I-35 Challenge 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Start time
- 7:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Entry fee
- From $35 · goes up to $290 on Oct 11, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
Registration is open.
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Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-35 Challenge - Kansas City Half Marathon & Des Moines Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Oct 17, 20267:00 AM | $270$290 after Oct 11, 2026 | – |
| I-35 Challenge - Kansas City Half Marathon & Des Moines Marathon | Half Marathon | Oct 17, 20267:00 AM | $305$335 after Oct 11, 2026 | – |
| I-35 Challenge - Kansas City Marathon & Des Moines Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Oct 17, 20267:00 AM | $290$310 after Oct 11, 2026 | – |
| I-35 Challenge - Kansas City Marathon & Des Moines Marathon | Marathon | Oct 17, 20267:00 AM | $325$355 after Oct 11, 2026 | – |
| I-35 Challenge ONLY (already signed up for KC and Des Moines) | – | Oct 17, 20267:00 AM | $35 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Half Marathon fee goes up to $290 on Oct 11, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- I-35 Challenge - Kansas City Half Marathon & Des Moines Half Marathon: $270 until Oct 11, then $290 until Oct 15.
- I-35 Challenge - Kansas City Half Marathon & Des Moines Marathon: $305 until Oct 11, then $335 until Oct 15.
- I-35 Challenge - Kansas City Marathon & Des Moines Half Marathon: $290 until Oct 11, then $310 until Oct 15.
- I-35 Challenge - Kansas City Marathon & Des Moines Marathon: $325 until Oct 11, then $355 until Oct 15.
Online registration closes Oct 15, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $325, entry is about 225 percent above a typical marathon in Missouri, which costs $100 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a marathon in Missouri runs 4:41:53, about 10:45 a mile, based on 5 races with published results. Women typically finish in 4:54:52 and men in 4:29:56.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:28 AM, and the I-35 Challenge - Kansas City Half Marathon & Des Moines Half Marathon starts at 7:00 AM. The start sits about 800 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Kansas City, MO & Des Moines, IA, Kansas City, MO 64108
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 17 the day usually runs from 52°F at dawn to 71°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 25% of days. Cold snaps dip to 42°F and hot years reach 82°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- Kansas City, MO & Des Moines, IA, Kansas City, MO 64108Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 800 feet
- Included with entry
- I-35 Challenge Participant Shirt; T-Shirt
- Distances
- Half Marathon, Marathon
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 17, 2026), 2025 (Oct 18, 2025), 2024 (Oct 19, 2024), 2023 (Oct 15, 2023)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is I-35 Challenge?
- Saturday, October 17, 2026, starting at 7:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $35 before processing fees, and rises to $290 on Oct 11, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 15, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Missouri?
- At $325, entry is about 225 percent above a typical marathon in Missouri, which costs $100 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- What distances can I run?
- Half Marathon, Marathon.
- Where does it start?
- Kansas City, MO & Des Moines, IA, Kansas City, MO 64108.
From the organizers
The I-35 Challenge is a partnership between the Garmin Kansas City Marathon and IMT Des Moines Marathon, offering the challenge of completing both races on concurrent weekends.
Participants can do any of the following combinations of events to complete the I-35 Challenge:
Marathon in Kansas City and Marathon in Des Moines
Marathon in Kansas City and Half Marathon in Des Moines
Half Marathon in Kansas City and Marathon in Des Moines
Half Marathon in Kansas City and Half Marathon in Des Moines