Full marathon race returns to Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — Tighten up your shoe laces, Cedar Rapids, there’s a new marathon coming to town.

Cedar Rapids Tourism, along with city officials, made the announcement Wednesday that the inaugural Cedar Rapids Marathon will hit the streets on June 7, 2026. The Cedar Rapids Marathon Weekend also will include a half-marathon, 10K, 5K and a free children’s run.

“A super exiting day,” said Jay Fanta, director of Sports Tourism at Cedar Rapids Tourism.

“A very big day for Cedar Rapids,” Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said.

“This is going to be great for the culture of Cedar Rapids,” city manager Jeff Pomeranz said.

But will it work?

A full marathon has been tried in the Cedar Rapids in the recent past, but the last one — the Run CRANDIC, a 26.2-mile race that started and/or finished in Iowa City — was held in 2018 and 2019 before getting interrupted by COVID. The race returned in 2022 before disbanding because of “logistical and staffing issues, including getting enough volunteers and public safety officers to work the race.”

Laura Jass, who runs Endurance Sports Marketing Corporation with her husband Jake, said the discontinuing of Run CRANDIC played a role in her quest to get a marathon in Cedar Rapids.

She saw a hole in the local running calendar and a need for such an event in Cedar Rapids.

“There are people here who want to run,” said Jass, who produces the IMT Des Moines Marathon.

The race will start and finish in the Kingston Yard area and showcase the city by running through Czech Village and NewBo, as well as the riverfront and local trails.

This event came together fast — faster than most expected. Jake Jass said starting a marathon can sometimes take years, but Laura said she got the ball rolling with an email to Fanta in May.

“It’s been a quick whirlwind,” she said. “It’s been like 90 days of making this happen.”

Jim Dwyer, who owns Iowa Running Company with Clifton Trebil-Smith and also is race director for the Fifth Season Races, is “very excited” for this new event.

“I think it will do a lot of good” for the community, he said.

The Jass’ and Dwyer aren’t worried about the two races competing for runners.

“There can be a lot of people doing both,” said Dwyer, who already is helping the Jass’ get the marathon started.

“All ships rise,” Laura Jass said.

Registration already is open for the Cedar Rapids Marathon, which will be a Boston Marathon qualifier.