Bass Pro Shops Marathon - Race Reviews

This race had great crowd participation in all the neighborhoods. Each neighborhood had a nice aid station. Traffic was not stopped at all intersections, which you had to be aware of in some cases. The pacer I was running with also fell behind pace somewhat significantly which was a disappointment. The course ran through mostly residential. Would have been nice to run through a park or two. Some directions for pieces of the event were not conveyed clearly via email, though this did not effect the race.

Really liked this event! After going to the website numerous times, I was skeptical about the race. Traveling 8 hours to Springfield with doubts about a race is an uneasy feeling. All I had was a receipt that I paid, but had zero confidence in the event based on the website. The website is my only complaint. Once I got to Springfield, all my concerns were alleviated. Very easy and nice Expo. Everything was well organized, clean and efficient. Very easy parking at the Bass Pro store parking lot and I didn't even get there too early. Started with the smaller races (5k & half-marathoners) but was still OK. Loved seeing the painted bass (fish) on the course to keep us on track. A lot of turns but that was OK. There were some mild hills in the early miles but not too steep for this flat-lander. I would not call this a flat race but wouldn't call it hilly either. We had a warm and windy day which prevented me from meeting my time goals but would do this race again if the weather was better. Plenty of water/Powerade support throughout. Worked with the 3:30 pacer later in the race and he was a great advocate for the race! Was a little surprised that the half marathoners turned off so early in the race, but not a big deal. Love these smaller races! With less than 400 marathoners, I was alone only a few times. Very happy I did this race. Had the weather been cooler, it would have been an excellent event for me personally. Summary - Great event, race and well organized!! Mild rolling hills early. Adequate spectator support. Really bad website.

This was my Missouri marathon on my 50 state marathon quest. It was a really good choice! The organization was excellent, the course wasn't too hilly, and the finish area was excellent. There were plenty of aid stations. You go through a lot of neighborhoods which can get a bit boring, but some of those neighborhoods did a great job of being enthusiastic and entertaining. There was some nice scenery along the course but I would not call it a scenic marathon. The Bass Pro Shop store as the site of race central was really cool. The expo was nice for its size and there was plenty of parking. The finish area a had a lot of food including ice cream! The mile markers were the best I have seen at any marathon. I drove the course the day before the race and those people were working hard to construct the scaffolding that the mile markers were placed on. KUDOS to them for their hard work!! There wasn't much in Springfield in terms of sightseeing so the marathon was really the main attraction. I rented a house through Airbnb that was less than 2 miles from the start and was much cheaper than a hotel. Overall I'm glad I did this marathon for Missouri and I would like to congratulate the race committee for an excellent job.

This is a great midsized marathon. Frequent water stops with food, snacks or gu, the course was gently rolling. I put in a special plug for the Days Inn South. Even though it is a bit older, it is clean. Plus it is an easy walk from the start/finish. They also opened breakfast at 5;30 so runners could get a bite to eat before the race. Since the hotel is so close to the start you can stay in your room until just minutes before the start

This was a great race being that it was a smaller race (~350 full marathon racers). Unlike most marathons, they split off the half marathon runners at mile 1. This means that you are running alone or with a tiny group for the next 25 miles. The route is full of small rolling hills which can zap your leg strength, thus providing a great challenge. The course winds through residential areas mostly. The mature trees keep the sun off of you for most of the race. I would do this race again if I were coming back to the area.

I liked the shirt design just not the snagging material. The medals were great. It was very unfortunate that the computers were down and we waited over an hour and still did not get our time printout or a certificate.

I needed MO and this was close to home so it seemed the perfect race to run. I loved the course, fall colors made it absolutely beautiful. Rolling hills from start to finish make it a little tough, but plenty doable. Course support was great. Plenty of aid stations, well staffed and stocked. Starting at Bass Pro Shops made parking a breeze, no need to stay within walking distance at a high price. Loved the pasta dinner for only $10 each. The finish line amenities need a lot of improvement. I finished in just over 4 1/2 hours and all there was available for finishing runners was chocolate milk, tiny boxes of cereal, and granola bars. You'd think Bass Pro could spring for a decent spread of food at the finish. Overall, great and enjoyable race that I may do again.

They had a really good expo, lots of exhibitors, and very friendly people. Beautiful course, not as hilly as I expected, just enough to keep things interesting. They advertise no time limit, but if can't complete in 6 1/2 will have to move to sidewalks. I finished in 6:31, there may have been good traffic control earlier, but there were some significant intersections with none, or policeman sitting in car, ignoring traffic, yet in some residential areas maybe 2 policemen. The route is marked with green arrows which you can't see until you are right on top and you can go blocks without an arrow or a volunteer to direct you. I spent a good deal of the race fearing I might be lost & at one point 4 of us did miss a turn, but fortunately one of them had a map. At the end there was no food and no one to direct you out of a maze to reach the parking. I think that probably people who finished in an average or better time wouldn't have encountered some of these problems so in short if you can't stay with the pack, this probably isn't the race for you.

The marathon was very well organized. The aid stations well well staffed. They consistently had water 1st and energy drink second. Every one was very helpful. I did not stay for the massage but there appeared to have many massage therapists. The weather was perfect. The course was rolling hills. Travel to Springfield was a breeze. I would recommend this race for someone who wants to run in Missouri.

Ran the Bass Pro Marathon in 2013. Course is full of rolling hills (I think there is a reason they didn't post an elevation map on the website!). The course wasn't extremely challenging but if you don't do some hill training you will hurt a little. Most of the roads aren't completely closed during the race so there are some cars trying to pass runners. The busy roads are closed or had officers directing traffic. Before the race runners can stay warm inside Bass Pro. Race started at 7, we didn't go outside until 6:45 which was really nice. I thought it was a fun little marathon.

I ran this marathon five years ago and this year. It is remarkable how much it has improved. The course was much better, very scenic in nice neighborhoods, mostly flat but gently rolling enough to work different muscles. The weather was perfect. The organization was top notch. Not a whole lot at the expo but there usually isn't for a marathon this size. The pasta dinner with Fank Shorter and Dick Beardsley was very interesting and the videos they had of the 72 Olympics and the Duel in the Sun was worth the $10 alone, and the food was very good. This was my 14th marathon and may be the first one I have run where there are no complaints. The shirt was great and except for wondering about the significance of the large wolf on the medal (no largemouth bass?) I can only say it was a totally positive experience.

This was my 6th marathon and has become my new favorite. I even enjoyed it more than Boston! The size was good - not so many people that it was crowded, but I was never alone out on the course. The course is a flat and fast loop with no out-and-back sections. Everything was well-organized, and I never had to wait in any lines. The Bass Pro store is open early the morning of the race so runners can wait inside where it's warm and kill some time browsing around without the usual crowds. Early November is a perfect time of year weather-wise, and the fall foliage was in brilliant color. Long-sleeve technical shirts and great medals. Nice expo with lots of freebies. Plenty of parking at start area. Start and finish are close together. The only thing I would change would be to have a separate start for the half marathoners. They did split off early (which was good), but the first mile was a little crowded.

I highly recommend this marathon it was my first time running it and by far one the best marathons I have ever run. Well organized with plenty of parking right next to the start. Bass pro opened there store up for runners to stay warm and use the facilities. Ample well staffed aid stations every 2 miles. Course only has a few hills that are not too bad. Only complaint is that course has a lot turns. Finish area had plenty of food and beverages. I will definitely run this race again.

My first marathon. The course was great getting to run all over Springfield on the roads was cool. Aid stations had everything a runner needed. The only bad thing for me was there wasn`t a lot of spectators. Next year I am training for the marathon so I can run this race start to finish. :))

This was my first visit to Springfield and found it to be a nice town. The race was very well organized, with ample water stations staffed with enthusiastic volunteers. There were an abundance of port-o-johns at the start and the pre race wait was minimum. There were ample ones on the course. The course was a nice run around Springfield going through downtown, parks, and the campus. Most of the race was in well maintained residential neighborhoods of varying affluence. I noticed no significant hills, but an abundance of turns. I also missed a turn, and a volunteer ran after me to get m back on track. I must have ran a block or so and they could have been more attentive. I was slightly over 6 hours and there was plenty of food at the finish and I was able to get a massage. Overall this is a nice event that I would recommend; however, I couldnt rate it as a great or destination event. There was a pre-race devotional that I found most beneficial.

This is a marathon that definitely seems to be committed to getting better every year. I'll confine my comments to the three categories: Course: I speak as a local Springfield runner in saying that the organizers do everything they can to make this a great course. It offers a fine tour of Springfield, now that we have moved off the trails and onto the streets for almost all of the race; as nice as the trails are for scenery, I certainly hope they keep this setup in coming years, as it is far more interesting. As others have noted, there are only a couple big hills, including a short-but-tough one at 18. (Suggestion: Have us turn south off Water at Jefferson instead of Main, and make up the difference in the Southern Hills area, thus avoiding the climb as well as a less-than-picturesque area of town.) However, there is a lot of gradual up and down throughout, along with some smaller hills. The route is extremely pretty, with the trees in full fall colors. However, it does seem to be more open to traffic than I would like. And, in all honesty, Springfield drivers are not known for being particularly accommodating to runners. It would be good to have volunteers at every intersections, if possible. Also, the directional arrows at some intersections are painted on the opposite side of the road from the direction of the turn (i.e., a left turn arrow on the far right side of the street). With a smaller field, seeing the arrows well is important; if you are running the tangents and know the next turn is a left, you could miss the arrow. All in all, though, it is a nice, scenic, interesting course. Organization: I find this race to be extremely well organized. I was in and out of packet pickup in a flash, and everything ran smoothly before, during, and after the race. The food after-wards is great, and they give good value for price in terms of the medal and shirt. I wish there was more of an expo, however. Also, there could be a couple more aid stations. Fans: There are not a ton of fans along the course, but many of those who do show up are enthusiastic. The volunteers are great, too - going out of their way to be helpful and encouraging. And there is a lot of energy at the finish, as well as the start. All in all, I highly recommend this enjoyable fall marathon.

If there was ever a race that needed marathon runners' input in setup and organization, this is it. The course winds around a lot, and the turns aren't always clearly marked. It's a smaller field, so it's easy to lose track of the runner in front of you, and if the volunteers aren't vigilant about telling you which way to turn (sometimes they are chatting amongst themselves and not paying attention to runners) it is easy to run the wrong way. I unfortunately did run the wrong way at one point and the volunteer did not correct me. Also the water stations are very short. The volunteers are huddled close together, and if you're running at a faster pace, or in a group, it is nearly impossible to get water and Powerade. My only other complaint is that the five people I asked at the expo had no clue about gear check, and on race morning I had to ask four people where gear check was before someone could help me. As for the positives: It's a fairly fast course. It's far from flat, but there is only one killer hill. (Mile 21 or 22) The rest of the hills are smaller, but they never really end. Also, everyone is really friendly. The organizers and volunteers really make you feel comfortable. And lastly, I did think the finish line atmosphere was amazing. The announcers were great, and the post race snacks were good. Because it's a smaller race people aren't trying to rush you through the chute. It was nice to finish and then have a chance to stop catch my breath without people urging me to move along. With a little bit of work this could be a great race.

I strongly disagree with those who said that the old marathon course was better than the 2010 course. Most large, successful marathons are run primarily on streets and not Greenways trails. I love training on the trails, but they are not for racing. The old out-and-back on the Southcreek Greenway was dreadful. The new course was about as flat as you could design a course in Springfield and it actually hit more of the highlights in town. I did not have any problems with traffic control and was actually pleasantly surprised that they did as well as they did. I was, however, very disappointed with the organization at packet pickup. There was one line for all three races and the packets were not put together ahead of time. There was plenty of room to have separate tables for each event and possibly a couple of tables for each event. I was actually embarrassed standing in line with out-of-towners while waiting over 30 minutes to pick up my packet. Overall, I was happy with the marathon and glad to see the course changes; I just hope they don't go back to the old course after the construction at 60-65 is done.

Very happy I chose this as my first marathon. Only a few small hills. The course was enjoyable because of all the different turns and streets that are encountered. No mile after mile of long, boring stretches. Volunteers and police were at all intersections. Best of all, water, Gatorade, and port-a-potties every two miles; I didn't have to carry any drink myself. May do this again next year! Very well organized.

I registered for this race about 6 months prior to the event, which is very early, but at the early bird cost of $35, I couldn't resist. They couldn't find my goody bag when I arrived at pre-registration. They ran out of t-shirts. They did not call my name and city out when I crossed the finish line but they did call out others' names and cities. Spectators and volunteers were awesome! Enjoyed the gel packs they had at the water stops. My friends had goody bags, but there was nothing in the goody bag so I felt better. Not sure if I will do this race again or not.

At first I was very disappointed with this marathon. The expo wasn't... all it really was was a tent in a parking lot for packet pick-up. The morning of the race wasn't too much better; however, there was lots of parking in Bass Pro Shop's parking lot and racers were able to wait inside the building to stay warm til the start of the race. The half and full marathon split just before the 1-mile mark, but I actually enjoyed running with just other marathoners more than having the half marathoners split away at, say, mile 10. And the course was fantastic! Almost completely flat and very fast! (I ran a 3:31, breaking my PR by over 9 minutes). There was a small amount of community support; however, at almost every intersection the race director had a volunteer posted to help direct racers in the correct direction and seeing that many people helped. Post-race amenities were good as well. They had cartons of milk, which were delicious, and I only had to wait 5 minutes for a massage!

Last year's course was much better. I did not like running on the streets, as I had to avoid cars that were not happy about sharing the road with us runners. Got honked at and yelled out, and smelling the exhaust was horrible!!! Several runners mentioned that they were nearly hit as well. I would sooner have stayed on the trails that we ran last year!! The organization was incredible, and I know it is not possible for the directors of the race to control motorist. But last year's course was beautiful, peaceful and much better!!! Also, too many hills in the beginning of the race made it rough!

Lots and lots of turns on this course, but I enjoyed the ample parking, restrooms and friendly atmosphere provided by this race. Really a flat course! Thanks for giving me a chance to finish a marathon after bonking at mile 17 of Chicago!

I live around Springfield and I am really disappointed that the city of Springfield or Bass Pro couldn't coordinate better traffic control. If cities the size of Seattle can shut down sections of the interstate for a marathon, then Springfield should be able to close off a few small areas for a few hours on a Sunday morning. One older man was driving right toward us and didn't give us a second look. If we wouldn't have moved, we would have been roadkill. People were driving past us going 45-50 mph. Very disappointed. There were also 65 turns in the marathon course. As a Springfieldian, I'm embarassed.

This was my first marathon, and my only goal was to complete it. Tens years before, I weighed over 220 pounds; running this marathon was an completion to my journey! I had no expectations of placing, let lone winning. I just wanted to finish. I DID, in 3:45. I won the Masters, and qualified for Boston (my next marathon). I loved the course; it was very scenic and very enjoyable to run. The event was very well organized all the way from signing up, to packet pick-up, to the start, to the course, to the finish line! I look forward to running this marathon again!

This is my third year for the half marathon. I think 2008 was the best as far as the expo portion. The 2009 edition was the best, as far as the pasta dinner. At first, I was a little worried, when I realized the group was so small. That quickly changed with the friendliness of the guest speakers. What great guys. I would like to see if a female could be found to talk in this type of format as well. The race itself is beautiful. I am always so impressed with the attitudes and encouragement of other racers and volunteers. The bridge is always my biggest worry and accomplishment with this race. The police and volunteers working the intersections are super. The mud was an issue this year, with spots being slick, but with all the rain prior to the race, it was understandable. I would like to see hamburgers and other things to eat at the end besides eggs. However, bless the "smoothie" folks. Those are the first thing I look for after this race. The water stations and goodies at each station were great as usual. The pretzels were a real treat at the last station. I'll be back next year. I would like to have half-marathon results posted as well.

There was a lot of conflict with the half marathon walkers and marathon runners on the trail for about three miles late in the race. I set a PR on the course, so I won't complain too much, but other marathons do a much better job of providing the marathon runners clear running room. I do not intend to run this again next year. They did several things well, but the course map was not one of them, and it didn't have an elevation profile, which is needed to attract a more competitive field.

My first time running Bass Pro. It's a mixed bag. The huge mile markers were great. Although uncontrollable, the weather was awesome. It warmed up quicker than I was dressed for, but it was sunny and beautiful. There were definitely more hills than advertised, but none that were too daunting. I didn't like that the route was two out-and-backs, and included quite a bit of concrete. The fuel stops were staffed by prepared and enthusiastic volunteers. The other runners were the BEST part! I don't think I've ever done a race where everyone encouraged EACH OTHER so much! That was definitely a boost. There were a few areas where it was hard to tell where to go; you had to follow a small arrow painted on the ground or follow the trail of cups people had left behind! Most disappointing was the expo, or lack of. It was basically a packet pick up and the shirts (although tech) were HUGE! I got an extra small (I am a medium-sized gal) and it is still going to have to be a sleep shirt! Bass Pro was neat and having a Starbuck's RIGHT THERE was awesome! The MC at the finish line was awesome - very fun and celebratory. The prizes for the winners and age group awards were somewhat unique. I might be back if they change the route. I heard that the ending used to be in the Bass Pro; that would be neat!

The best part of the race was the MC at the finish line. He was awesome and encouraging, welcoming everyone home from a run. The Bass Pro Shop was unbelievable.

This marathon was my first marathon! I thought the course was a challenging one. More rolling hills, I thought. Overall, I would run this again next year!! Couldn't find the food after the run.

This was my first marathon. Despite others' comments about the course, I found it fairly easy. There was only one really big hill. Other than that, it was mostly flat. The spectators and volunteers were wonderful and supportive all throughout the course. I do wish there had been more porta-potties, and at more of the mile markers. All in all, it was an awesome marathon!! :)

No significant hills. Great support at the intersections from the Springfield Police, and an awesome MC at the finish line. Great awards ceremony. I have run over 15 marathons and I set a PR in Springfield.

Need more porta-potties on the route! Otherwise, great food and mile markers! This same issue was true in 2007 when I ran the full marathon, and 2008 when I also ran the half.

This race was enjoyable due to the weather, but running on two separate trails and going out and back is not enjoyable - especially in the second half when you had the walkers on the same trail. Some of the water on the trail could have been swept off the trail. It was very annoying to have the runners that plowed through, and did not care if you were trying not to get too wet. There was wet mud to slip on also. A big "thank you" to the volunteers on the streets and the water stations. There are too many turns on the streets, which slow you down, and Mile 25 is uphill (not a good time for that street). The course map needs to have mile markers printed on it since I was from out of town and had no idea of the mile to have my spectators find me. I would not rate this course as flat or fast, since the first trail was winding and on a slight angle. The second trail was flat, but we had to go over the highway to get there.

This is my second marathon in nine years, and I was very happy with the Bass Pro Shops. I was very dehydrated after the race and the staff took great care of me to get me back to normal. Recommend to all!

This was my first out-of-state marathon. Overall, it was GREAT. I encourage every slow runner and walker to do this race. You will get so much encouragement. It's a hard course, but there's beautiful scenery on the trails! Just a few things I would change: There need to be signs telling us which way to go. I turned the wrong way twice, and so did others. The food at the finishing line should be hamburgers or some type of sandwiches - not eggs and biscuits. The volunteers were so, so supportive. Every mile marker I got huge encouragement, as so did the others around me. The St. John's medical team was awesome! They checked on you and made sure you had plenty of water. I was having a tough time and a volunteer biker offered me a big hug. The guardsmen were just as awesome! I just cannot say enough about the support. The band still played until the last person came in. There was a girl on a bike, part of the support system, that made sure every one of us who was lagging behind got in safely. She rode on that bike for hours cheering us on. I would highly recommend this one to everyone who wants a Missouri medal. Plenty of water and snacks! If it had not of been for the wonderful volunteers at the mile markers and the St. John's medical team, I, along with a few others, would not of finished. GREAT JOB, BASS PRO!! What stands out to me the most is that the Bass Pro cares about the few who came in last. Made us all feel special, with lots of cheers and wonderful encouragement - as if we had finished in first place. Thanks, Bass Pro; I will be back.

Positives: It's beautiful in the Ozarks this time of year. Pasta dinner with the Legends was worth the trip alone. There was no crowded finish area. Very organized. Name on bib (even after cut-off date) was great for spectator involvement. Negatives: No excuse this day and age not to have course profile so runners have more accurate expectations for how to pace themselves. We will return when we exceed those expectations, but may not if we don't regardless of finishing time. This course is not a PR course and you need to conserve from the beginning due to how tight it is on greenbelt trails. Too much running on concrete. Remove pedestrian bridge over highway as part of course! No expo to buy fuel, cold weather gear, etc. I hear next year they will remove the trails, so I probably will be back.