Lake Michigan Half Marathon

About the Event

Lake Michigan Half Marathon course overview map

The Lake Michigan Half Marathon is a scenic fall race built around one of Wisconsin’s most beautiful running backdrops: the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The event starts and finishes at Cupertino Park and follows the paved Oak Leaf Trail south along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

From Cupertino Park, participants will head south through Milwaukee County’s lakefront trail system, passing through or alongside South Shore Park, Bay View Park, Sheridan Park, Warnimont Park, and the Grant Park area before turning around and returning north to the finish.

The event is designed for runners, walkers, and ruckers who want more than another ordinary road race. With crisp fall air, lake views, changing leaves, and miles of paved trail through Milwaukee County’s south shore park system, the Lake Michigan Half Marathon delivers a memorable race experience from start to finish.

Participants will travel through a series of lakefront parks, enjoy wide-open water views, wooded trail sections, and the natural beauty that makes Milwaukee’s shoreline such a special place to run.

Whether you are chasing a goal time, completing your first half marathon, rucking the distance, walking with friends, or coming back for the return of a classic event, this race is built to be scenic, organized, and worth every mile.

The route is simple, runner-friendly, and built around the best parts of Milwaukee’s south shore: parks, trail, fall color, and Lake Michigan doing most of the heavy lifting.

Final course details are subject to municipal and park approvals, because apparently we still need permission before sending hundreds of runners down the shoreline in matching bibs.

Races Offered

Half Marathon - Early Start

Oct 25, 2026

straighten

Distance — 13.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

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$69.00

Kiddos 1K

Oct 25, 2026

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Distance — 0.6 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:45

sell

$20.00

Half Marathon

Oct 25, 2026

straighten

Distance — 13.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:00

sell

$59.00

10K

Oct 25, 2026

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Distance — 6.2 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:10

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$29.00

10K Ruck

Oct 25, 2026

straighten

Distance — 6.2 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:20

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$29.00

5K

Oct 25, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:20

sell

$29.00

5K Ruck

Oct 25, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:20

sell

$29.00

5K Walk

Oct 25, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:20

sell

$29.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for October in Milwaukee.

thermostat Temperature

9.2° / 17.5°

wb_sunny Feels like

5.6° / 14.0°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

8h 29m

water_drop Avg rainfall

2.0 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

15.0 km/h (Gentle breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

Low

terrain Course conditions

Firm and slightly soft

sunny Max UV Index

Moderate (4.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

65.7%

wb_twilight Sunrise

07:07

nightlight Sunset

18:07

About Milwaukee

Learn more about the host city, Milwaukee.

Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin, United States. The city celebrates its heritage as a major center for beer-brewing, and of it German and Polish communities. It is now known for its many festivals.