You start at 7:10 am outside Equity Bank Park with the Arkansas River just behind the outfield wall and the Keeper of the Plains statue catching the first light downstream. The course runs out along the river paths and through flat neighborhoods of bungalows and big elms, and then brings you back the same way, so you know exactly what is coming. Wind is the variable on the plains; a south breeze can be a gift on the way out and a grind on the return. What makes the day is the finish, when you run through the ballpark gates and cross the line on the warning track with your name on the scoreboard and the smell of hot dogs from the concourse. It is a small, flat, honest race, and Boston accepts it.
Starts outside Equity Bank Park and finishes inside the ballpark along the third-base side; the mostly out-and-back route follows Wichita's river paths and neighborhoods on a flat, fast, Boston-qualifying course. Course map ↗
Registration runs through RunSignUp. 2026 marathon pricing was $110 early, rising to $125 after July 31, 2026 (per race-listing aggregators; official page did not display fees). 2027 fees not yet published. Register ↗
- The inaugural Prairie Fire Fall Marathon was held in 2010; the spring half marathon followed in 2013. ↗
- More than 65,000 runners from all 50 states and over 20 countries have taken part over 15 years. ↗
- The finish line is inside Equity Bank Park, Wichita's minor-league ballpark, along the third-base side. ↗
- 382 marathoners finished in 2025, up from 322 in 2024. ↗
- The race is organized by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.