KALAMAZOO, MI - Bacon Station, Popsicle Hill, Gummy Bear Trail and Peppermint Park sound like stopping points from the board game Candy Land.

In reality, they're landmarks that have helped the Kalamazoo Marathon receive recognition as the state's No. 1 road race, according to Best of Michigan and AmericanTowns Media.

The website mentions the race's 26.2-mile track that winds through neighborhoods, parks and the nation's first outdoor pedestrian mall (the Kalamazoo Mall), as reasons for its No. 1 ranking.

Plus, there are the Excitement Zones, which feature live music and supportive spectators, as well as grab-and-go food for the runners, including bacon, popsicles and sweets.

"The Kalamazoo community is absolutely awesome, and they really come out for the race, and that's what makes it a really unique experience for the participants," said Kalamazoo Marathon operations manager Cheryl Pickett. "We have some very unique spirit stations along the way, and they're there to ease people's minds in those final miles."

The seventh edition of the Kalamazoo Marathon takes place Sunday, May 7, as part of the weekend-long Borgess Run, which includes a half marathon, 10k, 5k run, 5k walk, a 1-mile kids fun run, a motivational mile for those who have overcome or are working to overcome health challenges and a newly created Military Mile for veterans.

New to this year's races are bibs with computer chips that track a runner's progress through a mobile app called The Kalamazoo Marathon.

"The app will be great for tracking friends and family who are running, and it will have useful information about where to park and tips along the way," Pickett said. "We've always kept track of splits, and you could check online to see where a runner was at, but we're always trying to up our game. We wanted to raise the bar for races and keep up with other races across the country."

In addition to its top ranking from Best of Michigan, the Kalamazoo Marathon recently received recognition from Running Times Magazine as a "Must Run."

According to the list, the state's remaining top-10 races range from Metro Detroit to the Upper Peninsula:

2. Shamrocks & Shenanigans, Ann Arbor

3. Rock CF Half Marathon, Detroit

4. Run Woodstock, Pinckney

5. Two Hearted Trail Run, Paradise (UP)

6. Wheel Run Together, Allendale

7. Big House 5K, Ann Arbor

8. Gazelle Girl Half Marathon, Grand Rapids

9. fridayfiveK, Muskegon

10. Tulip Time Run, Holland