Marquette Marathon expects big turnout topping 1,600
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MARQUETTE -- Now reaching back nearly a half century, the Marquette Marathon will run five races today around Marquette County.
Now sponsored, and actually having been conducted by Northern Michigan University for the past several years, event headquarters will be at the university's Superior Dome in north Marquette, which is also where the finish line will be.
With beginnings in 1977, the marathon is highlighted by the full marathon, which is one of the latest-in-the-season qualifiers for the springtime Boston Marathon.
Organizers expect one of the best turnouts in those nearly 50 years, which is now at more than 1,600 registered runners as of a few days ago over the five races -- full 26.1-mile marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, Wildcat 5K and Pebble Fun Run.
"We're really excited to announce our record-breaking numbers of participants for all of our races this year," marathon race director Kevin Thomsen said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the event. "We're super happy to have the NMU Athletics Department giving their support once again, with all the hard work done behind the scenes to make our race run smoothly and successfully, along with Wildcat student-athletes from every sport working aid stations and road crossings to help our runners cross the line safely."
Thanks to a blazing fast course with a downhill elevation drop of several hundred feet, the Marquette Marathon is one of the nation's prime races to qualify for Boston. Temperatures are forecast to be 73 degrees today with partly cloudy skies.
"The weather looks perfect, and we're going to have one of the fastest races in the country," Thomsen said. "Come on down to the Superior Dome for the finish line, with prime-time viewing to watch finishers happening around 10 a.m. to noon."
The Superior Dome not only serves as an easy-to-spot finish line, but inside will host a post-race awards ceremony.
Additionally, the children's one-mile Pebble Fun Run begins at 6 p.m. at the east end of the dome.
The full marathon and marathon relay start at 7:30 a.m. at the Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum in Ishpeming, while the half marathon gets its start at 9 a.m. from the Michigan Iron Museum in Negaunee Township. And the Wildcats 5K, as the title suggests five kilometers (about 3.1 miles), also starts at 9 a.m. starting at the dome.
Links on the event's website, www.marquettemarathon.com, show a map with numerous good viewing spots all along the courses, while MyRaceRsult at my.raceresult.com/events/ or Superior Timing at www.superiortiming.com, to provide in-race updates and results.
Organizers expect the first runners across the finish line around 10 a.m. and going until about noon. Awards begin at 1 p.m.
Entered runners also receive two tickets to this evening's NMU football home opener against Tiffin that kicks off at 6 p.m.
New this year is early-bird registration for 2027, allowing runners to get 2026 pricing, that opens at noon today.
Along with the website, marathon organizers are also on social media channels, Facebook and Instagram.
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Runners approach a packed finish area at the Superior Dome in Marquette for a previous Marquette Marathon. (Photo courtesy NMU)