Bass Pro Shops Conservation Marathon 2026 Guide: Course, Elevation, Pacing & Race Tips

Bass Pro Conservation Marathon at a Glance

Why Run the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon?

Most destination marathons give you a course or a production. The Bass Pro Shops Conservation Marathon gives you both, wrapped in a personality no other race has. This is a mostly-flat Springfield, Missouri marathon that starts in front of the flagship Bass Pro Shops, tours the city's tree-lined neighborhoods and paved trails, runs a piece of historic Route 66, loops around Missouri State University and through downtown, then finishes at the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium — one of the most unique finish-line settings in American marathoning.

The whole course is marked not with the usual arrows but with painted white fish on the pavement — solid fish mark the route, "turning fish" mark the turns — because, as the organizers put it, they're Bass Pro Shops and arrows don't cut it.

Behind the fun is a genuinely well-run race: a full pacing team from 3:45 through 6:00, frequent aid stations stocked with GU gels plus extras like gummy bears, espresso beans and pickle juice, cash prizes, and a first-class 50-vendor expo. It's equally comfortable hosting a first-time marathoner chasing a finish and a seasoned runner hunting a BQ — and it's large enough for solid organization while small enough that race morning feels relaxed compared with major-city marathons.

One honest note: this is "mostly flat with a few rolling hills," not pancake-flat. The marathon-only back half undulates through residential Springfield. Plan for some gentle up-and-down rather than a dead-flat time trial — pace by effort on the rollers and the course rewards you.

Bass Pro Conservation Marathon Course Profile and Elevation

The Bass Pro Shops Conservation Marathon course is best described as scenic, varied and mostly flat with a few rolling hills. It starts at the "Granddaddy" Grand Entrance of the flagship Bass Pro Shops on S. Campbell Avenue and finishes on Sunshine Street in front of the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium and the John A. & Genny Morris Conservation Center. In between, the route winds through many of Springfield's neighborhoods, along several paved trails, over part of historic Route 66, around Missouri State University and through downtown Springfield.

The Cohick Half Marathon and the full marathon run together for the first ten miles — so the opening third is shared, well-populated and easy to settle into. After the half peels off, the full-marathon miles carry you through the quieter, rolling residential sections of Springfield before turning for home.

Elevation Profile

The Bass Pro Shops Marathon is mostly flat with a handful of gentle rollers. There are no sustained climbs, but the back half undulates enough that you'll notice the terrain if you're chasing a PR. GPS platforms report the total elevation gain differently depending on smoothing — the official race describes the course simply as "mostly flat with a few rolling hills" rather than quoting a specific number, so treat it as a fast, forgiving profile rather than a dead-flat one.

The story is consistent: this is a course where fitness and pacing discipline matter far more than climbing legs. Plan for controlled, steady running rather than a course that hands you free time.

Course Map

Pace Perfect doesn't host the official route, but the organizer publishes the Bass Pro Marathon course map and elevation chart on the official race website, with all Marathon Weekend routes on a single map. Study where the half marathon splits from the full around mile 10 so you're mentally ready for the quieter second half — and remember the course is marked with fish, not arrows.

Bass Pro Conservation Marathon Course Breakdown

Miles 1–3: The Bass Pro start and downtown

You launch from the Granddaddy Entrance with the full field — marathon, half and relay — and roll through the early city miles. It's crowded and energetic; resist the urge to weave and surge. Settle in behind your pace group if you're using one. The start is flat and fast, which makes it easy to go out too hard — the crowd energy here can cost you miles 22–26 if you're not careful.

Miles 4–10: Trails, Route 66 and Missouri State

The shared course tours paved trails, a stretch of historic Route 66, the Missouri State University area and Springfield's neighborhoods. These are flat-to-gently-rolling, well-supported miles. This is where you lock onto goal marathon pace and bank patience, not time — the course rewards discipline more than daring.

Miles 10–13: The half marathon peels off

Around mile 10 the Cohick Half Marathon splits away and the field thins dramatically. This is where many runners unknowingly lose focus. The crowds thin, conversation disappears, and you'll spend long stretches simply running your pace. Expect it, embrace it, and keep executing — the runners who stay mentally engaged through this transition are the ones still moving well at mile 24.

Miles 14–20: The rolling neighborhood miles

The marathon-only middle winds through Springfield's residential streets with the course's gentle rollers. This is the real work of the day. Stay on pace, stay on your fueling schedule, and take the small hills by effort rather than chasing your goal split up every rise. If you paced the shared miles honestly, these feel manageable rather than punishing.

Miles 21–26.2: Home to Wonders of Wildlife

The final 10K brings you back toward the finish at the Wonders of Wildlife museum on Sunshine Street. Aid stations come roughly every mile through here — including Bass Pro extras like gummy bears, espresso beans and pickle juice — so use them. Run the rollers on feel and save enough to finish strong beneath one of the most unique finish lines in the sport.

Is the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon a Boston Qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF certified and eligible for Boston Marathon qualification, and the mostly-flat profile with cool November conditions makes it a reasonable BQ course. The honest caveat is that the rolling second half is a shade tougher than a truly flat river or point-to-point course — so this is a fair BQ course rather than an easy one. Confirm the current course certification number with the organizer for your qualifying cycle, since certifications are renewed periodically.

If a BQ is your goal, remember that hitting the published standard is only the first step — in recent years qualifiers have needed to beat their age-group standard by an additional buffer to actually get in. Build in a margin. Target a time comfortably under your standard rather than right on the line.

Bass Pro Conservation Marathon Pacing Strategy

The Bass Pro Conservation Marathon rewards even, disciplined pacing. The trap here isn't a single big hill — it's the two-part personality of the course. The first ten miles are flat, fast and full of people; it's very easy to bank time you'll wish you had back when the field thins and the rollers start. Set a realistic target with the Pace Perfect Marathon Goal Pace Calculator, then run the first ten miles a hair conservative.

The Bass Pro pacing team runs everything from 3:45 to 6:00, provided by the Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners — on a course with rolling sections, running behind an experienced pacer is genuinely worth it. Pick up your pace wrist ticket at their expo booth. Pair that with a set of Pace Perfect Marathon Pace Bands and read our Marathon Race Strategy guide before race day.

How to Train for the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon

With a November 1 race date, most runners begin a focused 16-to-18-week marathon buildup in early-to-mid July. Because Bass Pro is mostly flat with rolling sections, your training should blend sustained goal-pace running with enough rolling-terrain work that the second-half hills feel routine rather than surprising.

A sound structure: build your weekly long run out toward 20–22 miles, and specifically include long marathon-pace efforts on gently rolling terrain so your legs learn the exact effort you'll need through the residential back half. Add one weekly tempo or marathon-pace workout, keep the rest of your mileage genuinely easy, and take a real three-week taper into race day. Summer training for a fall race means heat — do your long runs early, hydrate seriously, and don't panic when hot-weather paces feel slow. They'll come around as the weather cools.

Build your plan with the Pace Perfect Marathon Training Plan Generator, sharpen your final three weeks with our Marathon Taper Guide, and dial in race-day fuel with the Marathon Nutrition Guide and Carb-Loading Guide.

Weather: What to Expect in Early November

Early November in Springfield, Missouri usually delivers good — if variable — marathon weather. Expect daytime highs generally in the low 60s °F (around 15–17 °C) and morning starts in the upper 30s to mid 40s °F (around 3–7 °C) at the 7:00 AM gun. That's a cool-but-not-frigid start that warms into a mild afternoon — ideal for running fast as long as you dress for the range.

Springfield is a more southerly race than the northern fall marathons, and the sun can be a factor by late morning even in early November. An open stretch of course can also carry a breeze. Watch the forecast closely in race week and plan your start-line layers around a temperature that will feel cold standing still and perfect once you're moving. Practice hydration during your long runs rather than assuming perfect fall conditions.

Fueling and Hydration

Bass Pro makes fueling easy: aid stations sit roughly every two miles on the half and full, all stocked with water and Powerade, with GU energy gels at several stations (around miles 8, 16 and 20) plus gummy bears, chocolate-covered espresso beans and pickle juice at various points. There's even a station near Mother's Brewing Company.

Still, don't outsource your whole plan to the course. Take in carbohydrate early and on a schedule rather than waiting until you feel low — aim for roughly 30–60 grams per hour, starting around the 45-minute mark — and carry your own gels if you rely on a specific brand or flavor, since on-course products can change. Practice your exact race-day fueling in your long runs so nothing is new on November 1. After the course officially closes at 1:30 PM, aid stations remain set up for self-serve while the finish line stays open for every runner.

Who Should (and Shouldn't) Run the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon?

Choose Bass Pro if you:

• Want a scenic, mostly-flat course with first-class amenities and a fun, one-of-a-kind atmosphere
• Are chasing a Boston qualifier or a personal best on a fair (not brutal) course
• Prefer cool fall marathon weather over summer heat
• Are running your first marathon and want strong support, experienced pacers and a generous 6.5-hour cutoff
• Like the idea of starting at Bass Pro Shops and finishing at Wonders of Wildlife

Think twice if you:

• Need big-city, wall-to-wall crowd support for all 26.2 miles (the back half is quiet after the half splits)
• Want a pancake-flat, dead-simple course with zero rollers
• Are looking for a large, elite-level field rather than a mid-sized regional race

How Bass Pro compares to other fall marathons

Bass Pro belongs in the conversation of well-run Midwest fall marathons, trading big-city scale for personality, amenities and a friendly course. Compared with the flat, roaring-crowd Chicago Marathon, Bass Pro is far more intimate and quieter through the middle. It's closest in spirit to regional favorites like the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon and the Kansas City Marathon — solid, well-organized fall races with fair-but-not-flat profiles. As a Missouri fall marathon, its edge is the combination of a genuinely fair course, a relaxed atmosphere, and a Bass Pro production no one else can replicate.

Race Logistics

Course Cutoff and Time Limit

The Bass Pro Conservation Marathon has a 6.5-hour time limit based on a 15-minute-per-mile pace, with the course officially closing at 1:30 PM. The route isn't fully closed to traffic; intersections are controlled by police and reopen on a rolling schedule. Runners still out after 1:30 PM should move to the sidewalk in busy areas, but aid stations stay set up for self-serve and the finish line remains open for every finisher. Walkers are welcome and should obey all traffic signals.

Packet Pickup and Expo

Race kit and bib pickup happen at the Marathon Weekend Expo (roughly 50 vendors) at the John A. & Genny Morris Conservation Center, 600 W. Sunshine St: Friday, October 30 from 2–6 PM and Saturday, October 31 from 10 AM–6 PM. Crucially, there is no race-morning packet pickup and no race-day registration — plan to collect your bib on Friday or Saturday. Online registration closes October 29 at 11:59 PM; limited onsite registration is available at the expo October 30–31.

Parking

There's parking on the Bass Pro Shops store property and throughout the surrounding area near the start at Sunshine and Campbell. Arrive early — participants line up in front of and around the south end of the store, so give yourself at least 30 minutes before the 7:00 AM start.

Bag Check

Race-day bag check is available for all races. Use a clear bag (some are provided), attach your gear-check number, and drop it with volunteers at the start just outside the Tracker doors at the front of Bass Pro Shops — look for the Toyota vehicle. Bags are transported to the finish, where you pick up next to the Highlander. All bags are screened by the local bomb squad, so pack simply and leave valuables behind.

Pacers

The Bass Pro pacing team, run with the Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners, offers marathon pace groups from 3:45 to 6:00 and half-marathon groups from 1:45 to 3:00. Stop by the Ozark Mountain Ridge Runner booth at the expo for the final confirmed times and to grab your pace wrist ticket.

Awards and Medals

Every finisher receives a Conservation Marathon medal, with paid medal engraving available after the race on Sunday. Cash prizes go to the top three overall men and women ($500 / $250 / $125) plus the top masters man and woman ($125). Age-group awards are recognized; the overall awards ceremony runs approximately 10:30–11:00 AM in the Sportsman's Lodge inside the Conservation Center, with age-group plaques available for pickup there until 3:00 PM.

Entry Transfers

Transfers to another runner are allowed online through October 16 ($10 fee); distance changes are allowed online through October 23 (also available at the expo, $10 fee).

Spectators

Bass Pro is a spectator-friendly race with designated party zones along the course and an easy, memorable finish area at the Wonders of Wildlife museum on Sunshine Street. The shared first ten miles through downtown, the neighborhoods and near Missouri State University offer several accessible viewing spots before the half splits off. Supporters should focus on the start and the Wonders of Wildlife finish for the best views. The organizers publish spectator party zones and course-neighborhood viewing tips on the official site.

Getting There

Hotels

Springfield offers a wide range of lodging within a short drive of the Bass Pro start and Sunshine Street finish, from downtown hotels near Missouri State to properties along the highway corridors — including Drury, DoubleTree and University Plaza downtown. The official race Lodging & Travel page lists host-hotel options and any room blocks. Book early — the flagship Bass Pro Shops and Wonders of Wildlife make race weekend a busy tourist draw.

Airport

The closest airport is Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), a short drive from downtown with connections through major hubs. Runners coming from farther afield sometimes fly into a larger hub (Kansas City or St. Louis) and drive, but SGF is the simplest option for reaching Springfield directly.

Build Your Bass Pro Training Plan

The Bass Pro Shops Conservation Marathon is that rare race that's genuinely fun and genuinely fast — a Boston-qualifying Springfield, Missouri marathon with first-class amenities, a course marked by painted fish, and a finish at one of the most unique venues in the sport. The course rewards discipline more than daring: resist the temptation to race the first ten flat miles, hold effort through the rolling residential back half, and you'll have every opportunity to finish strong.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon?

The 2026 Bass Pro Shops Conservation Marathon is Sunday, November 1, 2026, with a 7:00 AM start.

Where does the Bass Pro Marathon start and finish?

It starts at the "Granddaddy" Grand Entrance of the flagship Bass Pro Shops (1935 S. Campbell Ave) and finishes on Sunshine Street in front of the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium.

Is the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF certified and eligible for Boston Marathon qualification. Confirm the current certification number with the organizer for your qualifying cycle.

Is the Bass Pro Marathon flat?

Mostly. The first ten miles (shared with the Cohick Half) are the flattest and fastest; the marathon-only back half rolls gently through Springfield's neighborhoods. There's no major climb, but it's not a dead-flat course.

Is there a time limit?

Yes — 6.5 hours (15 min/mile). The course officially closes at 1:30 PM, but aid stations stay self-serve and the finish line remains open for every runner.

Is there race-day packet pickup or registration?

No. Pick up your bib at the expo on Friday, October 30 (2–6 PM) or Saturday, October 31 (10 AM–6 PM). There is no race-morning pickup and no race-day registration.

Are there pacers?

Yes. Marathon pace groups run 3:45 through 6:00, provided by the Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners. Half-marathon groups run 1:45 through 3:00.

What do finishers get?

A race shirt and a Conservation Marathon finisher medal, with optional paid medal engraving after the race. Cash prizes go to top overall and masters finishers.

Can beginners run the Bass Pro Marathon?

Very much so. A forgiving profile, a generous 6.5-hour cutoff, a full pacing team, frequent aid stations and cool fall weather make it a strong first-marathon choice. Just be ready for the quieter, rollier back half after the half marathon splits off around mile 10.

Can I transfer my entry or change distance?

Yes. Transfers to another runner are allowed online through October 16 ($10 fee). Distance changes are allowed through October 23 ($10 fee, also available at the expo).

How much does the Bass Pro Marathon cost?

2026 marathon entry rises by window from $65 up to $115, with online registration closing October 29. Prices increase as race weekend approaches.

Where should spectators watch?

The start in front of Bass Pro Shops and the finish at Wonders of Wildlife on Sunshine Street are the best spots. The shared first ten miles through downtown and near Missouri State offer several accessible viewing points before the half splits off. The official site publishes spectator party zones and neighborhood viewing tips.