FAQS

Madison Marathon presented by SSM Health is not able to offer refunds or deferrals, as we offer all runners the opportunity to transfer their registration another person or to change their distance. (This includes those who experience illness, injury or any other condition that may prevent them from participating in the event.)

If you are registered for the event, you agreed to the no refund and no deferral policy prior to submitting your online registration.

Organizer Cancellation:

If the Madison Marathon must cancel the in-person portion of the race for any reason, including COVID-19, participants will be automatically transferred to the virtual race. Race entry refunds will not be issued if the organizer cancels the in-person race events. If you are registered for the event, you agreed to the no refund and no deferral policy prior to submitting your online registration.

Participant Cancellation:

If as a participant you need to cancel your in-person race entry or no longer want to participate in the in-person race, you have the option to transfer your registration to another person. Refunds and entry deferrals are not available. If you are registered for the event, you agreed to the no refund and no deferral policy prior to submitting your online registration. *Please note that all transfers must take place before October 20th

Yes! Please visit our Registration Changes page.

Legally, ALL runners MUST be officially registered with a visible race number. Any “bandits” may face a stiff fine and be banned for life from participating in any Run Madtown or Madison Marathon event in the future. Pacing another without a bib is not permitted. Thank you for officially registering and for supporting our race.

Yes! Please visit our Registration Changes page.

Online registration closes on Wednesday, Nov 9 at 11:59PM.

There is no on-site registration at the Expo or packet pick-up!

Participants must be at least 14 years of age to participate in the Full or Half Marathon, and 12 years of age to participate in the 10K.

Sorry, hand cycles (hand bikes, hand-crank devices, or other mechanically gear driven devices) are not permitted on the course. Athletes using push-rim wheelchairs are allowed.

All runners must pick up their race packets at the Expo & Packet Pick Up. Runners must show a photo ID to pick up their packets. Someone else may pick up your packet with a copy of your drivers license (digital or paper). Please note: There will be no Sunday packet pick-up, unless you pre-order Race Day packet pick up for a $30 fee. We do not mail packets.

Unfortunately race packets cannot be mailed. All in person participant packets must be picked up at the Expo & Packet Pick Up.

If you cannot get to the expo to pick up your packet, we do offer race day Will Call Packet Pick Up for an additional fee.

For Expo parking and directions, visit www.mononaterrace.com.

There is on-site parking available at Monona Terrace for $.75/half hour Friday or a flat fee of $5 Saturday. All other downtown parking ramps will be open Friday and Saturday. Street parking is also available in metered spaces on Friday and Saturday. See parking ramp locations.

Looking for a spot? Visit the City of Madison Parking page for live ramp updates. You’ll be able to see the number of spaces left in each downtown ramp!

There is a t-shirt exchange tent in the finish area on race day for participants to exchange their CLEAN, UNWORN shirts for another size (if available).

The full marathon is scheduled to start at 7 am. The half marathon will start at 7:10. The 10K will start at 7:30. See your specific race event page for more information.

If race day conditions exist that could be potentially dangerous, Madison Marathon follows the below protocol:

1. Races may be delayed up to one hour.
2. Runners and spectators will be notified of conditions via:
   1. Text messages — Runners must have registered for text updates at the time of registration.
   2. Radio broadcast on WTDY (AM channel 1670 or FM channel 106.7)
   3. Online at madisonmarathon.org, Facebook, Twitter
   4. Live, on-site announcements
3. If conditions improve or are expected to improve after scheduled start time, the race will begin approximately 30 minutes after race officials have been given an “ALL CLEAR” determination by the appropriate authorities.*
4. If conditions do not improve or are not expected to improve in order to start after an hour of delay, the race may be canceled completely.**

*Permits/requirements from the City of Madison do not allow the course to stay open beyond permitted times.

You will be directed to the sidewalks off the official course and may continue at your own risk but without race support. You will not receive a finisher medal.
The course will close at 1pm. This requires runners to maintain just under a ~14 min/mile pace for the full marathon and ~17 min/mile pace for the half marathon.

Emergency Procedures — Colored flags will be located at each water station to alert runners to changing course and weather conditions. In cases of emergency, please follow the instructions below. In rare instances, it may be necessary to either close the race course or re-route participants. If this occurs, it is being done for the safety of the participants and volunteers.

Race Day parking: All downtown parking ramps will be open Saturday and Sunday. Street parking is also available for a fee on Saturday and is free on Sundays. See parking ramp locations.

See our Course Information page for restroom locations.

There will be ambulances and medical personnel at the start line, finish line and along the course (paramedics will be roving on bicycles). If you need medical attention, find the nearest aid station, bearing in mind you may have just passed it. If you are not able to make it to an aid station by yourself, notify a volunteer, spectator or another runner to notify the nearest aid station of your location and condition. Aid stations will have the ability to contact the race’s medical staff to provide you with help.

See our Course Information page for details on locations and products.

The course is open until approximately 1 p.m. for the Half Marathon and Full Marathon. This requires runners to maintain just under a ~14 min/mile pace for the full marathon and ~17 min/mile pace for the half marathon. The course is open for approximately 2 hours for the 5K & 10K.

We appreciate everyone following our policy to only allow participants or staff members on our course. For the safety of all participants as well as for the spectators, we cannot permit any non-participants to enter any part of the race course or finish line chute. Runners who disregard this rule will be disqualified.

Yes, volunteers will collect your gear bags at the corner of N. Hamilton/E. Mifflin/Pinckney St. on the Capitol walkway. Gear bags will remain here through the duration of the race and will be available for pickup immediately following. Be sure you put your bib number on your gear bag if using this service!

The MYLAPS BibTag ThinTag is an ultra-thin, lightweight, disposable chip that is applied to the back of your race bib. The ThinTag has a sponge that provides the necessary space between your body and the tag in wet conditions. This ultra-thin sponge has the unique feature that it only expands when it becomes wet. The BibTag system cannot be altered in any way prior to or during the event. Please DO NOT try to remove it. Please make sure you wear your bib on the FRONT of your body and on the outside of your clothing at all times during our events. Doing anything different may reduce the readability of your results.

Average weather is as follows:
Average High: 50 degrees F
Average Low: 30 degrees F
Mean Temp: 40 degrees F
Typical Sky Cover: Overcast

Dogs/animals of any kind, and strollers or bicycles are not allowed, strictly for safety reasons.

We understand that many runners need headphones to aid in their running concentration, or distraction. Headphones are allowed but not recommended for safety purposes.

Yes; as long as you can complete the course before course closures.

Learn more about our prize purse here!

Yes, our courses are measured and certified by USA Track & Field.
Marathon: WI12059DM
Half Marathon: WI12060DM

Finisher medals will be given to all participants that complete the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Full Marathon.

Overall Awards
Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place overall male and female.

Full and Half Marathon 1st thru 5th Male and Female – Half and Full Marathon Overall Winner Award

Masters Full Marathon 1st thru 5th Male and Female – Madison Marathon Special Award Masters Class (40+)

Wheelchair Awards 1st Wheelchair – Madison Marathon Special Award

10K 1st thru 5th Male and Female – 10K Overall Winner Award

Awards by Age Category Age group award medals will be given to the top three men and women for each distance in the following age categories: 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70 and over.

Prize Purse

Scoring
Gun time will be used for the overall prize winners (top overall men and women and top masters men and women), but net time (the time recorded by the timing chip) will be used for all age-group scoring.

Awards will be mailed out within 30-45 days of the event. We do not host an awards ceremony.

Please visit our lodging page for hotel information.

The Madison Marathon’s official charities are Badger Honor Flight, myTEAM TRIUMPH and The Ride – A Cycling Fundraiser for Cancer Research. We also support many other local non-profit groups. Visit the Madison Festivals charity page to learn more about our charity partners.

Full Marathon = 26.2 miles
Half Marathon = 13.1 miles
10K = 6.2 miles