Events
Half Marathon
Half Marathon - Early Start
Lake Michigan Half Marathon
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.
Awards
Finisher Medals
Every registered finisher will receive a custom Lake Michigan Half Marathon medal that spins! Lake Michgan is also a sun catcher.
Overall Awards
The top overall male and female runners in each competitive distance will receive a custom award provided by our partner, Ridgeway Woodworks.
Age Group Awards
The top 3 male and female finishers in 5-year age groups will receive a custom woodle.
Age groups begin with 0-14 and continue in 5-year increments.
Average Joe & Jane Awards
Not everyone can be first, but someone has to land right in the middle — and we celebrate that. The Average Joe & Jane Awards are presented to the male and female runners who finish exactly in the middle of all registered 5K participants. It is the award for being perfectly average, which is honestly harder than it sounds.
Missed Your Award?
Awards must be picked up at the event unless otherwise noted. If you missed picking up your award, please follow the instructions listed on the event website after race day.
T-Shirts
Race shirts are gender-specific, dry-wick, and guaranteed for those registered by noon on June 12. After that, shirts will be available only while online supplies last. Don’t miss your chance to grab a custom race shirt—register early! 🎽👟
Everything you need to know about shirts
Important Note: The female shirts run small, so consider sizing up for a looser fit. 😊
Get ready to rock your custom race shirt in style!
📅 Race Day Information
When: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Where: Cupertino Park
2000 E. Iron Street
Milwaukee, WI 53207
⏰ Race Day Schedule
7:30 AM — Early Half Marathon Packet Pickup
8:00 AM — Packet Pickup Opens
8:00 AM — Early Half Marathon Start
8:45 AM — Kiddos 1K
9:00 AM — Half Marathon Start
9:10 AM — 10K Start
9:20 AM — 5K and Walk Start
11:00 AM — Course closes
*please note start times will be adjusted based on registration levels for each race
📦 Picking Up Multiple Packets
Picking up packets for more than a couple of people? Help us help you—and keep packet pickup from turning into a scavenger hunt.
Please bring one of the following:
- All participant QR codes printed on one sheet of paper
- A list of each participant’s information on one sheet of paper:
- Last name
- First name
- T-shirt size
This will make pickup faster and make your life much easier when distributing everything to your team.
Packet Pickup FAQ
Can I pick up another person's packet? Yes
Do I need an ID? Do pigs fly? Nope
Can I register at packet pickup? Yep
Can I pick up my packet race day? Yep
Can I transfer my race to someone else before the race? Yep
Free Fresh Fruit Bar
Celebrate your finish at our free Fresh Fruit Bar.
After the race, participants can enjoy fresh fruit along with runner-favorite recovery drinks, including pickle juice, lemon water, and cucumber water.
It is the perfect way to refuel, rehydrate, and pretend you only ran 13.1 miles for the post-race snacks. We respect the strategy.
About Silver Circle Sports Events
The Lake Michigan Half Marathon is owned, produced, timed, and managed by Silver Circle Sports Events, LLC, a veteran-owned event management company based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Silver Circle Sports Events provides professional race management, chip timing, registration support, course logistics, equipment, marketing support, and race-day operations for running, walking, rucking, and multisport events throughout Wisconsin.
Planning an event of your own?
Whether you are organizing a 5K, walk, fundraiser, corporate wellness event, trail race, or full race production, Silver Circle Sports Events can help bring it to life.
Need help with an event? Contact Silver Circle Sports Events.
Walkers & Ruckers Welcome
Walkers and ruckers are welcome.
Please select your desired division when registering and review the posted course closure time to make sure you can finish before the course closes.
The Walk and Ruck divisions are timed, but they are non-competitive. There are no age group awards for Walk or Ruck divisions, but every registered finisher will still receive a Lake Michigan Half Marathon finisher woodle.
Enjoy the course, take in the views, and have a great race.
Contact Form
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Event Location
Cupertino Park
2000 E Iron St
Milwaukee, WI 53207 US
View Location on Map
