Events
Headbanger Half
249 spots left. Price increases after May 27, 2026 at 11:59pm CDT
Half Marathon - Early Start
Little Bangers
Race Location
37505 Genesee Lake Rd
Genesee Lake Road Park
Oconomowoc, WI 53066 US
View Location on Map
Event Description
May 20, 2026
Important Course Update
Due to permitting conflicts with Waukesha County, we were unable to secure final approval for the original Headbanger Half Marathon course. After working through several course options, we have officially secured approvals in Summit, Wisconsin — the location of Silver Circle’s very first half marathon 17 years ago.
The new course is flat, fast, rural, low traffic, and includes shaded sections of the Glacial Drumlin Trail, plus scenic areas near Laura Lake and Golden Lake.
We understand course changes are not ideal for everyone. If you would like to defer, switch to another Silver Circle event, or request a refund, please email info@silvercirclesportsevents.com.
Get ready to rock at the Headbanger Half! 🎸 Whether you’re here for the miles or the music, there’s a distance for everyone: 5K, 5K Ruck, 10K, and Half Marathon 🏃♀️🏃♂️.
Not a runner? No problem. Join the fun with our 2-mile walk 🚶♀️🚶 and celebrate the glory days of headbanging in your own way. 🤘
And don’t forget the kids — the Little Banger 1K 👧👦 is free and perfect for young rockers ready to join the action! 🎉
What is rucking?
Rucking is a physical activity that involves walking or hiking with a weighted backpack (called a rucksack). The term comes from the military, where soldiers train and operate carrying heavy loads over long distances. In civilian fitness and recreation, rucking is gaining popularity as a versatile and low-impact workout.
More information about rucking.
Although the Ruck Division is timed, it’s not competitive, and there are no age group awards. However, ruckers will still receive a finisher woodle!
Course
Welcome to the updated Headbanger course in Summit, Wisconsin — a route that brings this event back to its roots. In fact, this area hosted the very first Silver Circle half marathon 17 years ago.
The course is designed to provide runners with a fast, safe, and scenic experience through the rolling countryside of Waukesha County. Participants will enjoy a combination of quiet rural roads and shaded sections of the Glacial Drumlin Trail with very low traffic and limited road crossings.
Along the route, runners will pass farm fields, wooded stretches, Laura Lake, Golden Lake, and some of the most peaceful running terrain in Southeast Wisconsin. The course offers long open sections where runners can settle into rhythm without constantly navigating turns, congestion, or heavy traffic.
Course Highlights:
- Flat and fast overall profile
- Limited road crossings
- Rural scenery and quiet roads
- Shaded sections along the Glacial Drumlin Trail
- Views of Laura Lake and Golden LakeExcellent spectator and crew access points
This is the type of course that feels less like running through a city event and more like discovering Wisconsin backroads with a couple hundred of your closest running friends questioning their life choices around mile 11.
Whether you are chasing a PR, running your first half marathon, or just looking for a beautiful summer course, we think runners are going to love this updated route.
Course Markings:
- 12x12 turn arrows 🔄
- 3-foot tall course signs 🪧
- Orange SCSE cones 🟠
Aid Stations
There will be multiple aid stations on course with water, energy gel and Gatorade. Aid stations may be self serve.
T-Shirts
Race shirts are cotton unisex, and guaranteed for those registered by noon on June 26. 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!
Schedule and Packet Pickup
PLEASE BRING YOUR RECEIPT WITH YOU!
You do not need to print it. We will need to scan the QR code on the receipt, though, so please have your email accessible on your mobile device or save a picture of your receipt with the QR code to your device’s image library.
Sunday, July 12
7:00am Packet pickup
7:45am Little bangers start
8:00am All distances start
Noon Course closes
Packet Pickup FAQ
Can I pick up another person's packet? Yep
Do I need an ID? Do pigs fly?
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
Walkers Welcome!
Walkers are welcome to join any distance. Just select your desired distance when registering and check the course closure time to ensure you can finish before the course closes.
Although the Walk Division is timed, it’s not competitive, and there are no age group awards. However, walkers will still receive a finisher woodle! 🎉
Enjoy the event and have a great walk! 🏃♀️🚶♂️
Free Fresh Fruit Bar (Post-Race!)
Celebrate your finish at our FREE Fresh Fruit Bar—because you earned more than just a high five and a sweaty selfie. Enjoy a spread of fresh fruit, plus runner-favorite recovery drinks including pickle juice, lemon water, and cucumber water. It’s the perfect way to refuel, rehydrate, and pretend you’re “just here for the vibes” after conquering the course.
Awards, Awards & More Awards
🏆 Overall Awards
The top overall male and female runners in each 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 start at 0-14, then continue in 5-year increments.
🎉 Finisher Awards
Every participant will receive a finisher Headbangers cassette tape from Ridgeway Woodworks as a special keepsake
🏃♂️🏃♀️The 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 participants. More about the Average Joe & Jane awards.
🏅 Miss Your Award?
If you missed picking up your award, here’s how to get it.
Celebrate your achievement and take home something special!
Kiddos Run for Free!
Kids can participate in the FREE Kiddo's 1K if a parent is registered for the event. 🎉
Here’s what they’ll get:
- A race bib
- A finisher medal
- A puppy, sugar straw, energy drink & kazoo!
- Ok, one of the above bullet points is not true
Important: Registration is required for kids to participate.
Optional: Shirts are available for purchase during registration if you'd like one for your little runner! 🏃♂️🏅
New! Preassembled Team Packets
We’re making race day even easier for teams! Here’s how it works:
If your team has 4 or more members by Monday, May 4th at noon, we’ll preassemble your entire team’s packets—including:
- Race shirts
- Bibs labeled with each runner’s name, shirt size, bib number, gender, age, and event
These will be ready in one convenient bundle for pickup. We encourage you to pick up your team's packet at early packet pickup.
Important:
- One person (Team Captain or designee) should pick up the entire team’s packets. Make sure you tell your team where you are going to meet them to distribute packets.
- No individual pickups will be allowed for qualifying teams.
- Teams with fewer than 4 members can still pick up individually.
📣 Heads-up for Captains:
If you registered team members using your own email address, they won’t receive race communications. Be sure to forward this info so everyone is in the loop!
How to Join a Team (Even if You’re Already Registered)
It’s super easy (and again, free!):
- Head to your race registration at RunSignUp.com
- Click on your Profile
- Scroll to the race
- Select Group/Team
- Join an existing team or create a new one!
Parking Information 🚗
Parking is available at the park at no charge.
Day of Registration
We highly recommend registering in advance—it’s quick and can be done from your phone!
If you choose to register on race day, you must register electronically; paper registration is not available.
See you on race day! 🏃♀️
Volunteer Opportunities
We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with everything from aid station support to course marshaling. Your assistance makes these events possible, and we’d greatly appreciate your help!
Volunteer Perks:
All volunteers will receive a free entry to a future race as a thank-you for their time and support.
How to Volunteer:
- Click the Volunteer link in the menu above to sign up.
- For more details on volunteering, click here.
Join us in creating an amazing event experience for everyone! 🙌🏃♀️
Charity Partner
The Silver Circle Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is proud to support our firefighters, police officers, veterans, and troops serving overseas.
Through charitable giving, care packages, and fundraising efforts, we aim to provide much-needed assistance and show our gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
Your participation helps make a difference—thank you for supporting this important cause!❤️
Partner with Us for Your Workplace Wellness Program!
Let us support your workplace wellness initiatives and make it easy to get your team involved.
How It Works:
- Reach Out: Share your workplace information with us.
- Custom Code: We'll create a unique discount code for your wellness members to use during registration. The code can waive or reduce the registration fee based on the discount your program offers.
- Post-Race Invoice: The day after the race, we’ll send you an invoice for the discounted registrations, which can be conveniently paid online.
It’s that simple! Let’s work together to promote health and wellness in your workplace.
Insurance
We get it—life happens! That’s why we recommend purchasing event insurance during checkout.
What is RegShield Insurance?
Race insurance, provided by RegShield (a FanShield product), offers peace of mind by reimbursing the registration cost if you’re unable to attend due to covered reasons, including:
- Accident
- Illness
- Family emergency
Need Help with Insurance?
RegShield is a third-party provider. For any questions related to your plan, contact FanShield:
📧 help@fanshield.com
📞 1-844-849-4827 EXT.
Silver Circle Sports Events
This event is professionally produced, timed, owned, and managed by Silver Circle Sports Events, LLC. We handle the details, timing, and race-day flow so your only job is to show up and send it.
Bands
If you are a band, or know of one that would be interested in performing along the course, shoot us an email and let us know!
Contact Form
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Event Location
37505 Genesee Lake Rd
Genesee Lake Road Park
Oconomowoc, WI 53066 US
View Location on Map
