Quad Cities Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K & Relay

Sunday, September 22, 2024 • Moline, IL • Course Map

There’s a wealth of distances and events to choose from at this race — including a full 26.2-mile marathon, a 13.1-mile half marathon, a 5K run/walk, a five-person marathon relay, a one-mile walk and even a children’s “micro” marathon that features three distances.

It’s the longer-distance races, however, that offer the scenery this running event has become known for — big, expansive views of the Mississippi River, along with a course that takes runners through Arsenal Island that sits in the middle of the river, as well as through the city streets of Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, as participants run through two states over the course of the race.

The half-marathon event shares the same starting line as the full marathon — on the Moline, Ill., side of the river, between the I wireless Center and the Radisson Hotel — as well as many of the same views along the course, which takes runners across bridges and through many of the same scenic areas as the full, including beautiful views of the Mississippi River across Interstate 74.

The course is mostly flat and fast, with the exception of a mild uphill around the third mile and the ramps for the bridges. Organizers note that while there’s no official time limit for the half marathon, runners are strongly encouraged to finish within 4 hours.

At the race’s 2016 running, more than 3,800 runners and walkers crossed the finish line in the individual races combined, including 1,900 finishers in the half marathon alone — officially called the Mel Foster Half Marathon.

Photos by J.R. Howell/Quad Cities Marathon QC Marathon QC Marathon QC Marathon QC Marathon QC Marathon QC Marathon QC Marathon
QC Marathon QC Marathon QC Marathon QC Marathon QC Marathon QC Marathon

Photos by J.R. Howell/Quad Cities Marathon

Race Weather & Climate

Nestled along a bend in the Mississippi River that separates Iowa and Illinois, roughly 165 miles west of Chicago, Moline typically sees cool to moderately warm weather in September, which has brought record temperatures here as low as 24°F (in 1942) and as high as 100°F (in 1939).

On the day of the race (Sept. 22), the average low is 48°F and the average high is 72°F.

Past Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the Quad Cities Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

  • 7:00 AM – marathon, half marathon, relay
  • 7:15 AM – 5K

Fees

  • $50 – $65 for the half marathon
  • $80 – $95 for the full marathon
  • $35 – $50 for the 5K
  • $165 – $200 for the full marathon relay

Registration

To reserve your spot in the early fall 2024 running of Moline’s Quad Cities Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K or Marathon Relay, register at the official race website below.

Official Race Website

www.qcmarathon.org

See more races in: September, Illinois

5 comments… add one
  • Catherine nyawira August 8, 2023, 8:31 pm

    Looking forward to participating

    Reply
  • Dale September 24, 2017, 10:29 pm

    Did my 1st QC Half Marathon today 9-24-17 WoW temp were way up there but I did it and look forward to it again next yr. Great race set up live music several times along the route and super people all along the route.
    GREAT COMMUNITY EFFORT Tip of the Hat to you 🙂

    Reply
  • kenny o. July 15, 2017, 1:30 pm

    love this race.started running it after I went to watch my daughter and some friends.I have done teams halfs and thinking about a full this year

    Reply
  • Terry kenney September 27, 2016, 4:36 pm

    Great race, great course especially if you like crossing bridges and and taking in the beautifull mississippi river and a great after party with plenty to eat and drink, I highly recommend it

    Reply
  • Eric C September 25, 2016, 3:51 pm

    If you like warm and humid races, this one is for you. The course itself isn’t fancy. Hilly parts are in the first four miles. After that, it is mostly flat. Plenty of water stations and it was well marked. Nice atmosphere and good finish area goodies. The expo was small. Shirt was blue this year, but it didn’t fit. My XL was like a L. Could be a one time issue, but it was disappointing.
    Would I run this again, probably not.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

MENU