About the Prairie & Pines 5k and Half Marathon
The two races share a course that moves through a university campus and onto a regional trail at the edge of town, where the terrain opens up into prairie and tree cover. Roads are not closed, so you run alongside traffic in spots, and volunteers post up at crossings to help. The half marathon covers considerably more ground before reaching the trail than the shorter race does.
Packet pickup for both distances happens the evening of the first race at the Red Baron Arena, which serves as the start and finish for everything. Half marathon runners have a second pickup window early the following morning. After the races, food trucks set up at the finish, with different vendors each day. Restrooms are available at the arena throughout.