The Wausau Marathon is an annual event offering runners the option of running a full or half marathon and marathon relay. The course treks through some of Wausau’s greatest scenery and has plenty of beautiful viewing spots. The race begins and ends at Marathon Park amidst large white pines, picnic …
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The Wausau Marathon is an annual event offering runners the option of running a full or half marathon and marathon relay. The course treks through some of Wausau’s greatest scenery and has plenty of beautiful viewing spots. The race begins and ends at Marathon Park amidst large white pines, picnic areas, playgrounds, and more. Runners are able to enjoy food, beverages, race shirts, outstanding finisher medals, and much more.
The marathon course has been certified by USA Track & Field. This makes the 26.2 mile course distance official and enables the event to be used as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. The Wausau Marathon sends their final results to the Boston Athletic Association office each year, thereby enabling qualified runners to register for the Boston Marathon. No finisher’s certificate, printed results, or course certification number are needed to register for qualified runners.
Best viewing spots and areas for taking pictures of the race are:
- Yellow Banks Park on Northwestern Avenue in Weston
- Along Camp Phillips Drive in Weston
- Northland Lutheran High School at the corner of Tower Drive and Kowalski Avenue in Kronenwetter
- Along Eagles Nest Boulevard in Rothschild
- Sunrise Drive pedestrian bridge over Hwy 29 in Weston
- Fishing pier and park by Seventeeth Avenue bridge in Rib Mountain
- Marathon Park at the start and finish lines in Wausau
Athlete and Running Race Event Highlights:
- Start and Finish in Marathon Park, near downtown Wausau
- Free Beer for Participants Over 21
- Choice of Free Brat or Hamburger
- Awesome Tech T-Shirt and participant packet with free samples, area coupons and more
- Outstanding Finisher Medal
- Scenic Views of Central Wisconsin
- Gatorade and Water available at 16 locations along the Marathon Course
- PortaJohns located after every hydration station
- Huma Gel stations along the course
- Athlete recovery area with plenty of refreshments
- Free Parking at Marathon Park and Plenty of Parking in Downtown Wausau
LESS
Need BIG improvement ++
This event has a lot potentials. I came to this race as part of my journey for 50 states/50 full marathons. I love the local race feeling; it brings a … MORE
This event has a lot potentials. I came to this race as part of my journey for 50 states/50 full marathons. I love the local race feeling; it brings a sense of purpose and unity for the community. People were super friendly as well. However, there were areas on the course that were VERY confusing. I followed the 3:30 pacer. Many runners in my group came to race with the goal of trying to quality for Boston 2024. And we got lost at mile 12 as a group. At mile 16, one staff asked me how many loops have I just done? I had no idea to be honest. There was no signs. Another staff shouted at me to run back to a different street for one more loop, and I was stressed. At the finish line, i heard there was a medal shortage situation. Anyway, all of these things are fixable. Running a marathon is hard enough, runners shouldn’t be thinking hard about how many loops and/or worrying about directions, signs, medals etc…
Needs Improvement
The 2023 course resulted in many wrong turns by runners in all three distances offered. (5K, half and full marathon). To improve this race to keep its current course would … MORE
The 2023 course resulted in many wrong turns by runners in all three distances offered. (5K, half and full marathon).
To improve this race to keep its current course would need better signage for turnaround points for the 5K and half marathon. 5K and HM were pitiful cones with chalk on the ground. Marathon would need to have a few more signs and volunteers to supervisor loop one and two runners. (Ex. Full Loop #1 and Full Loop #2) (Both loops were different mileage).
Many full marathon runners were two to four miles short due to wrong turns. 5K and half-for those who missed the cones were longer.
Run a marathon in Marathon County
…starting and finishing in Marathon Park. This was a well produced marathon through pleasant scenery. 2022 was VERY fortunate to have thick overcast and lower temperatures (65-70) thru noon. The … MORE
…starting and finishing in Marathon Park.
This was a well produced marathon through pleasant scenery. 2022 was VERY fortunate to have thick overcast and lower temperatures (65-70) thru noon. The course was well marked and coned off where needed, police presence at intersections, and good signage throughout, including in safer and quieter streets. Water stations were numerous, every 2 miles basically, and 3 in the last mile and a half. Water, sports drink, and gel at everyone. Friendly volunteers at them all.
I did packet pickup before the race so I didn’t see if there was an expo the night before. The start/finish area was well equipped and set up. There was a fairly large wheelchair team participation – groups pushing wheelchairs.
There were about 140 marathon participants. The course was a long loop south of Wausau. A combination of pleasant city and country routes. My watch had 463 ft total ascent, so not a hilly course. There was a free local beer (3 choices) and braut at the end of the race.
Swag was a nice tec shirt specific to the marathon and a clever locally themed medal. Also some nice freebies from local businesses. Does anyone remember the Wausau Insurance print ads? The course went by the train station featured in those (the company was renamed in 2007 and the station is becoming a microbrewery).
This is a very recommendable race. For some reason, running a marathon in Marathon County was appealing to me. We had not been to Wisconsin before, Culvers burger places (and butter burgers) are a unique and enjoyable experience. The 2 hour drive from Appleton Airport to Wausau was through dairy country, it was very different to see vintage dairy farms still in good repair and being used. In our area of Tennessee, all I seem to see are old and deteriorating farms with silos in various states of falling apart. East Tennessee dairy must have been consolidated into larger farms in other areas years ago.
Back on the Saddle!
This is a small town Marathon…the race support was great with water stations all along the course manned by local citizens. Mainly on highway, with one mile through a nice … MORE
This is a small town Marathon…the race support was great with water stations all along the course manned by local citizens.
Mainly on highway, with one mile through a nice little forest. I’m sure the turn out was small due to Covid …also affecting the post race entertainment. Best witching to the race coordinators for upcoming races.