile means your pacing discipline, not the terrain, decides the day.
Getting a place
- How you get in
- Open entry: first come, first served
- Entries open
- Registration for 2027 is listed as coming soon, with no opening date given
- Price
- $100 in January, rising in steps to $145 from 1 September (2026 race)
Official Bismarck Marathon site →Checked November 2026
Race day
- Next race
- Saturday 18 September 2027
- Field size
- 242 finishers in 2026
- Time limit
- Course closes at 2 pm
- Pacers
- Pace groups for 3:30, 3:40, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30 and 5:00 finish times
- Also on the day
- half-marathon, 10k, 5k, marathon relay
The course in numbers
The route follows the Missouri River on roads and paths, passing Riverwood Drive, Cottonwood Lake and South Meadows Park. Part of the course is on open roads with limited traffic control.
- Layout
- Out-and-back
- Surface
- Fully paved
- Course status
- USATF certified
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
Worth knowing
- The race is described by the organiser as North Dakota's longest-running marathon.
- Start and finish are at the North Dakota State Capitol Grounds.
- Finishers receive a custom medal, and the course has 17 water stations.
Pick your goal for Bismarck
Pace charts, weekly structure and timelines for the most common marathon goals:
The date shown is the one the organiser has announced. Change it if yours differs.
Build your training around Bismarck Marathon.
RunV works backwards from race day to today. Your plan adapts when life interrupts, and you approve every change. It does not adapt to this specific course — the pacing guidance above is where the course knowledge is.
Everything above stays free and complete — this is an optional next step, not a paywall.
Asked often
- When is the Bismarck Marathon?
- The next Bismarck Marathon is on Saturday 18 September 2027 in Bismarck, USA. It is held each September.
- Is the Bismarck Marathon course flat?
- An out-and-back route along the Missouri River from the State Capitol Grounds, mostly on paved roads and paths. The organiser calls it fast and flat, with newer sections through older Bismarck neighbourhoods.
- How do I enter the Bismarck Marathon?
- Open entry: first come, first served. Registration for 2027 is listed as coming soon, with no opening date given. Price: $100 in January, rising in steps to $145 from 1 September (2026 race).
- Is the Bismarck Marathon a Boston qualifier?
- Yes. The Bismarck Marathon is run on a certified course, so a time set here can be used to apply for the Boston Marathon.
- How should I train for the Bismarck Marathon?
- Build for the course you'll actually race at the Bismarck Marathon: flat terrain, September conditions. RunV Premium builds a training plan around your goal time and race date, and lets you adapt it when life interrupts the Bismarck build.
Not sure what to target? Predict your marathon time from a recent race →
More marathon races
Supplements research for this distance
Build for Bismarck — around your actual life
RunV engineers your block backwards from race day in September — and adapts it when training doesn't go to script. You approve every change.
