IronHorse - Riceville, IA
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Event overview
The IronHorse Races take place Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Riceville, Iowa at the Wapsi-Great Western Line (WGWL) Welcome Center (110 East Main Street). All races are USATF sanctioned; the Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K are USATF certified. The Full Marathon is listed as a Boston qualifier and crosses into Minnesota.
Distances:
- Full Marathon - point-to-point on WGWL and Shooting Star Trail.
- Half Marathon - point-to-point on the WGWL Trail.
- 10K - out-and-back on the WGWL Trail.
- 5K - out-and-back on the WGWL Trail.
Course and logistics
The courses run on the WGWL Trail Northern Branch, a paved and concrete rails-to-trails corridor that connects to Minnesota's Shooting Star Trail. Full and Half routes are point-to-point and pass through wooded and rural areas; the Full Marathon includes a four-mile crushed-rock section near the midpoint. 10K and 5K use railroad-level grades on paved trail.
Starting points vary by distance: Full Marathon starts at the Shooting Star Trailhead in LeRoy, Minnesota; the Half starts at the Minnesota-Iowa stateline; 10K and 5K start at the WGWL Trailhead in Riceville. All races finish at the WGWL Trailhead Welcome Center in Riceville. Aid stations and port-a-potties are on course. Shuttles serve Full and Half starters - shuttle reservations end April 15; registrants after that date must provide their own transportation. Registrations are final after April 1; Full and Half registration closes April 25. Awards are given to the first three finishers by gender; finishers awards are provided to all Full and Half finishers. No strollers or dogs; pacers must be registered. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.