Mankato Marathon
Mankato, MN
- Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Mankato Marathon, presented by Mayo Clinic Health System, showcases beautiful dynamic courses and determined runners. The courses are the perfect blend of Mankato’s scenic trails and urban landscape, highlighting the beautiful Minnesota River Valley. From Kids races to the Full Marathon and plenty of fun in between, we have … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Oct 16):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 71 | 60 | 61 | 47 | 64 |
| L (°F) | 52 | 29 | 36 | 35 | 37 |
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I loved the Mankato Marathon!!!
I’ve run quite a few half marathons, but this was only my second full marathon and I ended up hitting a pretty significant PR, even with the big hill around … MORE
I’ve run quite a few half marathons, but this was only my second full marathon and I ended up hitting a pretty significant PR, even with the big hill around mile 19–20. This course was hillier than my first marathon, but the route itself and the crowd energy honestly made it feel more manageable.
I tend to thrive off spectator energy, and this race absolutely delivered. There was strong community support throughout the course, which made a huge difference for me.
One thing I didn’t expect was how easy it was for family and friends to find me multiple times along the route. It made the experience even more special. The course was also beautiful, with lots of trees and scenic trail sections woven in.
That hill was definitely tough, but honestly, it was the only real drawback for me. Even then, having people cheering at both the bottom and the top helped a ton mentally.
Overall, this race was extremely well executed: great support, great planning, and such a fun atmosphere (minus the tough hill, lol). I also loved the long sleeve shirt and the medal (and I can be pretty picky about those, so that says a lot!). I would absolutely run this race again.
Great race
Stoltzman hill is a killer in the middle of the race. I ended up power walking up the hill, but managed to still PR my race. The rest of the … MORE
Stoltzman hill is a killer in the middle of the race. I ended up power walking up the hill, but managed to still PR my race. The rest of the course is great. This is my fifth year running this race along with the Pork Powered 5k the night before. Start and finish areas are easy to access for participants.
Beautiful Fall Race
I loved this race. The community support was amazing!! The race was scenic with beautiful fall foliage. Some rolling hills throughout the race. Good med and aid stations. MORE
I loved this race. The community support was amazing!! The race was scenic with beautiful fall foliage. Some rolling hills throughout the race. Good med and aid stations.
One of my faves
With the hills of Mankato, this is a pretty *challenging* course, but since it is in the 3rd week of October, the course is also beautiful with the changing leaves. … MORE
With the hills of Mankato, this is a pretty *challenging* course, but since it is in the 3rd week of October, the course is also beautiful with the changing leaves. The packet pickup is on the small side. I was pretty disappointed that they no longer give a quarter zip shirt, but instead are now giving a long sleeve tshirt. The after-party at the finish line is a fun atmosphere. One of the free foods that they handed out was chicken broth, which just tastes like heaven after a long run. After the race, I wasn’t able to find record of my time on the results website, but I emailed the race people and it was fixed by the next morning, which I really appreciated. I have already signed up for next year. **Please bring back the quarter zip shirt!!!**
Excellent experience!
Very well organized with a fun after party. Lots of spectators cheering runners on. A couple mild hills in the first half. I recommend this to anyone. MORE
Very well organized with a fun after party. Lots of spectators cheering runners on. A couple mild hills in the first half. I recommend this to anyone.
Great fall views
Well put together race with a lot of community support. Some big hills but beautiful views! Water stations every 2 miles and a lot of spectators along the way. MORE
Well put together race with a lot of community support. Some big hills but beautiful views! Water stations every 2 miles and a lot of spectators along the way.
Perfect Weather & Fall Foliage
This course has 653’ of elevation gain according to my Garmin. The uphill starting at mile 4.7 was rough, but we had great weather and the fall foliage was pretty. … MORE
This course has 653’ of elevation gain according to my Garmin. The uphill starting at mile 4.7 was rough, but we had great weather and the fall foliage was pretty. I liked my shirt and the medal was meh. Plenty of aid stations, but not a lot of food choices after crossing the finish line. I had just done Wineglass 2 weeks before and it spoiled me.
Great race - would do it again.
Everything about this race was well planned. From my hotel I was 5 minutes to packet pickup and 10 minutes from both the start and the finish line. Swag was … MORE
Everything about this race was well planned. From my hotel I was 5 minutes to packet pickup and 10 minutes from both the start and the finish line. Swag was great. Volunteers were totally awesome. Aid stations were every coulee of miles and well stocked with water and gatorade and so many volunteers. Lots of people supporting throughout the course and it was easy for people to support in more than one place.
There is one relatively long big hill around mile 4.7 but the rest of the course is relatively easy.
Hills and headwind
Expo small but some fun vendors. Packet pick up easy. Did the kato challenge with the 5k friday(nice course with a great bacon station at mile 1). Cute finisher medal … MORE
Expo small but some fun vendors. Packet pick up easy. Did the kato challenge with the 5k friday(nice course with a great bacon station at mile 1). Cute finisher medal and a sweatshirt for swag. Half marathon on Saturday started at 8:30, which felt late, but full started at 7:30 and 10k at 8. Great volunteer support, aid stations were water and gatorade(wish they would all stick to one flavor…they were all different), oranges at the later aid stations, but no GU or other nutrition. Leading into mile 5 there was a very long, steady climb, and definitely just more hills in general. Nice long sleeve t shirt and a medal that says Mankato marathon but the ribbon has “half” on it. Fall colors were nice and there were some pretty aspects to the course, but there were also some long stretches of just straight out road running. Nice finish line location in the very cute downtown Mankato. Checked off state #17. The extra bling for the kato challenge was somewhat disappointing, a stocking cap with Mankato marathon on it.
Finally a PR!
This was my 6th half. 5 of them on the current course and it always humbled me. This year I upped the training and was able to PR by about … MORE
This was my 6th half. 5 of them on the current course and it always humbled me. This year I upped the training and was able to PR by about 15 minutes. The hill from mile 5-6 is ridiculous. This year the post race food was lacking, but everything else was great!
Questionable Decision Making
Lived in Kato for 3 years, so I knew there’d be some hills because it sits in the river valley. Whoever decided to reroute the course at mile 19 to … MORE
Lived in Kato for 3 years, so I knew there’d be some hills because it sits in the river valley. Whoever decided to reroute the course at mile 19 to a mile and a half long hill, I sincerely hope you were out there running it with us. I get the course had to be changed because of trail damage, but that’s the best idea they came up with?? Absolutely ridiculous. On top of that, they’re handing out Nature Valley bars at the TOP of the hill. Great idea. That’s exactly what I want after that monstrous hill, 20ish miles into a run. Mankato is so beautiful! And they send us…out into the cornfields along the highway. What a disappointment. Course felt unorganized with the amount of back tracking. There’s so much to see in Mankato and they send us through neighborhoods and cornfields. Disappointing.
I ran the 5k and full marathon challenge and was told I’d get special swag for it. As far as I can tell I didn’t get anything out of the ordinary. Won’t be running this city again.
Loved the course minus mile 5’s hill
Great race and kind workers. Highly recommend for a first half marathon- it was mine! Smiles all the way and will definitely be coming back! MORE
Great race and kind workers. Highly recommend for a first half marathon- it was mine! Smiles all the way and will definitely be coming back!
What a blast!
First-time marathon (did half marathon last year) and I had a blast. Scenery was beautiful. The race is so well organized with stocked water stations, friendly smiles, and lots of … MORE
First-time marathon (did half marathon last year) and I had a blast. Scenery was beautiful. The race is so well organized with stocked water stations, friendly smiles, and lots of encouragement. The town really shows up to support the runners. One hill (mile 20-ish) was really tough and seemed to last forever. Other than that, this is an excellent race for a first time.
The Perfect First-Time Half Marathon!
The most pleasantly surprising part of this race was the amount of support and encouragement from the community along the route! From elderly couples cheering you on from their porch … MORE
The most pleasantly surprising part of this race was the amount of support and encouragement from the community along the route! From elderly couples cheering you on from their porch to toddlers excitedly giving you high fives as you run past, it feels like the whole town is cheering for you! The cherry on top was that the half marathon route was filled with amazing fall colors, which helped distract me from the pain of my legs protesting my decision to run the race.
Too many hills
This needs to be a flatter course. Mankato has many other things to offer then just the red jacket trail. Add more in town running and flatter route the endless … MORE
This needs to be a flatter course. Mankato has many other things to offer then just the red jacket trail. Add more in town running and flatter route the endless hills are a killer.
Great place great race
The Mankato Marathon is a great race atmosphere! Its big enough to give you the feeling of a big race, but small enough for family atmosphere. The people that put … MORE
The Mankato Marathon is a great race atmosphere! Its big enough to give you the feeling of a big race, but small enough for family atmosphere. The people that put this together do an amazing job to challenge all levels. All the races are well organized.
Scenic, never boring, a blast!
As someone who’s run 28 marathons, this course is in my top 3. It’s beautiful and scenic, takes you through all different parts of the city, and the volunteers really … MORE
As someone who’s run 28 marathons, this course is in my top 3. It’s beautiful and scenic, takes you through all different parts of the city, and the volunteers really showed out to make it fun. I really can’t recommend this race enough; there’s no better way to experience fall in minnesota!
Beautiful Half Marathon!
This race has a small town feel with great crowd support & all the great race must haves! Great expo, easy packet pick up at expo or race day. Plenty … MORE
This race has a small town feel with great crowd support & all the great race must haves! Great expo, easy packet pick up at expo or race day. Plenty of porta potties very close to start line & along the course. Easy to park at with a short distance to get to the start.
Very friendly people directing the course/ course marshals.
Beautiful time of year & area to enjoy all the fall colors! There are hills- look at the elevation and train accordingly and it will go well.
Fun finish area complete with an awesome medal & Photo Booth!
Great race in a great place!
Great fall run on challenging course. Could do without the 500 foot climb. My 5th half and 6th year running with the mankato marathon. Lots of great crowds! I did … MORE
Great fall run on challenging course. Could do without the 500 foot climb. My 5th half and 6th year running with the mankato marathon. Lots of great crowds! I did a 5k and half this year.
One of my faves
I have run Mankato three years, and it is one of my faves. Takes place towards the end of October and the changing leaves are beautiful. Spectators cheer the runners … MORE
I have run Mankato three years, and it is one of my faves. Takes place towards the end of October and the changing leaves are beautiful. Spectators cheer the runners on along the route. The after party is fun =)