HalfRuns
Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K

Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K

Race Date

Oct 3, 2026

Location

Empire, MI

Standout80

The Experience

Join us for a Scenic Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K Run/Walk in the Heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore! All races finish in Empire, MI. The Marathon and Half Marathon start at the Dune Climb, while the 5K begins at Empire Beach. Marathon Course: This out-and-back route takes runners past the iconic Dune Climb, Little Glen Lake, and through the charming village of Glen Arbor. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Manitou Islands and Sleeping Bear Dunes throughout the course. Half Marathon Course: Experience challenging hills and stunning scenery along the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. 5K Course: A fun out-and-back route that finishes at the beautiful shores of Empire Beach. Held at the peak of fall color season, this tree-lined course offers a memorable experience for both runners and spectators alike. Come see why Good Morning America calls this area one of the most beautiful in the United States!

Logistics

Race Day

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Start Time

8:00 AM

Giveaway

Unisex Lightweight Tri-Blend Hoodie

Start Location

Empire Beach, Empire, MI, 49630

Directions

Course Info

USATF Certified

Course Type

Loop Course

Terrain

road

Difficulty

Ultra-Flat

Elevation Gain

0'

Net Drop/km

0 m (Flat)

Separation

0.0%

Also Offers

26.2 Miles3.1 Miles

USATF Certified Course

MI22002DM · Sleeping Bear Half Marathon 2022

Relatively flat with minimal net elevation change. Loop course — start and finish are close together.

Quality Score

Standout80
Methodology
Heritage20/20

13 years running

Size15/15

~905 finishers a year

Momentum5/5

growing or steady

Loyalty9/20

9% returning runners

Course & details15/15

USATF certified · 2 timing sources · 8 photos

National draw8/10

runners from 27 states

Front-pack speed3/5

winner 1:15:42

Weather5/10

typical high 66°F

Race Day Weather

5-year historical avg

Start (Low)

57°

Afternoon (High)

66°

Pleasant conditions — light layers at start, comfortable by finish

0.0"

Precipitation

14 mph

Wind

78%

Humidity

Historical Finish Times

How 5,032 finishers actually crossed the line across 13 years.

Most recent

2025

Total finishers

5,032

Median time

2:21:10

Latest turnout

689

States

41

10%
25%
75%
90%
1:15p50 median ≈ 2:105:30

Turnout by year

20172025

'17'18'19'21'22'23'24'25
See full results

Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.

Race Photos

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