- Weather
- 52°Ftypical start
- Field size
- ~1,500 runners
- Course
- Hilly
- Elevation
- 1,000 ft gain
Barbecue stops, parks, and downtown landmarks
PR5.0Weather8.7Experience7.4
All marathons
Early October · Midwest · Out-and-Back
Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
Empire, MI
Event listed as: Full Marathon
Registration opens on the organizer's site
- Typical start temp
- 43°F(estimated)
- Field size
- ~500 runners(estimated)
- Course
- Hilly
- Elevation
- 1,100 ft gain · 0 ft net(estimated)
Why runners choose this race
A out-and-back course around Empire, MI, with real climbing that will cost you time if you race it hard early.
Good fit if
- · Runners who want a low-key start
Think twice if
- · You want crowds and on-course energy
- · You are chasing a flat-course PR
Course and logistics
- Course type
- Out-and-Back
- Surface
- Road
- Total gain
- 1,100 ft(estimated)
- Total loss
- 1,100 ft(estimated)
- Net elevation
- 0 ft(estimated)
- Field size
- ~500 runners(estimated)
- Crowd support
- Quiet, low-key
- Entry
- Moderate
- Entry fee
- $85(most recent listed price)
- Day of week
- Saturday
- Start / finish
- Start and finish in the same area
Race details
- Typical timing
- Early October
- Next confirmed date
- Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Registration
- Open now
- Region
- Midwest
- Editorial tier
- Recommended
- Prestige
- 6.0/10(estimated)
- Data last reviewed
- 2026-08-26
Event listed as: Full Marathon
Good to know
- Out-and-back
- Hilly course
Race-day weather
Modelled from location, month and coastal proximity — not verified race history.
ExcellentGoodWarmHeat risk
Typical start sits at 43°F — excellent marathon conditions.
Similar races
- Weather
- 55°Ftypical start
- Field size
- ~4,000 runners
- Course
- Hilly
- Elevation
- 1,200 ft gain
Signature quirky city-wide celebration
PR5.3Weather8.5Experience8.5
- Weather
- 58°Ftypical start
- Field size
- ~1,200 runners
- Course
- Hilly
- Elevation
- 800 ft gain
Finishes inside Canal Park baseball stadium
PR4.8Weather7.9Experience7.3