
City of Roses Half Marathon & 5K is a running race on September 27, 2026 in Cape Girardeau, MO, with entry fees from $30 to $150.
From the Organizer
Must register by September 13 to be guaranteed a 5K T-Shirt or Half Marathon Long Sleeve Tech Shirt. SIGN UP NOW! We will not be ordering surplus shirts.
Race Day Registration is available during packet pickup Saturday & Sunday. Online registration closes Friday at midnight.
46th Annual City of Roses Half Marathon and 5K Weekend. The 5K Race and the Half Marathon will be held Sunday, September 27th. 5K will start at 7AM, Half Marathon 7:10AM (6:30 Non-competitive early start available for Half Marathon)
HALF MARATHON PRIZES! Overall Male & Female - $300 Overall Masters Male & Female - $200
Relay Option - Get a team of 3 and have a great time!
Join the fun by running Missouri’s premium, long-standing City of Roses Half Marathon. This course takes you along a paved trail through residential Cape Girardeau and out into the beautiful county. The course is well supported with volunteers to keep you safe as you wind around, up and down paved roads, past horse farms, tree-filled woods and beautiful homes. You will loop back to the Osage Center to find a cheering crowd and lots of good food, water, Gatorade and locally brewed beer. There will be pancakes & coffee along with traditional post-race snacks. This race is in its 46th consecutive year. Water stops are available every 2 miles in the beginning, then every mile from mile 8 on. Gatorade will be available at the water stops from mile 6 through the end of the race. The Water Stops are manned by some really happy people, ready to encourage you on your journey. We offer an early start for those who feel they may take longer than 3 hours to complete the course.
Our City of Roses 5K is a flat, fast USATF Certified Course on a paved trail. There will be lots of cheering and snacks at the finish.
Virtual Option - Run your best between September 1 and September 30, 2026.
AWARDS -
Half Marathon Awards will be recognized for Overall Male, Overall Female, Overall Masters Male & Female, and 5 year age divisions - 0-19, 20-24, 25-29, through 65-69, 70 +.
5K Awards will be recognized for Overall Male, Overall Female, and 5 year age divisions - 0-19, 20-24, 25-29, through 65-69, 70 +
Saturday September 26th, 2026:
3:00-6:00 Packet pick up at the Osage Center
Sunday September 27th, 2026
5:30-6:30 AM Half Marathon & 5K Packet Pickup
6:30 AM Walkers & Non-Competitive Runners Start*
7:00 AM 5K Start
7:10 AM Half Marathon Start
7:45 AM Awards Ceremony for 5K
9::40 AM Awards Ceremony for Half Marathon
*There are no awards for those runners that start at 6:30, but they are eligible for finishers metals.
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
78°
Typical Low
54°
Chance of Rain
22%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Jackson, 6 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
40,047
as of 2023
City Elevation
364 ft
Nearest Airport
CGI
Cape Girardeau Regional Airport · 7 mi
Major Hub
STL
St. Louis Lambert International Airport · 109 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at City of Roses Half Marathon & 5K, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
66
Days to train
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From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
From 5K to marathon, running races are an accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
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30 miles away
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2 miles away
Plan your trip
Coming from out of town? There's more to Cape Girardeau than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to Cape GirardeauFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
City of Roses Half Marathon & 5K
Sep 27, 2026