Joplin Half-Marathon | Joplin, MO | Oct 10, 2010 - powered by AllSportCentral.com

Reinke Sports Group and the USRA Half Marathon Series are pleased to announce our partnership with Active.com for all of our event registration. Please go to our new website at (different for each race but for example: RunMotherRoadMarathon.com and also USRAHM.com. We are also introducing a new Half Marathon Training program in conjunction with Active to help runners prepare for USRA Half Marathon Series events.

Take a run through the rich history that Southwest Missouri has to offer with the inaugural Tri-State Mother Road Marathon & Half-Marathon. Not only will this event be one of the most memorable you’ll ever run but the inaugural date will be the “once-in-a-lifetime” date of 10-10-10! On October 10, 2010, you can cruise down the legendary Route 66 “Mother Road” on a point –to-point course that will start in Oklahoma, run through Kansas and finish in famed Joplin, Missouri some 26.2 miles later!

Commissioned in 1926, Route 66’s designation from Chicago to Los Angeles quickly became one of the nation’s principal east-west arteries, also known as the “Mother Road”. This now famous US highway’s original purpose was to connect the main streets of the rural and urban communities along its course to provide them with access to a national thoroughfare. The increase in traffic along Route 66 brought with it the need for growth and expansion spawning such popular, historic roadside travel stops such as “Dixie Lee’s Dine and Dance”, “Dutch’s Top Hat”, the “66 Drive-In Theatre” and the “Boots Motel”.

The Route 66, “Mother Road” Rock N’ Roll theme will be integrated into all event festivities from the on-course music, post-race live band, refreshments and historic, scenic traditions of the nostalgic route. The Tri-State Mother Road Marathon & Half Marathon is presented by the Cities of Joplin, MO; Miami, OK; Commerce, OK; Quapaw, OK; Baxter Springs, KS; Riverton, KS; Galena, KS and the Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Race weekend will start Saturday, October 9 with Packet Pickup and a Runner’s Health & Fitness Expo from 11am -5pm. In addition to the Marathon and Half Marathon, a 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run will also be held. Mother Road Marathon & Half Marathon participants will receive a high-quality “tech shirt” and “finisher’s medal”. The Marathon will be a certified Boston Marathon qualifier. An attractive race shirt will go to all 5K and Fun Run participants with the event welcoming all abilities and ages with walkers, strollers and head phones welcomed along with runners vying for nearly 150 awards. There will also be music throughout the course, finish line refreshments and a “Live Band” performing at the Finish Line Party and Celebration!

The Mother Road Marathon’s accompanying Half Marathon will be labeled the “Joplin Half Marathon" and be a part of the nationwide, multi-city USRA Half Marathon Series targeting mid-sized markets. At least 10 cities are already committed and organizers anticipate as many as 15 or more will make up the 2010 Tour. Other USRA Series events include Columbia SC (February 27), Walmart Bentonville (AR) Half Marathon March 13; Lexington KY (March 28), Mt Pleasant WI (Racine) (April 10), Council Bluffs IA (May 23), Worcester MA (June 6), Purdue (West Lafayette IN) (October 24), Lancaster PA (October 31) and Clarksville TN (November 6).

The Cities of Miami, Quapaw, Commerce, Baxter Springs, Galena, Riverton and Joplin, along with the Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau, join event organizer Reinke Sports Group in rolling out the “red carpet”, so don’t delay in registering and telling your friends and fellow runners and walkers about the inaugural Tri-State Mother Road Marathon & Half Marathon Weekend May 10-10–10: “Where the Runner Comes First!"

The USRA Half Marathon Series (USRARaceSeries.com) is a 17-city nationwide Half Marathon Series in mid-to-small size markets. Each Series event partners with the Convention & Visitors Bureau, Chamber of Commerce and/or Municipality in that community to conduct a Half Marathon, 5K, Fun and Runner's Expo/Packet Pickup. All events create a festive, fun atmosphere with live music, post race party and quality shirts (tech to Half Marathoners), medals (to Half Marathon finishers)and disposable chip timing among its many amenities. A "points" system will be introduced soon to incentivize runners running multiple series events.

There will be a special competition for the Company or Military Unit with the “highest participation” across all events.

To include your group in the competition you must contact event staff by using the “Contact Coordinator” button above the event listing on AllSportCentral.com or select “Contact Us” from the event website. After the event staff have setup your Group Name in the system others from your group will be able to register.