The Governor’s Cup marathon course is a point-to-point 26.2-mile adventure – a USATF certified Boston Qualifier – starting about 3 miles southwest of Jefferson City near the mining Ghost Town of Wickes. It features a moderate downhill start in a beautiful rural setting. Runners will encounter a demanding section of hills from Miles 16 to 20, and will face Cardiac Hill at the start of Mile 24. This marathon isn’t your run-of-the mill course designed to make qualifying for Boston easy, but if you lock up a qualifier here, you certainly will be set up to run extremely well in Beantown or wherever your running takes you next. If you can handle Cardiac Hill, Heartbreak Hill shouldn’t scare you.