Save $10 with code RACERAVES ***The Eau Claire marathon course has always focused on emphasizing the beauty of the city, particularly its bridges and rivers, and the new start certainly embraces that!! When you stand on the Madison Street Bridge and look North and South, the view of the river …
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The Eau Claire marathon course has always focused on emphasizing the beauty of the city, particularly its bridges and rivers, and the new start certainly embraces that!! When you stand on the Madison Street Bridge and look North and South, the view of the river is spectacular. From a runner standpoint, it will trigger many emotions which all are tied to your task at hand. It suggests POWER but at the same time reminds us of PERSISTENCE and CALMNESS. The course re-design was not taken lightly and we think the changes will enhance not only the runners but spectators experience as well. Centering around the Phoenix Park Area, spectators will be able to witness runners as they start, as they loop through early on in the race as well as before they head down Barstow and again as they finish….. THAT significantly enhances the runners experience!!
Similar to the Full Marathon, but traveling down 5th, the half marathon course also focuses on emphasizing the beauty of the city, particularly its bridges and rivers!
With over 1,000 student supporters and volunteers taking part, the Blugold Mile (Marathon Mile 25.0 / Half Marathon Mile 12.0) comes at the exact point in the race when you need it most!
On top of all the enthusiasm you will find from the crowds, the Blugold Marching Band and other musical organizations are there to give runners that final push to the finish line. It is easy to see why the Blugold Mile has quickly become a favorite among those running the race!
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Great race with 1 major issue.
I've been participating in the Eau Claire marathon for many years and have always appreciated how well it's put on. Very organized, amazing volunteers, clearly marked course, etc. Crowd support … MORE
I’ve been participating in the Eau Claire marathon for many years and have always appreciated how well it’s put on. Very organized, amazing volunteers, clearly marked course, etc. Crowd support is great, especially the downtown area.
That said, the past few years they’ve structured the Sunday races so that the half and full marathons meet up a few miles before the finish. When I reach that point, my pace is about 2 min/mile faster than the half marathoners. Because of this, I’m weaving through groups of runners and running in the grass to get around them. As someone trying to BQ, it is very stressful. I know that sounds petty, but it’s a marathon after all.
If you are a runner with a specific time goal, keep this in mind. If you are running a different distance, or aren’t concerned about potentially running a couple minutes slower than your goal, this is an amazing event.
Awesome run. Would recommend
Course Difficulty- a few hills. But nothing crazy. Or maybe they are and I’m just getting better🤷♀️ Elevation Map uploaded. Scenery- it was very nice. Crossed over like 9 bridges! … MORE
Course Difficulty- a few hills. But nothing crazy. Or maybe they are and I’m just getting better🤷♀️ Elevation Map uploaded.
Scenery- it was very nice. Crossed over like 9 bridges! Some nice neighborhoods. Would have been a little nicer if the trees had fall colors but you can’t have everything!
Race production- zero complaints. Packet pick up was a breeze (or I assume as the person who picked up my packet had no issues!) small expo which I was able to go back and enjoy later. Many local establishments. Lots of bathrooms at the start line. Of course there were a lot of people also so the lines were a bit long. But great news is I run from Chip time not gun time😂. Bag drop and pick up were easy. You had to use the draw string bag you were given at packet pick up.
Cheer support was pretty phenomenal. There were 3 awesome spots… about mile 6,10, and 12- you had full crowds cheering for you lining the street- you couldn’t even hear your own music! Mile 12 had college athletics support . They really gave you energy. Only complaint is that they motivated me to run when I was supposed to be walking😂😂 (kidding of course!) .
Aid stations had mostly Gatorade and water. One with honey stingers. And a spot with oranges and bananas. Other things would have been nice.
Swag- nothing impressive. Shirt was simple, super soft. And you got a nice medal. If you did the 5 and 10 k you got one for each of those as well as well as other swag (we didn’t do those though so I can’t comment on them). We did do the Half and Half challenge though (get in Gear, MN – day prior)! Bonus medal! At the end there were free beer options, soda, milk, snacks, water, and foil blankets.
Over all, would do again, and 100% would recommend. Reasons it’s not a 5/5 is swag was a little skimpy, and although it was great, I try to reserve 5 for runs I would go out of my way to do again, even if it was before getting another state in ! But if you’re looking for WI, it’s a great option.
Fun and pretty
A very fun and pretty course. Miles 17-21 were the only miles that were bit along the river. The expo is on the smaller side. Overall I really enjoyed this … MORE
A very fun and pretty course. Miles 17-21 were the only miles that were bit along the river. The expo is on the smaller side. Overall I really enjoyed this run.
Crowd Support is Amazing
We partnered this state with Minnesota and did the Half and Half Challenge for a nice Bonus Medal. Did the 5K on Saturday and Half on Sunday - (Did Get … MORE
We partnered this state with Minnesota and did the Half and Half Challenge for a nice Bonus Medal. Did the 5K on Saturday and Half on Sunday – (Did Get in Gear Minnesota on Saturday) Stayed at the Lismore Hotel – Perfect Location to start and finish of Half. Very nice expo! We received a shirt for 5K and one for Half and a cool Jacket for doing the 5K and Half. The entire city wraps their arms around this race and comes out in full force to cheer the runner!!
Major issue during second half
As others have mentioned, the half marathon joining the full for the last 7 or so miles on a narrow path made it extremely difficult to run your pace (combined … MORE
As others have mentioned, the half marathon joining the full for the last 7 or so miles on a narrow path made it extremely difficult to run your pace (combined with the headwind and the imminent wall, neither of which are the RD’s fault). My pace was such that when the half joined the course the people that were doing the half were walking. Nothing against walkers, everyone deserves their race but there needs to be a division or at least a “keep right” side to allow the faster runners to continue to run. Other than that, top notch race. Still very much recommended! Volunteers were suuuper nice and the course was beautiful!
My favorite half marathon (out of 25+!)
I was blown away at this race. The entire city had a running buzz about it both Saturday and Sunday. The swag is so trendy and the shirts are so … MORE
I was blown away at this race. The entire city had a running buzz about it both Saturday and Sunday. The swag is so trendy and the shirts are so soft – clothes I’ll actually wear again. Hands down the best part are the spectators. True Midwest-Nice and friendly cheering for every person out there. A lot of great bridges for scenery and through lively down towns.
The toughest parts were two climbs (about mile 4 and 6) but were doable if you incorporate a couple hills in training and keep a smile on your face – and the fact that at mile 10 you are in down town where the race ends but need to go add on a two mile loop before you get to finish. The energy gives you a nice boost but mentally can be tough when you are so close (in proximity) to the finish.
The best part: the Bluegold mile at mile 12 through the campus. The energy there is unmatched.
Wonderful Crowd Support
We partnered this state with Minnesota and did the Half and Half Challenge for a nice Bonus Medal. Did the 5K on Saturday and Half on Sunday - (Did Get … MORE
We partnered this state with Minnesota and did the Half and Half Challenge for a nice Bonus Medal. Did the 5K on Saturday and Half on Sunday – (Did Get in Gear Minnesota on Saturday) Stayed at the Lismore Hotel – Perfect Location to start and finish of Half. Very nice expo! We received a shirt for 5K and one for Half and a cool Jacket for doing the 5K and Half. The entire city wraps their arms around this race and comes out in full force to cheer the runner!!
Great organization, scenery, and crowd
For a midsize race ECM has amazing organization and a stellar crowd. A very nice scenic river course and great weather. My one critique would be that the half marathon … MORE
For a midsize race ECM has amazing organization and a stellar crowd. A very nice scenic river course and great weather. My one critique would be that the half marathon runners and the marathon runners joined up together around mile 20/7 but the timing is such that the marathon runners and the half marathon runners are running very different paces. This wouldn’t be such a problem, but the course also narrow in this area so it made for a very jostly and disjointed last 6 miles. I figure this probably cost me a minute or more on my time.
The biggest small town race weekend
The ECM has got to be one of the best small town races. This was my first time running a marathon, and I was happily surprised with how well organized, … MORE
The ECM has got to be one of the best small town races. This was my first time running a marathon, and I was happily surprised with how well organized, and produced the whole weekend for the race was. If you participate in the ECM you will get to enjoy all the perks and features you’d find in a big city race but still enjoy the comfort of being a small town. As a first timer, I was welcomed from day one. Enjoyed the perks of free training plan and joined the group runs, and participated in the zoom conferences held by a sports nutritionist, who really helped me come up with my fueling plan for race day, all this at no additional cost. The whole weekend felt like a runners party. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, I will be coming back next year again!
Great spring race weekend!
Eau Claire marathon weekend is a great spring race! I have run or volunteered at this event for the past few years. The organization, support, and overall enthusiasm felt makes … MORE
Eau Claire marathon weekend is a great spring race! I have run or volunteered at this event for the past few years. The organization, support, and overall enthusiasm felt makes this a fun and rewarding run experience. I plan to back next year once again!
Great value and well organized.
This race weekend is very well put on. The city of Eau Claire with all the pedestrian bridges crossing the river multiple times is quite charming, and still large enough … MORE
This race weekend is very well put on. The city of Eau Claire with all the pedestrian bridges crossing the river multiple times is quite charming, and still large enough that you have all the options and shops in case you forget something vital.
A huge bonus from this race was the nutrition classes offered for free to all registered participants. I learned some valuable lessons and believe this helped me to PR and perform better than my previous marathon experience.
Race packet pickup and gear check were both a breeze. Porta potty lines were decent as well. The marathon and half marathon start times staggered 1.5 hours apart which kept everything running smooth without any major rush for the facilities.
The race course for the full marathon has a lot of turns through different neighborhoods, and along the river looping past the airport and heading back into the downtown area. Running a block over from the finish line at mile 23 was not the heartbreak I expected – rather a boost of energy from the post race party and spectators, then through another neighborhood which led right into the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Blue Gold mile which was packed with cheering college students.
Overall the race course was pretty flat with the exception of 3 notable hills, only one of which was on the steeper side. Much of the course is run on wide flat roads, and an approximate 2.5 mile section on dirt road that is well packed and not gravel.
A big drawback of the course is that there are quite a few miles, maybe 5-6, that are completely exposed with no shade. It was very cloudy and was originally supposed to rain, and so it was not an issue this particular day. If it had been a sunny day, this could be devastating for many runners especially coming out of the cold midwestern winters. This particular section netted the 3 “shoe” difficulty because otherwise I probably would have rated it a 2 “shoe” because the hills weren’t too bad and were finished by mile 16.
Aid stations. The course aid was very well supported with many volunteers at each station. There were probably 17 aid stations, and porta potties every couple of miles, so one could run the marathon without carrying their own fluids and stay hydrated enough to perform well. Honey stinger gels and chews were handed out at 2 different locations on the course.
The race medal by itself this year isn’t anything spectacular. Instead, it is the first of a series of 5 medals that will hook together to create one giant medal. Looks like I’ll be coming back for 4 more years! The best part is you don’t have to run the same race to earn the medals that go together. The shirt is a super soft T-shirt with the ECM logo on it and is personalized to show the distance that you actually ran (or registered for).
Love this marathon weekend
This may be a "small town" but has a lot of heart, especially during marathon weekend. I started participating last year and feel as if I have missed out for … MORE
This may be a “small town” but has a lot of heart, especially during marathon weekend. I started participating last year and feel as if I have missed out for way too long, and will continue to be a participant for many years to come. Each marathon I increase my distance, thus a new race. I ran the 10k, enjoyed the course very much. Running across the bridges is a highlight, that last bridge before the turn… into the crowd is always a big push to finish that last bit. I do wish the expo would continue to grow with a multitude of vendors! Love every second of it.
3rd time ECM but first Challenge
Since my first Eau Claire Marathon in 2021 I keep coming back. I love this race, this area, this community, and the team that puts it on. I look forward … MORE
Since my first Eau Claire Marathon in 2021 I keep coming back. I love this race, this area, this community, and the team that puts it on. I look forward to being an ambassador for years to come and having this as my spring tradition every year.
Best half marathon I’ve completed.
I love the atmosphere of this race. I’ve ran other races where you feel alone. There’s so many people cheering you on and providing endless motivation from start to finish. … MORE
I love the atmosphere of this race. I’ve ran other races where you feel alone. There’s so many people cheering you on and providing endless motivation from start to finish.
I’ll be back again next year!
The Eau Claire community never disappoints with the immense support and excitement all race weekend long! I always feel so prepared with the ECM information being sent out well in … MORE
The Eau Claire community never disappoints with the immense support and excitement all race weekend long! I always feel so prepared with the ECM information being sent out well in advance. I knew how to fuel, dress, and train appropriately with ecm’s help!
Fun small town race.
This was a great race. The atmosphere was fun! Beautiful scenery and a very well planned race. Many water stations and great crowd support. Great swag! MORE
This was a great race. The atmosphere was fun! Beautiful scenery and a very well planned race. Many water stations and great crowd support. Great swag!
Best day ever
eau claire half marathon race recap! TLDR: I DID IT!!! threw my back out saturday getting into the car before our 8 hour drive. i was devastated, didn’t know if … MORE
eau claire half marathon race recap!
TLDR: I DID IT!!!
threw my back out saturday getting into the car before our 8 hour drive. i was devastated, didn’t know if i would be able to run on sunday. all of my running since october has been in preparation for this race. woke up sunday and pain was still there but i could manage a jog. i decided to adjust my plan and go for 3:30 min run/1 min walk interval cycle instead of 5/1. when i signed up for this my time goal was 2 hours 45 minutes, averaging a 12:30ish mile. the course was incredible, the spectators gave me so much energy. the vibes were incredible. i smiled through the whole run. met a few friends along the way. and beat my goal time by 6 minutes! finished in 2 hours 38 minutes with an average 12:06 per mile. the last 3 miles were really challenging. in addition to my back stiffness and pain, my left hip started hurting and I started getting cramps in both feet. but i powered through and added extra walk breaks. at mile 6 i could really feel my dad with me, i hadn’t expected that and it was overwhelming and beautiful. i had 40 unread texts when i finished the race from my friends who were tracking me on the app and it made me feel so incredibly loved and supported. so many congratulations after i crossed that finish line- what i’ve spent 9 months working for. this race was everything i hoped it would be and more. can’t wait to go back next year and do it again!
Amazing experience for a first timer!
I chose the Eau Claire Marathon for my first half marathon mainly due to how walker-friendly the race is! I'm a newer runner and was very nervous about increasing my … MORE
I chose the Eau Claire Marathon for my first half marathon mainly due to how walker-friendly the race is! I’m a newer runner and was very nervous about increasing my distance. The community surrounding ECM was so welcoming and supportive! Towards the end of the race I was feeling defeated as I hadn’t properly been able to train for the race and the cheering and community support kept me going!
Not as back of pack friendly as hoped
I signed up for this as probably my first and only marathon. I am well aware that I am very back of back but they indicated that they did not … MORE
I signed up for this as probably my first and only marathon. I am well aware that I am very back of back but they indicated that they did not pull people off the course and everyone would be allowed to finish and get their medal. They also indicated people on bikes would be checking on the stragglers. Although I did finish and get my medal it was made more difficult than it needed to be. They took down directional signs very early and even water stops closed before the 6 hour cutoff. I saw someone taking down the flag for mile 23 and that was basically the last sign I saw. The last people on bikes I saw was probably mile 18 or 19. The finish goes through downtown with many turns and I had no idea where to go. It was raining and made it difficult to check the map on their app even if I could have understood it at that point. I was lost between mile 23&24 and wasted time trying to figure out which way to go and even asking random people on street corners if they knew how to get to where I knew the finish was. I had been approximately 30 minutes ahead of the sweeper but wasted time and when I was about to give up I turned around and the sweeper and final person were coming down the street. Never have I been so happy to see the sweeper. Aubrey was amazing and got us to the finish and to her I am grateful. Although I don’t have a “finish line” picture and missed all the festivities there were people waiting for us and gave us the space blankets and food and chocolate milk and congratulated us. Someone did take a picture of the three of us and ended with a hug from Aubrey. So the end was happy but I was legitimately scared for a while. Everything pre race was great including the communication and nutrition classes offered. The expo was well organized and swag was nice. I would recommend the race if you are faster than about a 5 or 5.5 hour finisher but if you are far back of pack I would look at other options.
Not the best for back-of-the packers
Everything leading up to the race was amazing. Great communication, lots of social media posts, and great merch/swag. I especially enjoyed the 3 free nutrition masterclasses. Packet pick up was … MORE
Everything leading up to the race was amazing. Great communication, lots of social media posts, and great merch/swag. I especially enjoyed the 3 free nutrition masterclasses. Packet pick up was easy and we quickly found free parking. Staff and volunteers were friendly and took time to answer questions. I liked the 7am start time but wish it was just a few weeks later in hopes of better weather as it rained the last 2 hrs.
The course itself was beautiful and I enjoyed the community cheers and costumes. It was a bit hillier than I expected and I could have done without the 3 miles of gravel trail that wasn’t very scenic.
I’m not from the area but signed up due to the advertisement that they would not remove anyone from the course after the 6 hour limit and that bike crew would help people complete the course and earn their medals. But the back-of-the-pack support was not great. I stopped seeing bike support after mile 18 and the course started being broken down way before the course limit. My biggest issue was they removed the directional signs and after mile 22 I had no idea where I was going. The last part of the course twists and turns and goes down by the river and through campus and downtown. I was really scared that I had put in 6 months of training and wouldn’t finish simply because I was lost. When I did finish there was a small group of people cheering which was awesome and I did get my medal but no warming blanket, no photo finish, no PR bell, or food. I had to walk a ways to get my gear bag and then didn’t see a truck and had to walk back. Would be helpful if the gear bags were near the finish for the back-of-packers if there are only a few people left on the course.