The marathon starts and ends in downtown Moline, IL covers 4 cities, 3 bridges, 2 states, and 1 island, all along the Mississippi River.
Other than a few bridge crossings and a large hill early in the race, the Quad Cities marathon course is very flat.
From the Race Organizers: Welcome to the Quad Cities! The TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon, a USATF Certified and Boston Qualifier course, captures the essence of our nation's heartland with its consistent connection to the Mississippi river and Midwest charm. This fairly flat and fast course features some of the finest and most beautiful river views in the country.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are above the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. You may need to adjust your time goal, especially if you are not acclimated to higher temperatures and/or humidity.
How does the Quad Cities Marathon Rank?
The Quad Cities Marathon was the 111th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 116th largest in 2022.
Last year 7.2% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 9.2% of runners qualified for Boston in 2022.
This gives the Quad Cities Marathon the 263rd highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 194th highest percentage in 2022.
Its Course Score of 98.80 ranks it as the 240th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 9th fastest course in Illinois.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are above the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the Quad Cities Marathon a PR Score of 96.14. This PR Score ranks it as the 369th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 10th fastest in Illinois.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
Quad Cities Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 689 feet (210m) Min Elevation: 554 feet (168m)