Overall Rating
Overall Rating (75 Reviews)
4.8
(75 Ratings) 🏆 (75 Reviews)
DIFFICULTY
2.9
SCENERY
4.5
PRODUCTION
4.7
SWAG
4.1
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 … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Apr 27):
  2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
 
H (°F)  63  50  60  70  48
L (°F)  48  24  40  47  33
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Recent reviews

    lasswelljd FIRST-TIMER '23

    The course was awesome and mile 12 was beyond awesome .. having the college cheering you on was so euphoric. Great race great town and very supportive community MORE

    The course was awesome and mile 12 was beyond awesome .. having the college cheering you on was so euphoric. Great race great town and very supportive community

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    2
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    sdalessio FIRST-TIMER '23

    Be prepared for any weather for a late April WI race but the organizers will make sure you are taken care of and still have a good time. Try to … MORE

    Be prepared for any weather for a late April WI race but the organizers will make sure you are taken care of and still have a good time. Try to stay in town at one of the host hotels so you can walk to everything including lots of restaurant options. The course is very pretty with several river crossings. The crowd support from the town and local college students is great. Lots of energy on course. If I lived closer, I would do this race again. High recommend.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
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    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    CarrieLeean FIRST-TIMER '23

    lots of food offerings at the aid stations, not just water and gatorade. Lots of volunteers and local people out cheering us on. beautiful scenery with the bridges, and U … MORE

    lots of food offerings at the aid stations, not just water and gatorade. Lots of volunteers and local people out cheering us on. beautiful scenery with the bridges, and U of WI Eau Claire in the last mile.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    3

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    DonutShark FIRST-TIMER '23

    It’s the last day of April, and I open my hotel blinds to see wind-whipped rain mixed with snow. Welcome to spring in Wisconsin! My favorite part of this race, … MORE

    It’s the last day of April, and I open my hotel blinds to see wind-whipped rain mixed with snow. Welcome to spring in Wisconsin!

    My favorite part of this race, by far, was running alongside the rivers and over the bridges. Such a nice change of scenery compared to the full urban milieu of most city races. Eau Claire is a really charming town.

    Race production seemed fine. No issues with packet pick-up, communication, race day logistics, etc. I thought porta-potties were a little sparse along the race route. The expo was an outdoor affair and coincided with some other small races occurring the Saturday afternoon before. Again, the outdoor setting was a nice change of pace…even if it was cold, windy, and rainy that day, too. My only real gripe was the swag: Race shirt is a boring gray cotton t-shirt…probably the weakest race shirt I’ve picked up along the way. Oh well…whatcha gonna do?

    The race route carved a scenic path through Eau Claire, crossing or paralleling the rivers for much of the race. It was hillier than I expected in a few parts, but not necessarily a hilly race…I think my tired legs were just grumbly. There was a 2ish mile out and back into a wooded park area along a dirt road at miles 9.5 – 11.5ish, which was a muddy tromp because of the rain. I love trail runs, but that little stretch did nothing to add to the event, and the thought of slogging in mud with that much left in the race didn’t excite me. Still…a minor quibble. I loved all the bridge crossings (mile 22 was my fave), and the Blugold Mile with the UWEC students near the end was a fun (and much-needed) boost of energy.

    Post-race was standard fare…typical bananas, water, chocolate milk, and a few other goodies. There was a party tent and a single beer ticket. Beer selection was decent. Plenty of pubs and restaurants nearby to continue your celebration if you like.

    Lots of shops in downtown Eau Claire offered perks to runners, mostly 10% discounts. May same trivial, but I love it when local businesses support the race and the runners like that. Makes me want to support them in return.

    The Eau Claire Marathon was a great event, and I confess: I’ve fallen in love with Wisconsin during my visit. I may have just found my next home.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    2
    My Media

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    JAH1108 FIRST-TIMER '23

    I signed up for this race after reading all the other positive reviews, and hoping this could be a Boston qualifier race for me. The pros: this is a very … MORE

    I signed up for this race after reading all the other positive reviews, and hoping this could be a Boston qualifier race for me.

    The pros: this is a very fun, cute, hip town. The race is very well-run. The smallness of the race make all the logistics EASY! After the race, the support, the cheering, the snacks, and after-party are super uplifting. The whole town is buzzing. The race t-shirt was cute, although looks very small.

    The cons: this is not a flat course. I’m from Chicago and not used to such a hilly course. Despite my hill-training, I found the hills extremely challenging. Except for two flat areas, it felt like there was a hill at every turn.

    Another con, is that the half-marathon merges with the marathon at mile 16! That means you are weaving in and out, dodging slower runners and even walkers! It slowed me down considerably. And I lost some of the other runners I had been keeping pace with in the crowd.

    Another con, is that many areas of the race are quiet with very few crowds. You are running in residential areas that may have a few people out, but not enough to give you a pick me up as you battle the hills. I found it depressing.

    Overall, if trying to qualify for Boston, or get a PR, I would never choose this race. I feel like I made a crucial mistake. I qualified only barely, and thus will likely have to run another marathon this fall to get a better time.

    Last con, the medals were pretty awful! Big giant rectangle with the huge word Decade on it since this is the 10th anniversary of the marathon. Tacky. Last year’s (state of WI shape) looked so much cooler!

    DIFFICULTY
    4
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    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    4

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    hperrault34 REPEAT RUNNER '22

    Fun scenery with bridges, smile mile, musical mile, Blugold mile (run through the university). The course is not an out an back, but there are a few key areas for … MORE

    Fun scenery with bridges, smile mile, musical mile, Blugold mile (run through the university). The course is not an out an back, but there are a few key areas for spectators to be able to see their runners multiple times. Professionally produced with a hometown feel. T-shirts are super soft (I usually have to size up). Finisher medals are heavy duty.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
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    4
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    GooseJuggler FIRST-TIMER '22

    I chose the Eau Claire Marathon for my first 10k - and was surprised it is also the race's first as well! I thought it was super smooth. Easy parking … MORE

    I chose the Eau Claire Marathon for my first 10k – and was surprised it is also the race’s first as well! I thought it was super smooth. Easy parking nearby, fun festival atmosphere for even the shorter races. Great aid stations if needed. Absolutely loved crossing all the bridges, but that first uphill is rough! Even for a shorter race, the course was lined with spectators cheering everyone on – that made it SO much fun! Thanks for a great time.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
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    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    3

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    Tailhook007 FIRST-TIMER '22

    It was raining the day prior for packet pickup and the day of the race, but the turn out along the course was AMAZING! Such a supportive town. The course … MORE

    It was raining the day prior for packet pickup and the day of the race, but the turn out along the course was AMAZING! Such a supportive town. The course was beautiful with several crossings of the Chippewa River. If you’re looking for a small town race with great production, sign up for Eau Claire!

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    tschwamberger REPEAT RUNNER '22

    Eau Claire is such a fun town that caters to outdoor activities. Especially runners. The course was so great because it took you on some of their great River trails … MORE

    Eau Claire is such a fun town that caters to outdoor activities. Especially runners. The course was so great because it took you on some of their great River trails and the awesome bridges. I didn’t even mind the hill early on in the course. I also appreciated it finishing by the farmers market this year. It was so easy to get in and out of after the race. My family also had an easy time getting to different parts of the course to cheer me on.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
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    flauwers REPEAT RUNNER '22

    This race brings all of the feeling of a small town race, but some of the perks of a well organized and large event. This year it rained the entire … MORE

    This race brings all of the feeling of a small town race, but some of the perks of a well organized and large event.

    This year it rained the entire weekend (outdoor expo and race pre/post events) therefore runners were really working to keep spirits up. This did not stop organizers from showering each runner with love and excitement for the weekend. With this being said, typically the expo has a ton of vendors and people really embrace this. I don’t know if it was the rain/weather but it just didn’t have the expo turnout in the past.

    The swag is ALWAYS some of my favorite pieces! The race shirts have always been my go to for athletic wear. The swag store has new trendy and unique items every year.

    I raced the half marathon (and have raced or ran training runs on this route 10+ times in the past). The race route is a bit tough- hard to call it a speedy PR course. There are a series of hills, switchbacks, and sharp curves in the first few miles that make it hard to build your momentum in those crucial few miles. With that being said, if you want to PR on this course it is still totally possible. I have not ran the EC marathon so I could not attest to that route.

    This race is extremely well organized. There is water/aid where it is needed, the flow is outstanding, and post race is well planned out. Everything about race day flows and allows runners to focus on what they do best (CRUSH THAT RACE).

    Highly recommend for first timers, or returning racers! Great time of the year if marathoners are looking for a good tune up race for a spring marathon.

    DIFFICULTY
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    5
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    Lily_Emmanuel FIRST-TIMER '22

    This race was so much fun! Unfortunately this year the weather was not on our side but everyone made the best of it. I came from out of state and … MORE

    This race was so much fun! Unfortunately this year the weather was not on our side but everyone made the best of it. I came from out of state and it was a great way to see the town. Even though it was cloudy and cold it was still really pretty and I loved running across all of the bridges and rivers. The aid stations were decorated with balloons and there were funny and encouraging signs through the whole course. There were so many people cheering us on and everyone was so friendly. I definitely want to do it again!!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
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    5
    My Report
    SCENERY
    5
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    5

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    jmyhre REPEAT RUNNER '22

    A beautiful scenic and well supported marathon route which includes a total of 11 river bridge crossings. The aesthetics of this route invigorates your running experience. A highly recommended marathon … MORE

    A beautiful scenic and well supported marathon route which includes a total of 11 river bridge crossings. The aesthetics of this route invigorates your running experience. A highly recommended marathon for those who want to experience Wisconsin’s natural beauty!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    seichterok FIRST-TIMER '22

    The EC Half Marathon was amazing! Great spectator spots, excellent race gear, great tshirts, and just a fantastic experience! So much cheering and excitement the whole weekend! MORE

    The EC Half Marathon was amazing! Great spectator spots, excellent race gear, great tshirts, and just a fantastic experience! So much cheering and excitement the whole weekend!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    4

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    bkmoline FIRST-TIMER '22

    See my full race report below. A few things that stand out: * Very nice course with good variety. A nice mix of neighborhoods, parks and bike paths. * One … MORE

    See my full race report below. A few things that stand out:
    * Very nice course with good variety. A nice mix of neighborhoods, parks and bike paths.
    * One tough stretch of about two miles that was an out-and-back on a muddy gravel road. Challenging in the wet weather.
    * Loved the starting area near Phoenix Park. The finish line was a little congested.
    * I would definitely recommend this race for anyone looking for a PR and/or a Boston qualifying time.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    My Report
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    4
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    Michael_Walentiny REPEAT RUNNER '22

    Corse was awesome with crowd support and it was a really fun time. Enjoyed the ways races were spread out and all finished together. Looking forward to next year. MORE

    Corse was awesome with crowd support and it was a really fun time. Enjoyed the ways races were spread out and all finished together. Looking forward to next year.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    chestine21 FIRST-TIMER '22

    Eau Claire is a smallish town about 90 minutes east of the Twin Cities. There were many inexpensive hotel options just a few short blocks from the start/finish. Packet pickup … MORE

    Eau Claire is a smallish town about 90 minutes east of the Twin Cities. There were many inexpensive hotel options just a few short blocks from the start/finish. Packet pickup is available on race day morning! If you’re busy with home life and traveling for races with complicated logistics are tough for you, this is your race! I drove up late Saturday night got a cheap room for less than $100, woke up walked to the start area collected my bib and then just waited around as it was just that easy, no shuttles, no busy crowded corrals. Plenty of bathrooms with super short lines. Also it was raining a bit this morning as the start chute was covered so there was not getting drenched while waiting for the race to begin. There was a good number of pacers for the popular goal times. I started with one and it wasn’t overly crowded, I fell off the pace after a few miles but I was never running alone at any point of the race. There were a few moderate hills, one hairpin turn but there is no reason a well trained runner couldn’t set a PR or BQ on this course. The finish area is awesome, it finishes in downtown Eau Claire with plenty of bars, restaurants and hotels just steps away from the finish area. I’ve run Grandmas 3x and I gotta say if faced with a choice of one or the other, I would pick Eau Claire and not lose any sleep over it. A hidden gem of a spring Midwest race, can’t wait to run it again!

    DIFFICULTY
    4
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    5
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    Kristen_Irwin REPEAT RUNNER '22

    I ran my first half marathon in 2019 at the Eau Claire marathon. I’ve done numerous other races races prior to and after, and this is still by far the … MORE

    I ran my first half marathon in 2019 at the Eau Claire marathon. I’ve done numerous other races races prior to and after, and this is still by far the best one I’ve done.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    leannes12 REPEAT RUNNER '22

    The Eau Claire Half-Marathon is an all-time favorite! I’m an out-of-towner that keeps returning, year after year. First of all, the entire town comes out to cheer and volunteer. The … MORE

    The Eau Claire Half-Marathon is an all-time favorite! I’m an out-of-towner that keeps returning, year after year.

    First of all, the entire town comes out to cheer and volunteer. The energy from the crowds is what makes this race so fun. Just when you can’t imagine it getting any better, you run through the blue/gold mile -the EW-Eau Claire campus. You are greeted by the marching band, and students cheering and handing out high fives.

    The scenery of the race is gorgeous. The route takes runners over many beautiful bridges.

    Organization of the race is always top notch. The ease of packet pickup, quality of the race swag, number of toilets, and the number of water stations are all bonuses.

    I definitely plan to keep running Eau Claire! #runeauclaire

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
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    4
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    5

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    lucky13666 REPEAT RUNNER '22

    This race is beautiful, scenery, spectators, post race beverages and entertainment. I've race this race 11 straight years and I'll keep coming back until I can't run MORE

    This race is beautiful, scenery, spectators, post race beverages and entertainment. I’ve race this race 11 straight years and I’ll keep coming back until I can’t run

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    obriene2 REPEAT RUNNER '22

    If your a first runner or a repetitive runner this is one of my favorites to run, the atmosphere and the people that are involved , the 12 mile is … MORE

    If your a first runner or a repetitive runner this is one of my favorites to run, the atmosphere and the people that are involved , the 12 mile is one of my favorites because everyone is cheering you on to motivate to the finish

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
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