Cedar Rapids Marathon

What Cedar Rapids Marathon does

Cedar Rapids Marathon is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based private event organizer that produces an annual endurance race weekend featuring six distance tiers: a USATF-certified full marathon, a half marathon, a marathon team relay (up to five athletes with roughly five-mile exchange points), a 10K, a 5K, and a free kids run. The event is built around a flat, fast course through downtown Cedar Rapids, historic neighborhoods, business districts, riverside paths, and city parks, with the full marathon positioned for Boston Marathon qualifier attempts and personal-record runs.

The business operates on an event-driven go-to-market model: a single annual race weekend anchors customer acquisition, with pre-race engagement executed through the official website, social media, email, and a Saturday expo at the DoubleTree Convention Center. Registration, merchandise, and volunteer signups are processed through RunSignUp; results are published via True Time Racing; race-day photography is provided by Sportograf; and host-hotel bookings flow through Book Passkey. No proprietary technology is built or operated by the organization.

Revenue is generated from three streams: participant registration fees (with early-bird pricing and tiered per-distance pricing), official merchandise sales (t-shirts, hats, hoodies, hydration packs) through a RunSignUp store, and corporate sponsorship anchored by Transamerica's Run for Good initiative. Charitable impact is woven into the product via donations supporting the Zach Johnson Foundation and His Hands Free Clinic, which doubles as a community-engagement and demand-generation channel. Customer segments span competitive marathon runners pursuing Boston qualification, recreational and first-time participants, team-relay groups, and charity-aligned runners.

Name

Cedar Rapids Marathon

Legal name

Cedar Rapids Marathon

Website

https://cedarrapidsmarathon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cedar Rapids Marathon is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based private event organizer producing an annual race weekend featuring marathon, half marathon, team relay, 10K, 5K, and kids run on a USATF-certified flat course, monetized through registrations, merchandise, and corporate sponsorship anchored by Transamerica.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Endurance Running Events

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA)

Keywords

• Marathon event organizing
• Road race management
• Endurance running events
• Certified race courses
• Community running events

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from participant registration fees for multiple race distances including full marathon, half marathon, team relay, 10K, 5K, and free kids run. Registration fees vary by event type and registration timing (early bird pricing available). Each registration includes race bib, medal, aid stations, athlete shirt, and post-race refreshments.
2. Official Merchandise Sales: Sale of official event merchandise including t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and hydration packs through the event store.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Partnership with corporate sponsors including Transamerica (Run for Good initiative), with sponsorship revenue supporting event operations and charitable donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cedar Rapids Marathon organizes and hosts an annual endurance running event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, offering multiple race distances including a USATF-certified full marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles), marathon team relay (up to 5 athletes), 10K, 5K, and a free kids run. The event is held on a flat, fast course through downtown Cedar Rapids and surrounding neighborhoods, and is supported by a pre-race expo, official merchandise sales, and charitable initiatives through the Run for Good program in partnership with Transamerica.

Product overview

Cedar Rapids Marathon is a running event organizer that offers a portfolio of race distances including the full marathon, half marathon, marathon team relay, 10K, 5K, and free kids run. The event includes supporting services such as the Stack Wellness Health and Fitness Expo for bib pickup and vendor interactions, a charitable initiative (Run for Good) in partnership with Transamerica, and official merchandise. All races feature a flat, fast USATF-certified course through Cedar Rapids with varying cut-off times. Registration and merchandise sales are handled through RunSignUp, while results are provided via True Time Racing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Marathon USATF-certified 26.2-mile marathon race through downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on a flat, fast course designed for personal records and Boston Marathon qualification. Entry includes race bib, medal, tech t-shirt, hat, socks, aid stations, complimentary Big Grove Brewery beers, and post-race party with food.
• Half Marathon 13.1-mile half marathon race along the same Cedar Rapids course as the full marathon, with a 4-hour cut-off time. Entry includes race bib, medal, tech t-shirt, socks, aid stations, complimentary Big Grove Brewery beers, and post-race party with food.
• Marathon Team Relay Team relay event where groups of up to 5 athletes collectively cover the 26.2-mile marathon course, with exchange points roughly 5 miles apart. Entry includes race bibs, medals, and post-race party access.
• 10K Race 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) race with a 2-hour cut-off time. Entry includes race bib, medal, tech t-shirt, aid stations, complimentary Big Grove Brewery beers, and post-race party access.
• 5K Race 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) race open to all ages and paces, with a 1-hour cut-off time. Entry includes race bib, medal, tech t-shirt, aid stations, complimentary Big Grove Brewery beers, and post-race party access.
• Free Kids Run Free youth running event for children held as part of the Cedar Rapids Marathon Weekend, supporting family participation and community engagement.
• Stack Wellness Health and Fitness Expo Pre-race expo event held at the DoubleTree Convention Center on Saturday before race day, featuring bib pickup, a vendor village with running gear and nutrition brands, official merchandise sales, and expert advice from coaches and nutritionists. Free and open to the public.
• Official Race Merchandise Official race merchandise including t-shirts, hats, hydration packs, and apparel sold through the RunSignUp store.
• Run for Good Powered by Transamerica Charitable initiative in partnership with Transamerica that supports the Zach Johnson Foundation and its Kids on Course programming through participant donations made during registration and the expo school supply drive.
• Race Morning Packet Pickup Add-on service available for $20 for runners unable to attend the Saturday expo, providing race bib and packet pickup on race morning.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TransamericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTransamerica partners with Cedar Rapids Marathon on the 'Run for Good Powered by Transamerica' initiative, a community giving program that supports the Zach Johnson Foundation through donations. Athletes can donate during registration, and the partnership includes visibility and promotional support from Transamerica.
• Zach Johnson FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Zach Johnson Foundation and its Kids on Course programming is the beneficiary of the Run for Good initiative. The foundation supports local students and families with academic resources, mentorship, and essential tools for success. The marathon supports the foundation through participant donations and a school supply drive at the expo.
• His Hands Free CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHis Hands Free Clinic serves as the official charity partner of the Cedar Rapids Marathon Weekend. Since 1992, the clinic provides free medical care to those in need in the Cedar Rapids community. Runners support the clinic's mission through participation, with the partnership promoting health, hope, and community.
• DoubleTree Convention CenterminorOthersVenue partner hosting the Cedar Rapids Marathon Expo and packet pickup on Saturday (10 AM - 5 PM) prior to race day. The convention center provides space for bib pickup, vendor village, official merchandise, and the Stack Wellness Health and Fitness Expo.
• RunSignUpcoreTechnology or IntegrationRunSignUp is the registration platform partner handling all race registrations for the Cedar Rapids Marathon Weekend, including early bird pricing and volunteer sign-ups.
• Big Grove BreweryminorOthersLocal brewery partner providing complimentary beers to participants at the post-race party.
• Stack WellnessminorOthersStack Wellness Health and Fitness Expo is the official expo name, with Stack Wellness serving as the naming sponsor for the expo where bib pickup and vendor village are located.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon: Wisconsin road marathon with a flat, fast lakeside course marketed to PR/BQ seekers. Comparable scale, regional Midwest draw, and runner-acquisition model to Cedar Rapids.
• Omaha Marathon: Annual Nebraska road marathon offering marathon, half, and relay distances with regional Midwest runner draw. Closely comparable event structure and operational footprint to Cedar Rapids Marathon.
• Lincoln Marathon: Nebraska-based Midwest road marathon with a multi-distance format and a marketed fast, BQ-friendly course. Comparable size, regional positioning, and competitive set as Cedar Rapids for out-of-state Midwestern runners.
• Quad Cities Marathon: Regional Iowa-border road marathon operating the same distance portfolio as Cedar Rapids (marathon, half, relay, 5K). Directly competes for Eastern Iowa runner registrations and sponsor dollars within overlapping geographic draw.
• Grandma's Marathon: Duluth, Minnesota-based regional road marathon with a destination-style format and multi-distance weekend. Competitor for Upper Midwest runners considering destination races in the broader regional marathon set.
• Des Moines Marathon: Iowa-based annual road marathon offering multiple race distances (marathon, half, relay, 5K) with a comparable Midwest runner profile, sponsor structure, and event-weekend production. Cedar Rapids' closest in-state competitor for Iowa runner registrations.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Marathon: World Marathon Major and the dominant Midwest marathon event with global runner participation. Anchors the broader regional marathon category and sets competitive benchmarks for course quality and sponsor economics.
• Indianapolis Monumental Marathon: Larger Midwest road marathon established as a major qualifying event with national runner draw. Represents a scaled-up version of the same regional marathon model that Cedar Rapids competes within at the higher tier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Cedar-Rapids-Marathon-Weekend-61578588166195

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cedar Rapids Marathon