Honoring our Heroes Marathon: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The Honoring our Heroes Marathon runs point to point from Salem north to Rolla through the Missouri Ozarks, almost entirely on paved road. It is a charity marathon for veterans' causes, and the profile is honest about the region: about 340 metres of climbing in constant rolling hills rather than one big ascent.
Course & Elevation
Runners are bused from Lions Club Park in Rolla to the start at the Dent County Commons in Salem. Most of the course then follows Highway 72 through rural, wooded Ozark country. In Rolla it turns onto Lions Club Drive, joins the Deible Loop of the Acorn Trail and enters Lions Club Park, where a lap around the lake leads to the finish at the Lions Den.
The course is USATF certified and a Boston qualifier, but the organiser warns that it is not for the faint-hearted. The road rolls between roughly 295 and 365 metres the whole way; the steepest short ramps come around kilometres 18 to 20, and after the low point near kilometre 35 the last seven kilometres climb gradually back up into Rolla. Late November in the Ozarks usually means a cool morning start. Every runner gets a bib to carry the names of veterans they want to honour, and a ruck division runs alongside the open race.
Pacing Strategy
On a course that never settles, run by effort rather than by pace. Let the watch slow down on the rises and do not chase the time back on the descents; the rolling first half costs more than it looks.
Keep something in reserve for the final third. The dip towards kilometre 35 is followed by a long, gradual climb into Rolla, and that is where an overcooked first half shows. If you are chasing a Boston time, bank a little effort, not a lot of time, before kilometre 30.
Training plan for Honoring our Heroes Marathon: 12-week build
Build long runs on rolling roads rather than flat paths, so your legs learn to absorb repeated short climbs and descents over three hours or more. Include some runs where the last 8 to 10 kilometres climb gently, to rehearse the finish into Rolla.
Add hill repeats of one to three minutes and regular strength work for calves, quads and hips; the downhill sections load the quads as much as the climbs load the lungs. Practise eating and drinking on the move, and train on cold mornings if you can, since the race starts early in late November.
Course Map
Profile Parameters
Slope Distribution
Climbs on Route
| Start (km) | Length | Ø Gradient | Max Gradient | Elev Gain | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KM 9.6 | 0.5 km | 3.7% | 5.0% | +16m | — |
| KM 18.5 | 0.4 km | 6.5% | 9.1% | +28m | — |
| KM 19.8 | 0.6 km | 5.1% | 7.9% | +29m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
Course as GPX
Download the Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Adaptive race preparation
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Honoring our Heroes Marathon dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Honoring our Heroes Marathon?
Honoring our Heroes Marathon is 42.2 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Honoring our Heroes Marathon have?
Honoring our Heroes Marathon has around 341 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Honoring our Heroes Marathon?
Honoring our Heroes Marathon is classified as Rolling, averaging 8.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 42% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Honoring our Heroes Marathon have?
The hardest climb of Honoring our Heroes Marathon starts at kilometre 19.8, runs for 0.6 km at an average of 5.1% and gains 29 metres. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Honoring our Heroes Marathon a loop course?
No, Honoring our Heroes Marathon is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Honoring our Heroes Marathon course?
Yes. The Honoring our Heroes Marathon course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Honoring our Heroes Marathon?
Preparation for Honoring our Heroes Marathon should account for 42.2 km, 341 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Honoring our Heroes Marathon?
The pacing strategy for Honoring our Heroes Marathon should reflect 42.2 km, 341 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Honoring our Heroes Marathon take place?
Honoring our Heroes Marathon takes place on November 21, 2026.
Where does Honoring our Heroes Marathon take place?
Honoring our Heroes Marathon takes place in Rolla, United States.
Similar races: course & elevation
Comparable events by sport, region and course length, each with its route profile and elevation.