Heartland Series: July 11-17, 2026
Day 1 (Sat, July 11): Hicksville, Ohio
Day 2 (Sun, July 12): Niles, Michigan
Day 3 (Mon, July 13): Portage, Indiana
Day 4 (Tue, July 14): Fulton, Illinois
Day 5 (Wed, July 15): Clinton, Iowa
Day 6 (Thu, July 16): Sparta, Wisconsin
Day 7 (Fri, July 17): St. Cloud, Minnesota
Register Online: HERE!!
Mail-in Registration Form: HERE!!
Quick Overview
Series Dates: Saturday, July 11 – Friday, July 17, 2026
Race Times: 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: Yes, optional for marathon, half marathon, and 50K only. One hour before Regular Start, every day. Highly recommended for participants expecting a 6+ hour finish time.
| Series Day | Date | Early Start | Regular Start | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Saturday, July 11 | 6:00 AM (ET) | 7:00 AM (ET) | Hicksville, OH |
| Day 2 | Sunday, July 12 | 6:00 AM (ET) | 7:00 AM (ET) | Niles, MI |
| Day 3 | Monday, July 13 | 5:00 AM (CT) | 6:00 AM (CT) | Portage, IN |
| Day 4 | Tuesday, July 14 | 5:00 AM (CT) | 6:00 AM (CT) | Fulton, IL |
| Day 5 | Wednesday, July 15 | 5:00 AM (CT) | 6:00 AM (CT) | Clinton, IA |
| Day 6 | Thursday, July 16 | 5:00 AM (CT) | 6:00 AM (CT) | Sparta, WI |
| Day 7 | Friday, July 17 | 5:00 AM (CT) | 6:00 AM (CT) | St. Cloud, MN |
Packet Pickup Options
- Pre-Series Packet Pickup: Friday, July 10, 4-5:30 PM – Location: Defiance County Fairgrounds in Hicksville, Ohio.
- Race Day Packet Pickup/Registration: 90 minutes before Regular Start (30 minutes before Early Start on race day, at the start line.
Time limit: None. We have a “no runner left behind” policy, and we happily stay until the final finisher crosses the line. Walkers are always welcome!
Pets/strollers: Pets are not allowed, for the safety and comfort of our runners/walkers; you’re welcome to bring a stroller if you have small children.
Group dinners, hotels, and airports: Check Heartland Series Facebook Group.
Hotel Searches: OH, MI, IN, IL, IA, WI, and MN.
Discounts: $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’s site or by contacting us.) We also offer a discount for local participants; contact us for details.
Food/aid stations: Due to our unique multi-loop course setup, we have one giant “aid station,” with more food and drink than you could ever need! Ask anyone who’s run at least one of our races; we’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–we even have our very own mobile kitchen, Loony Lunchbox!
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!
Race Locations:
- Day 1: Ohio
- Defiance County Fairgrounds
- 530 South Main Street
- Hicksville, OH 43526
- GPS (map): 41.288714, -84.756307
- Course: Smooth, flat asphalt with little to no shade.
- Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 11′
- Tentative Laps: 18 for Marathon
- Day 2: Michigan
- Riverfront Park (Start will be in the boat ramp area, take Bond Street towards river)
- Niles, MI
- GPS (map): N 41.82550, W 86.25638
- If you enter Riverfront Park in Niles, Michigan into Google Maps or your GPS system, it will guide you to the main area of the park some distance north of where the race will start. To get to the race starting area from downtown Niles, go South on S 3rd Street to Bond Street and then turn right from Bond Street into the park
- Course: Smooth paved path with a short section through the parking lot, moderate shade.
- Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 26′
- Tentative Laps: 14 for Marathon
- Course Lap Preview
- Day 3: Indiana
- Imagination Glen
- 2275 McCool Road
- Portage, IN
- GPS (map): N 41.588061, W 87.142408
- Course: Smooth asphalt path through the woods with lots of shade.
- Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 13′
- Tentative Laps: 12 for Marathon
- Course Lap Preview
- Day 4: Illinois
- 1042 1st Street
- Fulton, IL
- GPS (map): N 41.86679, W 90.16840
- Course: Smooth asphalt with very little shade.
- Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 36′
- Tentative Laps: 16 for Marathon
- Course Lap Preview
- Day 5: Iowa
- Discovery Trail
- 25th Avenue N and Grant Street
- Clinton, IA (North of Sawmill Museum)
- GPS (map): N 41.87062, W 90.17476
- Course: Smooth asphalt with little to moderate shade.
- Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 23′
- Tentative Laps: 12 for Marathon
- Day 6: Wisconsin
- Evans-Bosshard Park
- Sparta, WI
- GPS (map): N 43.94230, W 90.80420
- Course: Mostly paved with a few small patches of gravel, four bridges (two covered).
- Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 10′
- Tentative Laps: 20 for Marathon
- Day 7: Minnesota
- Beaver Islands Trails
- St. Cloud, MN 56301
- 2 Blocks South of Herb Brooks Hockey Center
- GPS (map): 45.542477, -94.151705
- Terrain: Asphalt running path with views of the Beaver Islands and lots of shade.
- Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 7′
- Tentative Laps: 12 for marathon.
Travel distances/times between race locations:
-
- Day 1 (OH) => Day 2 (MI): 110 miles, 1:56
- Day 2 (MI) => Day 3 (IN): 61 miles, 1:05
- Day 3 (IN) => Day 4 (IL): 178 miles, 2:50
- Day 4 (IL) => Day 5 (IA): 3 miles, 0:08
- Day 5 (IA) => Day 6 (WI): 178 miles, 3:29
- Day 6 (WI) => Day 7 (MN): 232 miles, 3:37
- Day 7 (MN) => Summer Camp (St. Cloud, MN): 0 miles
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|---|---|---|---|---|
Ohio – Michigan – Indiana – Illinois – Iowa – Wisconsin – Minnesota |
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| Race Type | By 11/30/25 | 12/1/25-2/28/26 | 3/1/26-5/31/26 | After 5/31/26 |
| Full | $120 | $130 | $145 | $165 |
| Half | $105 | $115 | $130 | $145 |
| 10K | $65 | $65 | $65 | $75 |
| 5K | $55 | $55 | $55 | $65 |
| 50K | $130 | $140 | $155 | $175 |
| Register Online: HERE!! | ||||
| Mail-in Registration Form: HERE!! | ||||
| You may also register during packet pickup or on race day (cash/check/credit card/PayPal). Entry fees are non-refundable and may not be transferred to another participant. | ||||