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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • Marathon
  • 42.2 km
  • Madison
  • Event weekend starts
  • Open entry

Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) Marathon

This race edition

Race date
Date not confirmed for this distance
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2026 edition

Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.

Modelled energy-cost change 0.6% versus flat · net elevation 6 m

View verified GPS mapOfficial event website & entry ↗
Plan my trainingPlan my paceData current as of

Decision summary

Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) Marathon at a glance

Route ascent
243 m

Lower than 64% of comparable mapped races

Cut-off average pace
8:32/km

6:00:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.

Typical conditions
73/100

Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast

Evidence depth
37 verified facts

Stored GPS route

Quick answers

What runners ask first

Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) route map

raceindex.org has a GPS course file for Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin), so runners can inspect the route line on the map. Elevation charts and ascent figures appear only when that file includes usable elevation data.

How hilly is the Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin)?

The Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) route has 243 m of ascent, 236 m of descent and an estimated 0.6% grade-adjusted pace penalty versus a flat route.

Where does the Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) route go?

The Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) route starts at Capitol Square (Mifflin St. & Wisconsin Ave.), 2 East Main Street, Madison, WI and finishes at Capitol Square, Madison, WI. Underfoot, expect road. It passes Wisconsin State Capitol, Capitol Square, Lake Mendota, Lake Monona and Lake Wingra. known for rolling, honest hills rather than a flat Midwestern profile.

What should runners know on race day for the Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin)?

Run on closed Madison city streets under City of Madison permits; courses are taken down and streets reopened per permitted times after each distance's cutoff. Pace groups for all speeds are provided; the pace team is supplied by Fleet Feet Madison & Sun Prairie. Registration includes free race photos, a complimentary Michelob Ultra beer (21+), post-race food, professional timing, and a prize purse for winners.

Race character

Scenery

  • Lakeside
  • City
  • Parkland
  • Forest
  • Historic

Atmosphere

  • Scenic Tour
  • Community

Terrain

  • Road
Elevation character
Rolling
Technicality
Non Technical
Net elevation
6 m

Entry, logistics and records

Entry requirements

Entry status
Open entry: The held registration model is open entry and this edition is not marked sold out.
Cut-off
Finish line open until 1:00pm (6 hours from the 7:00am start); approx. 13:44 min/mile required.
Qualification status
USATF Certified Boston Marathon qualifier (late Season BQ).

Race day logistics

Pacers
Pace groups for all speeds are provided; the pace team is supplied by Fleet Feet Madison & Sun Prairie.
Closed roads
Run on closed Madison city streets under City of Madison permits; courses are taken down and streets reopened per permitted times after each distance's cutoff.
Medal
All distances receive a finisher medal; the 2026 medal is the fourth and final in a four-year series, with a center coin earned for completing all four years.
Finisher tee
Long-sleeved shirt included with registration.

Access and course status

Start
Capitol Square (Mifflin St. & Wisconsin Ave.), 2 East Main Street, Madison, WI
Finish
Capitol Square, Madison, WI

Course facts

Surface
Road
Landmarks
Wisconsin State Capitol, Capitol Square, Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Wingra, University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, UW Arboretum
Notable features
  • Registration includes free race photos, a complimentary Michelob Ultra beer (21+), post-race food, professional timing, and a prize purse for winners
  • A scenic tour of Madison passing the State Capitol, three lakes (Mendota, Monona, Wingra), the UW-Madison campus and the UW Arboretum
  • known for rolling, honest hills rather than a flat Midwestern profile

How hilly is the Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) Marathon?

9%79%10%
  • Steep descent 1%
  • Descent 9%
  • Flat 79%
  • Climb 10%
  • Steep climb 1%
Total ascent
243 m
Net elevation
+6 m
GAP factor
0.6%
Longest climb
610 m at 3.0%
Gradient mix and ascent are derived from the course geometry under our published normalisation, not taken from organiser marketing.

What are typical race-day conditions?

  • 3°CTypical temperature
  • 22 kphTypical wind
  • 2 mmTypical rainfall
  • 73Favourability /100
Typical conditions for the race date and locality, cooler than the endurance-optimal window. These are climatological norms, not a forecast, and are shared across every distance at this event.

More race details

Is the Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) flat?

Its normalised GAP factor is 0.6% slower than a flat course, with about 243 m of total ascent.

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (2)

Read the full methodology →