TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
The TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon centers on a marathon held in the Quad Cities, a metropolitan area spanning the Mississippi River between Iowa and Illinois. The race takes place across five cities: Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in Illinois. The course winds through the low Mississippi River Valley, with elevations between approximately 590 and 850 feet. This region holds significant Sauk and Fox history, including Saukenuk, the primary Sauk village and Black Hawk's birthplace, with a portion preserved at Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island. River commerce also influenced the cities, particularly near the Rock Island Rapids, a challenging section where steamboat crews would pause to rest and recruit pilots.