About the Course

What's the course like? In a word, AWESOME! The course starts out at Presque Isle Park on the shores of Lake Superior. The majority of the course is on a bike path winding through woods, skirting the downtown, and passing by the Saturday morning farmers market. Best of all, half the race is along miles and miles of flat, fast, and gorgeous Lake Superior shoreline. There is one uphill at mile 12 and 25. It is an 1800 foot stretch that climbs 80 feet in the shade of an old growth stand of hemlocks. After “topping out”, you are rewarded with a fairly gradual downhill followed by a flat fast quarter mile stretch to the finish.

The Full Details

The marathon and half marathon start at Presque Isle Park, referred to by the locals as “the island”.  The 323 acre park is considered the jewel of Marquette and features old growth hemlocks, white tailed deer, beaches, cliffs, and spectacular views of Lake Superior.  The start (and finish) line is at a large log sided pavilion where runners will have access to indoor and outdoor shelter, restroom facilities, and spectacular scenery.

Miles 0 to 2.5
When the gun goes off, you will head south on a quarter mile of very flat road before turning onto a bike path and leaving Presque Isle Park.  Within the first half mile, you will pass by the upper harbor ore dock, a still active 75 foot high dock used to load iron ore onto freighters.  Chances are you’ll see a 600 or even 1000 foot freighter out on the lake or anchored alongside the quarter mile long dock. After the ore dock, you’ll take a right and head inland, first on the bike path, then on a mile of gravel road along an old railroad grade, and then on Powder Mill Road.  Coming off Powder Mill Road you’ll run under Hawley Street and alongside the Dead River.  This entire section is very flat with a small incline after going under the bridge.

Miles 2.5 to 5.0
Next you’ll run through Tourist Park, a popular campground which should be nearly full Labor Day weekend, but fairly quiet in the early morning hours.  Exiting Tourist Park, you’ll begin an almost unnoticeable incline to the course’s high point, following an abandoned railroad grade that is now a paved bike path.  This part of the course provides a nice mix of sun, shade, and tranquility.

Miles 5.0 to 6.5
Welcome to the elevational high point and the beginning of the urban portion of the trail.  Although you haven’t noticed it, you’ve gradually climbed a 1% grade over the last 2 miles and will now enjoy a gradual descent back down toward the lake.  As you begin this portion of the run, you will cross Washington Street & McClellan Avenue, sometimes referred to as the busiest intersection in the U.P.  How does this intersection compare to busy intersections in your town?  Police will be present to give you an uninterrupted crossing as you head back onto the bike trail and head east.  Multiple street crossings (manned by crossing guards) will provide your friends and family a number of locations to cheer you on.  Just after mile 6 you’ll pass by the “Downtown Commons” where the Saturday morning farmers market will be in full swing.  Lake Superior will now be in view as you head toward mile 6.5.

Mile 6.5 to 11.5
Welcome back to the shores of Lake Superior!  This section will be flat, fast and entirely along the lake.  After arriving back by the lake, you’ll take a right and run a mile out-and-back dogleg along Founders Landing, the landing point of Marquette’s founding fathers.  After the out-and-back you’ll continue along the lakefront, enjoying some of Marquette’s signature landmarks including the lower harbor ore dock and Mattson Park, where music lovers from far and wide will be enjoying Blues Fest all weekend long.  After Mattson Park, you’ll pass by the marina and enjoy the beauty of the colorful sailboats juxtaposed against Lake Superior’s blue waters.  At mile 8.5 you’ll run past Marquette’s most photographed landmark, the Marquette lighthouse, constructed in 1853 and witness to countless ore boats and shipwrecks.  Continuing north on this flat section, you’ll see the upper harbor ore dock and beyond that, Presque Isle.

Miles 11.5 to 13.1
Ahh, the island, you’ve arrived!  Friends and family will be gathered to cheer you on as you begin you’re run around the island.  Vehicles will be restricted from the island on race day, so runners will be treated to a serene run under a tree-lined canopy.  You will encounter the only hill on the course, a quick 80 foot climb into old growth forest.  After “topping out” at one of the largest Hemlock trees on the island, runners are treated to a somewhat gradual downhill to “sunset point”, then a flat quarter mile section to mile 13.1.

Half marathoners will turn toward the chute while the marathoners will turn to the course where they can enjoy the beauty and variety of the course one more time.