Course Information
The St. Charles Half Marathon course is a unique combination of roads, paved and gravel trails. Starting on the Missouri Research Park's wide streets, runners will get off to a quick start as the course necks down to a beautiful, paved trail featuring 100' in elevation drop over the first 1.5 miles. The next 4 miles will allow you to lock into a rhythmic pace on the flat Katy Trail section along the Missouri River. This stretch offers tree and bluff-sheltered running conditions with shade, little wind, and lovely river views. The next section of the course runs on the Hamburg Trail. This 4-mile portion will begin to test your mettle as the double-track, packed gravel trail gradually regains elevation. While uphill, this section features an overhead canopy of trees most of the way. You’ll exit the Hamburg Trail at the Interpretive Center (aka "The Mound") and transition to the smooth asphalt of the Busch Greenway trail. The final 3 miles features rolling hills with views of spring flowers, lakes, and prairie grass as you make your way to the finish.
The course will feature 5 aid stations located near miles 2, 5.75, 7.8, 10, and 11.5. Each aid station will have water and gatorade and be staffed by volunteers. However, we encourage participants to carry their own additional nutrition and fluids to suit their personal needs based on weather conditions.
