Muddy River Marathon
Muddy River Marathon race day weather
Cool start, steady conditions
Runners will face a cool start at 43°F, rising to 64°F by the finish. Wind will be from the SSW at 17 mph, creating a consistent headwind throughout. With humidity at 65%, runners should maintain a steady pace and stay hydrated, particularly as temperatures rise later in the race.
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Muddy River Marathon route and elevation
The Muddy River Marathon course has about 1,038 ft (316 m) of climbing and 1,062 ft (324 m) of descent, a net drop of about 24 ft (7 m). It is hillier than 60% of the marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. The hardest mile is mile 9, with 92 ft (28 m) of climbing.
Biggest climbs
- Miles 5.9 to 6.6: climbs about 110 ft (33 m).
- Miles 21.2 to 22.2: climbs about 80 ft (25 m).
- Miles 23.9 to 24.4: climbs about 75 ft (23 m).
What the hills cost
- 3:30 on a flat course is about 3:31 here (1 minute slower).
- 4:00 on a flat course is about 4:01 here (1 minute slower).
- 4:30 on a flat course is about 4:32 here (2 minutes slower).
Hills only, priced mile by mile on the course map. The pace calculator above adds the race-day weather.
Even-effort splits for a 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 finish
| Mile | Climb | Descent | 3:30 | 4:00 | 4:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 ft | 41 ft | 7:54 | 9:02 | 10:09 |
| 2 | 49 ft | 30 ft | 8:07 | 9:17 | 10:27 |
| 3 | 31 ft | 21 ft | 8:03 | 9:12 | 10:21 |
| 4 | 69 ft | 46 ft | 8:10 | 9:19 | 10:29 |
| 5 | 47 ft | 59 ft | 7:55 | 9:03 | 10:11 |
| 6 | 20 ft | 31 ft | 7:55 | 9:03 | 10:11 |
| 7 | 102 ft | 83 ft | 8:08 | 9:18 | 10:27 |
| 8 | 40 ft | 44 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:14 |
| 9 | 92 ft | 70 ft | 8:09 | 9:19 | 10:28 |
| 10 | 91 ft | 72 ft | 8:08 | 9:17 | 10:28 |
| 11 | 24 ft | 100 ft | 7:41 | 8:47 | 9:53 |
| 12 | 4 ft | 14 ft | 7:55 | 9:04 | 10:11 |
| 13 | 41 ft | 40 ft | 7:59 | 9:07 | 10:15 |
| 14 | 28 ft | 19 ft | 8:03 | 9:11 | 10:21 |
| 15 | 61 ft | 74 ft | 7:55 | 9:03 | 10:10 |
| 16 | 30 ft | 6 ft | 8:10 | 9:20 | 10:30 |
| 17 | 40 ft | 28 ft | 8:04 | 9:13 | 10:23 |
| 18 | 26 ft | 36 ft | 7:55 | 9:04 | 10:11 |
| 19 | 48 ft | 40 ft | 8:02 | 9:11 | 10:20 |
| 20 | 52 ft | 29 ft | 8:10 | 9:19 | 10:30 |
| 21 | 36 ft | 44 ft | 7:56 | 9:04 | 10:12 |
| 22 | 77 ft | 19 ft | 8:27 | 9:40 | 10:51 |
| 23 | 50 ft | 84 ft | 7:50 | 8:57 | 10:05 |
| 24 | 42 ft | 66 ft | 7:52 | 9:00 | 10:07 |
| 25 | 72 ft | 63 ft | 8:03 | 9:11 | 10:21 |
| 26 | 34 ft | 55 ft | 7:53 | 9:01 | 10:08 |
| Last 0.2 | 0 ft | 38 ft | 1:39 | 1:53 | 2:07 |
Explore the Muddy River Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
About the Muddy River Marathon
The course passes several Cape Girardeau landmarks, including the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, the Common Pleas Courthouse, Dalhousie Golf Course and Old St. Vincent's Church, finishing along the Mississippi riverfront downtown near the Missouri Wall of Fame mural. The course is mostly flat, on city streets and paved trails. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits, including the Green Bear Project, Southeast Kids in Action, Graceful Opportunities and the Howard Aslinger Foundation; organizers have donated more than $100,000 to regional charities since the race began in 2021. The 2026 edition was cancelled due to street construction along the course route, with the race planning to return in 2027.