Madison Marathon & Half Marathon
Madison, WI
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Join the Madison Marathon & Half Marathon for a beautiful running tour of Madison. Races start and finish on Madison’s iconic Capitol Square and run through several iconic areas of the city often rated #1. Madison Festivals has owned and managed the race since 2001. It was run as the … MORE
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Good local race, if a bit hilly!
I live in Madison, so this race was meaningful to me because of that - the course went through all my favorite places, and the variety/turns kept me distracted. Really … MORE
I live in Madison, so this race was meaningful to me because of that – the course went through all my favorite places, and the variety/turns kept me distracted. Really sweet volunteers and I think the local support makes the race, though I can’t speak to the marathon course – the half was fully stocked with a cheer crew! Definitely some tough hills through the neighborhoods that could be mentally hard if you don’t live here and can anticipate them, but they’re over quickly. I did hear that some 10K runners got routed the wrong way which was very frustrating for them especially considering the price of entry. Expo was fun and some good discounts on gear.
I do think it’s an expensive race for a local event, and I wish there were more charity entries to make it more affordable. I will say though that the shirt you get is awesome – beautiful long sleeve dri-fit. Race sells out early!
A Capital Race
Having the race centered around the Capitol Square made for a great venue for a race that draws thousands of people. It was very walkable from the downtown hotels and … MORE
Having the race centered around the Capitol Square made for a great venue for a race that draws thousands of people. It was very walkable from the downtown hotels and the convention center where the expo was held. I found the expo to be top-notch with more giveaways than I anticipated. A group shakeout run on Saturday morning was very well attended, too. The course was a bit hilly as it made its way around several of the lakes that are within Madison city limits, but that just brought some interest while running through the Arboretum and neighborhoods. Awaiting the runners at the finish was a baked potato bar…yum!
One too many hills for me
The Madison Marathon was a nice race. I thought there were too many hills for my liking and the 2nd half was a bit tougher than the 1st half. I … MORE
The Madison Marathon was a nice race. I thought there were too many hills for my liking and the 2nd half was a bit tougher than the 1st half. I can’t blame the course for me not training on more hills. There were plenty of aid stations, nice crowd support, ran through wonderful neighborhoods at times, and the weather was good except for some light rain the 2nd half of the race. The hotel options were great and I was able to walk 2 blocks to the start and finish of the race.
Disappointing Experience
I had a truly disappointing experience at the Madison Marathon, and I would not recommend it to other runners. It started at the expo, where they couldn’t find my bib. … MORE
I had a truly disappointing experience at the Madison Marathon, and I would not recommend it to other runners.
It started at the expo, where they couldn’t find my bib. I’m not sure if it wasn’t printed or simply lost, but I ended up spending a lot of time trying to sort it out, which was a frustrating start.
On race day, things only got worse. After the half marathon runners turned off, the course became lonely, with no one in front of me for pacing or direction. Unfortunately, I took a wrong turn after being misdirected by a police officer. The lack of clear course guidance in such a situation is unacceptable, especially for a marathon event.
To top it off, the race director came across as rude and unprofessional, which just added to the overall feeling that this race is more focused on making money than supporting runners. It was a huge letdown, especially given the effort that goes into training for a marathon.
For anyone considering the Madison Marathon, I would highly recommend the Indy Monumental Marathon instead. It’s a well-organized event, and I believe it’s held the same weekend—far more worth your time and effort than Madison.
Lakeside tour of Madison
I ran as a first timer and had a pretty difficult time with this race. Madison capped off ~5 marathons in ~7 weeks so I have been pushing it this … MORE
I ran as a first timer and had a pretty difficult time with this race. Madison capped off ~5 marathons in ~7 weeks so I have been pushing it this fall and had to run in my B/ C shoes after tossing my worn out A shoes. It made a big difference for me and I definitely could have picked better footwear.
Pros: Good scenery, well supported, nice shirt, easy expo, nice medal.
Cons: Narrow opening 5 miles and I seriously regretted showing up late and being in the slower corrals. Very annoying. Conditions were wet and a lot of the sidewalk/ trail miles were slippery. Very hilly course particularly the back half so be advised.
Great time of year to run in Wisconsin
The race course went through many different neighborhoods. The view and the fall colors were nice to see as the run went on. The time of year makes for a … MORE
The race course went through many different neighborhoods. The view and the fall colors were nice to see as the run went on. The time of year makes for a nice Wisconsin run.
Great event overall
The Madison Marathon loops you around scenic Lake Monona, then through The University of Wisconsin campus. It was a fun and challenging course in that the three biggest hills are … MORE
The Madison Marathon loops you around scenic Lake Monona, then through The University of Wisconsin campus. It was a fun and challenging course in that the three biggest hills are all between miles 16 and 23. The heavy winds added another wrinkle to the course difficulty. There were many gracious volunteers, and the fan support gave me energy. I came to appreciate the large font name on my bib, because spectators could see my name and cheer me on personally. The expo was smooth with photo ops and swag booths aplenty.
The only reason this race does not get five stars from me is because of the lack of restrooms on the course. Due to long lines at every porta-potty, I had to hold my bladder until about mile 11, at which point I was forced to stand in line for several minutes in order to use one.
Course Provides Great views/ Very Cold
The course is significantly organized in portraying the city through the entire run. Overall the course didn’t present too many challenges, the hills weren’t that bad, but my rating depicts … MORE
The course is significantly organized in portraying the city through the entire run. Overall the course didn’t present too many challenges, the hills weren’t that bad, but my rating depicts the frigid temperatures that put my body in check by mile 20. With the unpleasant 20 degree temperatures combined with the wicked wind, my fingers and toes were numb. By the end, they had warm meals and the finish line was a festival of greatness that I didn’t get to enjoy as I had no feeling in my hands and rushed to the indoors. I could have made my way back but that cold chill was not favorable. DO NOT let this sway your mind from participating, just know that the weather can be brutal and be prepared. I had gloves, head-warmer and so wished I would have carried hand warmers and wore thicker thermal leggings and undershirt. Just be prepared and run this amazing marathon!
Lots of Positives in the Mad City
The marathon has a nice, varied course that goes through a wooded section, parts of downtown and the University of Wisconsin campus, and beautiful residential neighborhoods along the lakes. The … MORE
The marathon has a nice, varied course that goes through a wooded section, parts of downtown and the University of Wisconsin campus, and beautiful residential neighborhoods along the lakes. The course has some pretty decent hills throughout, but nothing too crazy. The Marathoners have the entire first half of course to themselves because the 10K and Half Marathon are run on the second half of the course – I really appreciated this approach because I think it helped ensure less congestion and I wish other races would consider this set-up. Good communication from event organizers throughout, pretty medal and nice shirt. Unsurprisingly, it was cold (mid 20s F) with this race being in Mid-November. It actually snowed a little the day before the race which I think added to the beauty of the course and I don’t mind running in the cold, but I know some people who would have struggled with the conditions. I do think it could be an even more enjoyable race if held in late September or early October, but overall, I was quite pleased with my experience.
Great support
I picked this run because it was in Madison and a former high school friend of mine owns a food tour company called Madison Eats. Unfortunately, she was not in … MORE
I picked this run because it was in Madison and a former high school friend of mine owns a food tour company called Madison Eats. Unfortunately, she was not in town this weekend and while the weather was 70 on Wednesday, it was 29 at the start of the run on Sunday.
The race starts and ends at the state capitol building, and the finish line comes down a street that frames the Capitol well in the background. Most of the course was flat, but there were a few hills. One that was a bit of a difficult one through some houses near the lake, and one closer to the finish. Other than those it was relatively easy difficulty level. There were plenty of aid stations along the way with water, Gatorade, and Guy. The thing that stood out the most was the crowd support. The town really came out to support and cheer on the runners. The final mile had streets lined with cheering people and it was a great experience. Even throughout the course there were people watching and cheering. The course ran through communities and those living there were outside to cheer us on. Really one of the best runs with a supportive crowd. Great community, some glimpses of water, and I think even the governor’s house. The t-shirt seemed to be larger and the goodie bag had a lot of discounts and advertisements for local businesses. The medal was nice as well. I would come back to Madison, although I would prefer summer.
Fun way to see Madison!
This race starts and ends at the capital, which is great for pics. Really enjoyed this run. Great urban race and well executed. It had a fast start with a … MORE
This race starts and ends at the capital, which is great for pics. Really enjoyed this run. Great urban race and well executed. It had a fast start with a nice downhill right away. A few hills on the course, but nothing terrible. I’ll do this again in a heartbeat.
Madison is a fun town to visit
I originally signed up for the 2020 Run Madtown Half Marathon. When that was cancelled again in 2021, one of the options was to transfer to this race. So this … MORE
I originally signed up for the 2020 Run Madtown Half Marathon. When that was cancelled again in 2021, one of the options was to transfer to this race. So this wasn’t actually the race I intended to run in Wisconsin!
Madison is a fun town and I definitely enjoyed the weekend. The weather (apparently) had just turned colder right before the weekend. There was snow the night before and some flurries during the race.
The expo was on the small side. I have no idea if that was due to COVID or if that was the typical size. It was an easy process. Every race (5k, 10k, half, and full) received the same shirt–which was long sleeve and cotton. I prefer technical running shirts that are unique by race length.
I stayed at a hotel (AC Marriott) that was just blocks from the start/finish area, which was great. Start area was okay. With multiple races starting at different times, it could have used some better signage and announcements. Also, there appeared to be no corral system. There were a few signs about pace per mile, but honor system for lining up in the right order. The finish area had several food options (including vegetarian stew and Mac & cheese – YUM) and cans of beer. Not many people were hanging out due to the weather, but I had the stew and a beer and was quite happy!
The course had some hills. A local runner told me that the full marathon had better scenery than the half marathon, but there were parts that were nice.
Nice finisher medal, too.
Pretty Scenic for an Urban Marathon
This was a personal favorite of mine because I took my daughter and a couple of friends to tour the college on Saturday and then run the race on Sunday. … MORE
This was a personal favorite of mine because I took my daughter and a couple of friends to tour the college on Saturday and then run the race on Sunday. The race course was pretty scenic, took us through lots of different neighborhoods. Finished at the capitol. There were some pretty steep hills right at the end, but they were short. The shirts we got were not great quality. Overall it was a very enjoyable race.
Madison was GREAT!
We loved running in Madison! The city was beautiful and the course showed it off. I only with the half course went through the university. Highly recommend for out-of-towners. MORE
We loved running in Madison! The city was beautiful and the course showed it off. I only with the half course went through the university. Highly recommend for out-of-towners.
Another great RDE Production
A great local event with world class production and fun things to do in Madison before and after the race. From prize money to great swag, this race has it … MORE
A great local event with world class production and fun things to do in Madison before and after the race. From prize money to great swag, this race has it all.
Awesome race, awesome town!
I loved the course--nice variety of town, college, lake, woods, and neighborhoods. All turns were well marked, and volunteers made good use of the names printed on the bib numbers. … MORE
I loved the course–nice variety of town, college, lake, woods, and neighborhoods. All turns were well marked, and volunteers made good use of the names printed on the bib numbers. It was a bit hilly, but not too bad. It happened to be cold in 2018, but it helped us run faster 🙂 T-shirt is well-designed, on a polyester that feels like a regular T for wearing to the grocery store, etc. (which I like). Medal is large and well-designed. I loved the size of the race–I could see/pass other runners the whole time and I finished in 5:35 (sometimes I am quite alone). I did not carry water, and there were plentiful water stops. (There were free photos–I smeared chocolate GU on my face (it was thick b/c of the cold, clumsy hands), so I am not posting that–but the pics and results were posted *very* quickly. Well organized event!
Packet pickup was easy (chose the AM option). Madison is a great midwestern town to visit with nice people, ample restaurants and coffee shops. Easy to get around.
I recommend staying at the HI hostel–nice staff, nice pre and post race chatting with other runners, convenient location.
Well organized and cold race
The Madison Marathon was formerly held Memorial Day weekend but was moved to November after being cancelled in 2012 due to heat. So now the race is guaranteed to be … MORE
The Madison Marathon was formerly held Memorial Day weekend but was moved to November after being cancelled in 2012 due to heat. So now the race is guaranteed to be cold. How cold? Last year it snowed. This year temps were 25 at race start with the wind chill bringing the temp to a “feels like” 17. But, as Wisconsinites say, it could be worse. 😉
I picked the Madison Half Marathon because it was late in the year. I was recovering from plantar fasciitis and I wanted to give myself plenty of recovery time. I have run Madison half marathon races in May and August and I enjoy running in Madison. This half marathon course differs from the other races in that it heads north along Lake Mendota vs south towards the University and the Arboretum. I was excited about the change in scenery.
The race is well planned, with good race communications via email and the Facebook page. Packet pickup is at the Monona Terrace Community Center and there is a small expo. Race swag included a long sleeve tech tee, finisher medal, and free race photos.
I stayed at a hotel within walking distance of the start line, recommended for those that would like to avoid standing in the cold as long as possible. Gear check is quick though and right near the start/finish line and most people took advantage of it by stripping down to race clothing at the last minute. The half marathon starts 10 minutes after the full marathon. The half marathon is fairly sizeable at over 2600 runners. If you are faster then you will want to get into position earlier as the starting corral is narrow and fills up quickly.
The course is mainly on roads that are not completely closed, there is a running lane coned off. It makes passing a little difficult at certain areas of the course. Water stops are plentiful due to sharing the course with the full marathon.
There are a fair number of spectators and the race has some good energy. The course is on the hilly side (for me) with a large double hill during mile 8. There are nice views of the lake, the capital, and some nice Madison homes. Runner tracking is done with an app with splits at 4 positions on the course, the last one being the 10K mark. It seemed to work well for those tracking me.
A full Panera bag lunch is provided for finishers as well as bananas and oranges and a complimentary beer.
Overall, I would recommend this race if you aren’t afraid of cold weather. Or hills. I would say the half course for the Madtown Half and the Madison Mini are a bit more scenic for first timers to Madison or for those that prefer warmer weather.
Great crowd, logistics need major work
Start line bathroom situation was ridiculous (!!!!); need 10 times the amount of toilets at the start- even if they are then trucked to later mile-markers. There were not enough … MORE
Start line bathroom situation was ridiculous (!!!!); need 10 times the amount of toilets at the start- even if they are then trucked to later mile-markers. There were not enough RRs anywhere remotely close to the capitol square (and NO business are open on Sunday morning. PREPARE ACCORDINGLY!) Definitely heard this sentiment echoed, especially as every runner knows that the last thing you are going to do is use the RR before you start running. Unfortunately, super bad planning.
Awesome crowd; really great all throughout the course- a huge bonus
Gorgeous scenery at the beginning… especially maybe mile 3-6 or so and again after mile 17- which got tough due to the hills but just keep looking at the water to get yourself to that zen!
Honestly though, the hills sucked.
Train hills, prepare for hills, and during the race DO NOT STOP RUNNING; you will slow your pace as you ‘run’ up the hills, but keep running.
The last part of the race is really hilly but it is pretty to look at and once you get through each hill it is a really rewarding feeling.
If you cannot look straight ahead then look down (I know, I know, not good ‘running advice’) so that you cannot see how much of the hill is left and then just go and when you get to the top, surprise; gorgeous view!
No swag, which really sucked as far as getting into the excitement of the day.
Post race amenities were nothing spectacular.
Gel only at 1 station
Bananas at 1 station
Our local (much smaller race) has gel at multiple stops and candy/fruit at others…. I think the MM website was misleading as far as what would be available.
I had a great race and am glad I did it, but really do not think I will ever do this marathon again; pretty pricey for a shirt and 1 gel.
One of the best medium marathons!
Madison marathon is a small to medium size marathon, but the fans made it feel like a big city marathon. It felt like the whole city came out to cheer … MORE
Madison marathon is a small to medium size marathon, but the fans made it feel like a big city marathon. It felt like the whole city came out to cheer the runners on. The chocolate milk at the end was perfect! One of my favorite marathons.