The 5 Best Road Races in Missouri

Have you ever been to a road race in Missouri? If not, you are missing out on a great opportunity for fun! Missouri has some of the best road races in the country, and they feature many eager athletes who love to run for the finish line while meeting new friends and sharing experiences.

Whether you see yourself as a participant or a spectator, the road races of Missouri are legendary, and they are something you may want to check into the next time you plan to travel to Missouri.

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What makes road races so popular?

You may wonder what makes road races so popular. Some runners enjoy doing it to stay fit and to keep their minds focused on what is important. They enjoy mingling with community members and getting to know the towns that sponsor the races and just getting away from the rat race of their normal lives.

Spectators are avid race and marathon fans too, and they often come from miles around to share in the adventure and watch some of their favorite runners race for the finish line.

If you decide to participate in one of the races in Missouri, you will be proud of yourself for taking on the challenge while enjoying supporting one of your favorite causes.

Learn what the different races are helping before you register and choose one of your liking that supports a cause you believe in. You will make friends and feel good about helping support something you believe in.

Many tracks offer different distance runs such as one mile, 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon so you can find a pace and distance that is right for you. This diversity in the distance entices many runners to join and work up their distance durability over time.

Top Reasons to Run a Race

Verywell.com, a blog dedicated to staying healthy and fit, lists these reasons to run a race that you may want to consider:

• Increases your motivation to run – By participating in a race, it will increase your overall motivation to run on a regular basis. Running is a healthy activity that keeps you motivated to take care of yourself and get your blood going.
• Overcome fears of running a race – One thing that keeps some people from participating in a race is the fear of not being able to finish. But with so many options for distances and other factors, you can start slow and work up as you gain more confidence.
• More structured training – If you are looking for a way to boost your training efforts and make it more systematic, running is a great way to do it. It offers you a way to put more structure into your training and keep your eye on the goal for your own personal fitness.
• Support a cause – Most marathons are in support of a specific cause. Whatever you find important, you can likely find a race that will let you run for a cause that is important to you.
• Social involvement – Running allows you to meet other runners and get to know others who also enjoy running.
• T-shirts and memorandums – You will usually get a T-shirt or some other memorandum of your run so you can always remember it.
• The thrill of it all – Running is psychological. When you finish a race for the first time, you will enjoy the thrill of crossing the finish line, and you’ll be proud of yourself for sticking with it.

The 5 Best Road Races in Missouri

If you live or are traveling in Missouri, we’ve compiled a list of the five best road races in Missouri that you can take part in when you’re in the area. They are located in different areas, but most of these are located within an easy driving distance from St. Louis, Missouri.

#1 – The Mo’ Cowbell Marathon

The Mo’ Cowbell Marathon begins and finishes in Frontier Park on the banks of the Missouri River and historic Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri. It is a flat course that winds through New Town, St. Charles and loops around the neighborhood then heads back to Frontier Park for the grand finish.

There is a Half Marathon, 5K, and Half Marathon Relay along with the full marathon.

The culture and environment of the Mo’ Cowbell Marathon are unique to Missouri, and people love to mix and mingle with the people involved in this race and stay fit at the same time.

Many people have made new friends and creating a lasting relationship through the races that they have participated in, and they go home with some of the greatest stories about their experiences.

#2 – Wildwood Frozen Feet Trail Race

Wildwood Frozen Feet Trail Race is hosted by the City of Wildwood. They are gearing up now for their 7th annual Wildwood Frozen Feet Trail Run.

There are several trails that this race will take including the Hamilton-Carr Greenway, Rock Hollow Trail, and Al Foster Memorial Trail. If you want to get in on this fantastic race, you should register soon as entries are limited to 300.

There are awards to the top three male and female runners. All participants receive a hooded sweatshirt for participating in the race. Food and drink will be available at the finish line.

The Wildwood Frozen Feet Trail Race is a famous race in Missouri, and you are welcome to participate by registering when you travel Missouri.

#3 – I love Dogtown Run

The I Love Dogtown Run race is a family-friendly event that goes through the streets of Dogtown, Missouri.

The race is for the purpose of raising money for helping students at the St. James the Greater School to succeed by creating better class environments.

The St. James athletic association allows students to play sports even if they cannot afford the fees required to do so. So this fundraiser helps fund athletic events for young people at the school.

They are gearing up for the next race scheduled to take place on March 4, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. Dogtown is a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Register early for the best rates and fees.

#4 – St. Patrick’s Day Parade Run

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade Run is scheduled for March 11, 2017, in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

There are usually around 8,000 participants, and it is considered one of the most important events of its kinds in the St. Louis area. It’s not too early to think about this traditional race that celebrates the spirit of Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day.

There is also a parade that has gained lots of popularity over the years. It includes over 120 units including floats, marching bands, and gigantic cartoon balloons.

The cost for the race is $32 from February 1-28th and $36 if you register between March 1-19th. If you register on the day of the race, the price goes up to $40 on March 11.

This is a huge event each year, and there are typically over 250,000 spectators that enjoy watching the event either in person or via online or TV media.

#5 – Beat the Creek Challenge Run

The Best the Creek Challenge Run is a marathon that is sponsored by the New Haven-Berger Fire Department to support families of fallen first responders. This is a great cause, and you’ll enjoy seeing runners go through creeks, tunnels, fire, water, and mud.

If you want to join the fun, why not register yourself so that you can see what it’s like to live the life of a firefighter?

You’ll encounter unique challenges like rope crossings, uphill climbs, and more in this 4-mile event. It features 14 exciting, different events within the race.

The group organizers have not yet set the date and time for this year’s race, but you can contact the organizers to find out more.

Tips for traveling

When traveling in Missouri during the races, you will want to use extra caution so that you do not run into a runner who is en route to the finish line. The race areas vary according to the race that you are driving near, but you should find out details about the race before driving in the area.

Some drivers like to support runners in a race by driving alongside them while they are running. But you should know the regulations for this and be aware that you may encounter multiple participants in the contest at any moment.

Some other things you should keep in mind include:

• Know the number of people involved – One important thing you should know if how many people are participating in the race. You also need to know specifics about the race such as the start times and estimated finish times. Once you know this, you’ll have a general idea of where and when you may encounter people running along the race route.
• Blocked roads – Even if you are not directly participating in the race or watching the race, you should find out when and where the race route goes and know if there are any blocked roads. Roads are sometimes blocked off to protect runners from oncoming vehicles during the race. Be aware of these issues before driving in the area.
• Detours – There are often detours that drivers can take when there is a running event going on. Know these ahead of time by contacting the race organizers or listening to local media that is covering the race.

The Importance of Insurance Coverage

Whether you live in Missouri or are just traveling through the state to enjoy one of the many race events we talked about in this post, you should make sure that you have adequate insurance to cover any contingencies.

Comprehensive insurance is a good idea when traveling or participating in one of the Missouri road races, especially if you are a participant in one of the races. If you leave your vehicle and it is vandalized or damaged while you are away, you will be assured that you will have that taken care of.

Also, you should shop and compare other policies and insurance companies to make sure you have the required coverage that is mandated by the state in which you are traveling.

Taking a trip requires that you take a second look at your current insurance coverage and comparing costs and coverage amounts to see if you have what you need to stay safe.

No matter where you go, insurance works with you for those unexpected situations. Even if you do not participate in or watch the famous Missouri road races, you need to make sure you have proper coverage no matter where you go.

When it comes to insurance, you can’t be too careful, and it is your right to check your coverage to make sure you have what you need.

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