Difficulty: Hard

Length: 2.80 miles (Starts 0.0, ends at 2.80

Surface: Brick and Paved Road

Exchange Point: Old Market (11th and Howard)

Description: The race begins on the historic brick roads of Omaha's Old Market passing unique shops, boutiques, pubs, restaurants and entertainment this historic neighborhood is a blend of old and new. Continuing running south this leg quickly runs through a residential neighborhood on 6th Street. The neighborhood borders Omaha's Botanical Garden and is a short distance away from the Missouri River. The course breaks from the neighborhood and heads west on Bancroft St. for a short distance. Heading south on 10th St. over Interstate I-80 you two of Omaha's biggest summer time attractions come into view. The second exchange point is directly in-between Rosenblatt Stadium, the home of the NCAA College World Series, and Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, which is home to the world's largest indoor rainforest, desert and nocturnal exhibits.

Difficulty: Moderate / Hard

Length: 2.55 miles (Starts at 2.8, ends at 5.35)

Surface: Paved Road

Exchange Point: Zoo and Rosenblatt Parking Lot

Description: Starting in-between Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Rosenblatt Stadium this hilly section of the course passes Spring Lake Park on 13th St. Continuing south on 13th St. runners pass the South Omaha Bridge one of the oldest bridges in Nebraska (that's why they are replacing it). Runners will run through two unique Omaha City Parks in this section. Mt. Vernon, the first park, is modeled after George Washington's Mt. Vernon. This well maintained park is also home to a historic sun dial which marks the start of the Oregon Trail. After Mt. Vernon runners head towards Mandan Park where if they turn around at the top of the hill they will see one of the best views in Omaha over looking the Missouri River and Downtown Omaha.

Difficulty: Moderate / Hard

Length: 3.23 miles (Starts at 5.35, ends at 8.58)

Surface: Paved Road and Brick

Exchange Point: Mandan Park

Description: Third Leg runners will find themselves amidst the overhanging branches of Mandan Park as they start running. The tall tree trend continues even after runners make it out of the switchback roads of the park and onto the brick roads of Bellevue Blvd. Bellevue Blvd runs through a classic neighborhood which sometimes borders Fontenelle Forest, an area that was Nebraska's 1st community. This leg of the race is almost entirely uphill but is a slow gradual incline that borders some of Nebraska's historical areas.

Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

Length: 3.16 miles (Starts at 8.58, ends at 11.70)

Surface: Paved Road

Exchange Point: Bellevue Elementary School

Description: After teammates have struggled mostly uphill for the previous three stages runner four quickly descends heading southeast along Bellevue Blvd. toward the Missouri River. This leg combines residential, commercial, and park areas as runners continue to run through classic neighborhoods, then head towards old downtown Bellevue and finish the 3.16 mile leg at Hayworth Park.

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 4.90 miles (Starts at 11.74, ends at 16.64)

Surface: Paved Recreation Path

Exchange Point: Hayworth Park

Description: Starting in Hayworth Park runners continue heading south onto the Keystone Trail system. This flat paved trail borders the Missouri river and passes farmland on the west and south. As the sparsely populated trail turns west runners will run past the City of Omaha's Papillion Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant on their right and the Papillion Creek on the left. The treatment plant is one of the only structures runner will pass on this long but flat fast leg of the course.

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 2.45 miles (Starts at 16.64, ends at 19.09)

Surface: Paved Road

Exchange Point: Keystone Trail Lot at Papillion Creek Treatment Plant

Description: Leaving the Keystone Trail behind runners now head south a short distance on Harley Lewis Rd. until they reach an intersection. Once runners reach the intersection of Harley and LaPlatte they will head west (right) on LaPlatte towards the town of LaPlatte, the home of "HAMBURGER ROCK" the site of the first hamburger served west of the Missouri. During this flat section of the course competitors are surrounded by rural Nebraska with the Platte River in the distance (south). As runners approach the town of LaPlatte they will cross a set of railroad tracks and continue west towards the exchange area at the local church and school.

Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

Length: 2.90 miles (Starts at 19.09, ends at 22.02)

Surface: Paved Road and Gravel

Exchange Point: Town of LaPlatte (Main St. and E LaPlatte Rd.)

Description: Leaving Hamburger Rock runners will head west underneath 370. Continuing down the paved LaPlatte Rd. runners will pass numerous lake residential areas to the south. This section of the course slowly gains elevation, the last half of a mile a steep hill brings runners to T intersection. Racers will want to take a left and start downhill on a gravel road towards the MUD plant.

Difficulty: Moderate / Hard

Length: 3.33 miles (Starts at 22.02, ends at 25.35)

Surface: Gravel

Exchange Point: M.U.D. Water Plant (LaPlatte Rd. and 36th St.)

Description: Leaving the M.U.D. parking lot runner 8 will continue heading west and the road will start heading away from the river. As the road turns away from the river runners will notice a gain in elevation. After passing a few horse farms runners will be heading north and up a steep hill. Waiting at the top of the hill is picturesque view of the rolling hills of this section of Nebraska. Runners will eventually reach Platteview Drive and head across the St and head a few blocks towards 63rd St. to the next exchange point.

Difficulty: Hard

Length: 3.49 miles (Starts at 25.35, ends at 28.84)

Surface: Gravel

Exchange Point: 63rd and Platteview Drive

Description: Runners will continue heading north on the gravel 63rd St. and head towards the gravel Capeheart Rd. where the course turns west again. This constant uphill leg will test even the best runners as runners pass farmland just south of Omaha and east of Springfield. As this leg continues uphill runners will reach the exchange point at Shadow Lake just after an old airport called Dixon Airport.

Difficulty: Moderate / Hard

Length: 3.86 miles (Starts at 28.80, ends at 32.70)

Surface: Paved Road and Gravel

Exchange Point: Shadow Lake (Capeheart Rd. and 78th)

Description: Leaving Shadow Lake runners will have a very brief stint on paved rd outside this new development on Capeheart Rd. Runners will then pass west over 84th St. and continue heading west on Capeheart. This extremely up and down section of the course passes farmland and even a dog breeding and training ground before runners reach exchange point 11.

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: 4.63 miles (Starts at 32.70, ends at 37.37)

Surface: Gravel and Limestone

Exchange Point: 124th and Capeheart Rd.

Description: Continuing down the gravel Capeheart Rd. runners head west towards Highway 50. Before runners reach Highway 50 they will turn South onto Mopac's crushed limestone trail. This downhill section runs parallel with Highway 50 heading towards Springfield. As runners get close to Springfield they will pass a series of soccer fields on the North side of Springfield. Runners will go underneath and a bridge and circle around to a parking lot, at this point runners will want to take a right towards a gas station (east). The course runs past the gas station and heads through residential Springfield. Runners will run down 2nd St. heading towards Main St. Springfield. At Main St. runners will take a right and head towards the Springfield County Fair Grounds for exchange point 12.

Difficulty: Easy / Moderate (because of length)

Length: 5.41 miles (Starts at 37.37, ends at 42.78)

Surface: Crushed Limestone

Exchange Point: Sarpy County Fair (Springfield, NE Hwy 50 and Main St.)

Description: Leaving the rodeo of Springfield County Fair runners will head south on the Mopac Trail towards the Platte river. This flat section of the course is often inside the comfort of overhanging trees and starts off besides a small stream. This flat crushed limestone section is the longest on the course but is also one of the easier running sections of the course because of lack of elevation. Most of the leg runs parallel with Highway 50. Highway 50 is often hidden from the runners view because the amount of trees and the elevation difference between the trail and the highway. Towards the end of the leg runners will pass a small bar at the end of the leg and go underneath Highway 50 before they reach exchange point 13 in the Mopac Parking lot at Highway 50 and Highway 31.

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: 5.00 miles (Starts at 42.78, ends at 47.78)

Surface: Paved Road and Crushed Limestone

Exchange Point: Mopac Parking Lot (Hwy 50 and Hwy 301)

Description: Leaving the Mopac Parking lot runners will head west on Hwy 31. This paved two lane Nebraska Hwy follows the Platte River. Runners will want to stay on the south side of the road running on the same side as oncoming traffic. This up and down section of the course offers some of the most scenic views on the entire course. As runners approach the Platte foot bridge they will turn left into a parking lot at around 4 miles and head downhill past a series of trailers and tall cottonwood trees before they reach the bridge. The footbridge gives a great view of the surrounding bluffs and state parks around the Platte River. Quickly after the bridge runners will meet their teammates on Rock Island on the west side of the Platte for exchange point 14.

Difficulty: Medium Hard

Length: 4.66 miles (Starts at 47.78, ends at 52.44)

Surface: Crushed Limestone, Gravel, and Paved Road

Exchange Point: Camp Kitaki (Rock Island, NE East Park Hwy and Park Dr.)

Description: Leaving Rock Island runners will experience a crushed limestone and paved trail for less than a mile before reaching the West Lake Park's gravel road. This road will end quickly and runners will want to take a right onto Kimberly Drive for a short distance, at the top of hill (between a graveyard and farmhouse) the road will turn south onto Allison Drive. Runners will follow Allison Drive for one mile until they reach Kleiser Rd, where runners will take a right. Following Klesier to the West runners will head up a large hill to 310th St. At 310th St. runners will turn right onto the paved road towards Trinity Lutheran Church at the corner of 310th and Church.

Difficulty: Medium

Length: 5.58 miles (Starts at 52.44, ends at 58.03)

Surface: Paved Road

Exchange Point: Lutheran Church (310th and Church)

Description: Surrounded by farm land and running on rolling hills this classic rural Nebraska road passes the town of Murdock shortly after the 2 mile mark. This leg runs completely south towards Grandpa's Woods golf course. As runners arrive to Grandpa's Woods they can give themselves a pat on the back for just running the longest section of the Market To Market Relay.

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 3.02 miles (Starts at 58.03, ends at 61.06)

Surface: Paved Road, Gravel, and Crushed Limestone

Exchange Point: Grandpa's Woods Golf Course - Mopac (310th and Alvo Rd.)

Description: Less than a mile south of Grandpa's Woods 310th St meets up with the Mopac Trail which picked up again at Wabash and continues into Lincoln. This relatively flat section of Mopac heads southwest underneath hanging trees and over numerous streams. The trail was once a Missouri Pacific Railroad line that was abandoned in 1984 and the land was purchased by the Nebraska Trails Foundation. Runners will reach the town of Elmwood and reach exchange point 17 at the south edge of town just after they pass 298th St.

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: 4.33 miles (Starts at 61.06, ends at 65.39)

Surface: Crushed Limestone

Exchange Point: Elmwood Trailhead - Mopac (Elmwood, NE 298th St.)

Description: Leaving Elmwood, runners will continue on the Mopac and continue heading southwest on the crushed limestone trail. The first mile of this leg gains about 60 feet in elevation and is not as tree covered as the previous stage allowing runners to see the surrounding rural areas. Racers will reach exchange point 18 at 250th Street. This will be the end of runner 1's day if they are running on an 8-person team.

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 3.58 miles (Starts at 65.39, ends at 68.97)

Surface: Crushed Limestone

Exchange Point: 250th and O St.

Description: Runners continue down the Mopac Trail heading west towards the next exchange point in Eagle, Nebraska. This relatively flat section of the Mopac runs parallel to O Street and passes Wright Cemetery on the runner's left. As soon as runners reach Eagle, they will make the transition to the next runner.

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 4.14 miles (Starts at 68.97, ends at 73.11)

Surface: Crushed Limestone

Exchange Point: Eagle Trailhead - Mopac (Eagle, NE)

Description: Leaving Eagle, runners will again be surrounded by a canopy of trees above the Mopac Trail. Runners continue heading west and will cross over O Street at about 184th Street. This slightly downhill section of the Mopac Trail ends at 162nd Street just south of O Street.

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 3.35 miles (Starts at 73.11, ends at 76.46)

Surface: Crushed Limestone

Exchange Point: 162nd St. and O St.

Description: This stage of the course starts with a steady elevation drop, losing about 100 ft in the first mile and a half. The Mopac Trail continues through rural Nebraska for most of this section and passes Crooked Creek golf course between 132nd Street and 120th Street. Runners will reach the small town of Walton and make the final exchange point outside of Lincoln.

Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

Length: 2.72 miles (Starts at 76.46, ends at 79.18)

Surface: Crushed Limestone

Exchange Point: Walton Trailhead - Mopac (Walton, NE)

Description: Leaving the silos of Walton, runners head down one of the busier sections of the Mopac Trail. This section of the course is cover by tree canopy and signs of Lincoln are marked along the way. Runners may start to notice an increased number of birds in this section especially when they pass the Audubon Grassland Prairie area before 100th Street. Runners will pass a small country estate as they run over A Street at about 98th Street. Continuing down the crushed limestone trail, runners pass YMCA's Sprit Park before reaching exchange point 22 at the MoPac Station Trailhead.

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 2.95 miles (Starts at 79.18, ends at 82.13)

Surface: Paved Recreation Path

Exchange Point: Mopac Station Trailhead (Lincoln, NE)

Description: Starting on the eastern edge of Lincoln, runners cross 84th Street and continue on the Mopac. The trail changes from crushed limestone to a paved recreation path. Heading west, runners pass through residential areas past Wedgewood Lake and then cross over O Street on a footbridge. Quickly cutting through Lincoln runners pass a local nursery before they cross 66th Street and then Vine Street. From here, the trail continues through residential areas until runners make it to the exchange point shortly after they cross the 48th Street bridge.

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 3.64 miles (Starts at 82.13, ends at 85.77)

Surface: Paved Recreation Path and Paved Road

Exchange Point: 45th and W

Description: The next runner continues heading west toward downtown Lincoln. After Peter Pan Park runners will head north on 29th St towards Y St. Once Runners reach Y St. they will turn west towards 27th St. Runners will cross 27th St. at Y St. (look forward to bridge over 27th St. in 2009). After crossing 27th St. runners will turn south on 26th St. and run towards Vine St. Runners will take a right on Vine Street heading towards the University of Nebraska until runners reach 14th St where they will take a right to Holdrege St. Following the lights, runners will stay on the trail and head towards Memorial Stadium, home of Husker Football. Immediately after passing the stadium runners will cross over to Lincoln's Historic Haymarket.

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 0.15 miles (Starts at 85.77, ends at 85.92)

Surface: Paved Recreation Path and Paved Road

Exchange Point: 8th and Charleston

Description: The last and final exchange point. A short jog to the finish line, we encourage entire teams to cross the finish line together to celebrate their accomplishment.