The Tri-State Mother Road Marathon and Half-Marathon is scheduled for Oct. 10, 2010, reported the Joplin (Mo.) Independent on Wednesday.
The 26.2-mile footrace will begin in North Miami, Okla., go east through all 13 miles of Route 66 in Kansas, and finish near Schifferdecker Park on the west edge of Joplin, race officials announced during a news conference. Organizers says the event will be a Boston Marathon qualifier.
The half-marathon will begin in Baxter Springs, Kan., and go east to Schifferdecker.
In addition to a runner’s health and fitness expo scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9, live rock ‘n roll music in the spirit of Route 66 will liven the course and a post race party with food, refreshments and more music will be held at the Joplin Athletic Complex. In addition to Joplin, the towns of Commerce and Miami in Oklahoma and Baxter Springs and Galena in Kansas will hold festivals to promote the event.
The marathon was originally set for October 2009, but logistical problems with the course and a poor economy persuaded organizers to push back the event for a year.
Organizers are looking for volunteers to help in the event; an online sign-up form is here.
The Joplin Globe has a map of the race here.