Schedule of Events
Packet Pick-up
Kids’ Run
Marathon Relay
Course Routes
Full Half 5k & 10k
Spectator Guide
Race Day Pacers
On the Course
Finish Line Party
Results & Awards
Runner’s High Road Closures
Where to Eat
Merchandise
Sponsors
Charity Partners
Save the Date
We are so thrilled to welcome you to Eau Claire, WI and have you join us April 29-30, 2023 for our committee’s ten-year anniversary. It is our DECADE year hosting this incredible race!
Whether your goal is to complete your first 5K or qualify for the Boston Marathon, we are here to support you. Our committee prides itself on giving you a weekend to remember and a race experience for the books. We truly are “The Biggest Small Town Race in the U.S.”
As your training tapers and you prepare for race weekend, this participant guide shares the final details you need. If you have any remaining questions, please reach out to us at info@eauclairemarathon.com
On behalf of our race committee, the city of Eau Claire, our sponsors, and volunteers, thank you for choosing to #RUNEC! We’ll see you at the start line!
Sincerely,
Eau Claire Marathon Race Committee
Racer Packet Pick-up
Phoenix Park
(330 Riverfront Terrace)
Sat, April 29 | 2 PM - 8 PM
Sun, April 30 | 6 AM - 8:30 AM
Can someone else pick up my race bib?
Yes, with a copy/picture of your ID and bib number.
Can I exchange my shirt for a different size?
T-shirt exchange is available on Sunday next to the Gear Check
Uhaul Truck and Beer Tent. Additional shirt quantities limited.
Kids’ Run Pick-up
Forest Street Pavilian (112 E Madison Street)
Sat, April 29 | 2:30 PM - 5 PM
Can I purchase merchandise after my race?
Merch is available for purchase at packet pick-up and at the finish line to help you commemorate a great race!
by
Race Times
The Diaper Dash
3:30 PM | 0-2 year olds
Half Obstacle Course
3:50 PM | 3-4 year olds
3:55 PM | 5-6 year olds
Full Obstacle Course
4:00 PM | 5-6 year olds
4:05 PM | 7-8 year olds
4:10 PM | 9-10 year olds
4:15 PM | 11+ year olds
4:20 PM | Open Division
Sponsored by:
LEG 1 START
Mile 0 | Phoenix Park
LEG 1 FINISH/LEG 2 START
Mile 6.9 | Riverview Dr/Marquette St
LEG 2 FINISH/LEG 3 START
Mile 12.5 | Airport Rd
LEG 3 FINISH/LEG 4 START
Mile 19.8 | Bike Trail/Western Ave
HOW DO THE RELAY BUSES WORK?
The relay buses load along the north side of Galloway Street in the Oxbow Hotel parking lot (516 Galloway St, Eau Claire, WI). Buses start at 6:30 AM and depart every 10 minutes and run continuously to each relay exchange zone. To best accommodate our relay teams, only runners may utlize the shuttle busses.
YES! We encourage team members to stay together at each transition to cheer on the incoming and outgoing runners. As soon as the outgoing runner takes off, jump back on the bus and head to the next relay exchange!
Your team race packet includes a race timing strap (each team has one strap). The race strap has the timing chip inside and must be worn on the ankle of the person running (starting with runner #1 at the start line). At each transition area, the strap must be taken off and secured around the ankle of the next runner. Failure to do so may result in missed chip reads and disqualification.
Nope! Each team member will have their own bib with your team number on it. This number matches your race strap number.
We think that the Eau Claire Marathon (and half marathon) boasts pretty great courses, but don’t take our word for it, here are the facts and some quotes from past runners.
FULL MARATHON
Boston Qualifier
Nine unique bridges
Eighteen water stations
Two Honey Stinger stations
Thorough tour of Eau Claire, WI
Walkable Start-to-Finish lines
HALF MARATHON
Nine unique bridges
Eleven water stations
One Honey Stinger station
Reconnects with Marathon at Mile 7
Considered one of the best in WI
Walkable Start-to-Finish lines
This race brings all of the feeling of a small town race, but some of the perks of a well organized and large event.
A beautiful scenic and well supported marathon route which includes a total of 13 river bridge crossings between all of the races. The aesthetics of this route invigorates your running experience. A highly recommended marathon for those who want to experience Wisconsin’s natural beauty!
The Eau Claire Half Marathon is an all-time favorite! The entire town comes out to cheer and volunteer. The energy from the crowds is what makes this race so fun.
(6.2 miles)
5K (3.1 miles)
SPECTATOR SPOT #1
Phoenix Park (330 Riverfront Terrace)
Start Line/Mile 3.3 of the Marathon/Relay and Mile 2.8 of the Half Marathon. Watch the start, then cross the Madison St. bridge.
SPECTATOR SPOT #2 (opens at 7am)
The Brewing Projekt (1807 N Oxford Ave)
Mile 3.5 of the Marathon/Relay and Mile 3.0 of the Half Marathon. Food trucks, mimosas, bloody mary’s, and marathon-themed beer.
SPECTATOR SPOT #3
North Crossing / Old Wells Road
Mile 5 - Join us for the Smile Mile!
SPECTATOR SPOT #4
Airport Rd/Riverview Dr
Mile 12.2 of the Marathon/Relay. Head North on Airport Drive to catch your participants. Bonus points for walking down the hill to cheer!
SPECTATOR SPOT #5
Kwik Trip (3426 Melby Street)
Stop in to the new Kwik Trip for a snack, then head to the bike trail to cheer on the Marathon/Relay.
SPECTATOR SPOT #6
Relay Exchange on Western Ave
Mile 19.8 of the Marathon/Relay and Mile 6.7 of the Half Marathon. Join the Half and Full Marathoners along with the Relay teams as they transition from runner 3 to 4!
SPECTATOR SPOT #7
Boyd Park
Mile 22 of the Marathon/Relay and Mile 8.9 of the Half is a great spot for families with playground equipment and paved sidewalks for bikes.
SPECTATOR SPOT #8
Children's Museum (126 N Barstow St)
Mile 23.1 of the Marathon/Relay and Mile 10 of the Half. Bring your kids to create noisemakers, make cheer signs, and play in their brand new outdoor space!
SPECTATOR SPOT #9
Barstow Block Party (291 S Barstow Street)
Mile 23.2 of the Marathon/Relay and Mile 10.1 of the Half. Jam with the DJ outside Reboot Social and find the ECM beer tent and food trucks from 10 AM to 2PM.
SPECTATOR SPOT #10
UWEC Welcome Center (127 Roosevelt Ave)
Mile 25.1 of the Marathon/Relay and Mile 12 of the Half is the start of the Blugold Mile!!! This is a great location for UWEC Alumni to cheer. From State St, head down McKinley to park and walk to the Welcome Center.
Parking is available in several places on the route. But check out the road closures so you don’t get stuck in the wrong part of the course!
Your race bib contains your timing chip and should be located on the front of your outermost article of clothing throughout your race. This will also help you find your FREE race pictures and downtown discounts.
Complimentary bag check is available on Sunday. Drop off your bag by the start line and pick it up by the beer tent after. You can use your own bag but we encourage you to use the clear bag provided.
All articles of clothing discarded at the start line will be donated to a local charity.
We will not remove any participant from the course. Everyone will have a chance to earn their medals! Volunteers, water stations, police, and medical will only be available for six hours.
Line up in the starting corral near the signs for your pace. We use chip timing, so your race starts when you cross the starting line. Please walk until you cross the start line to spread out.
All lost and found items should be brought to the merchandise check-out. Stop by or email info@eauclairemarathon.com.
All photos taken from Eau Claire Marathon sponsored photographers are FREE to you. To help us identify you, please be sure to have your bib number clearly displayed on the front of your shirt. Photos will be available 48-72 hours after race weekend!
There are six first-aid stations along the routes. Indianhead Insurance sponsors water & lemon lime Gatorade approximately every two miles on the half and full marathon course. Scheels of Eau Claire sponsors Honey Stinger Energy Gels at two locations along the courses near water stations. Portable lavatories are at the start line and nearly every two miles on the routes. MORE QUESTIONS?
If you need help with your registration or would like to complete a late registration please contact our troubleshooting booth. Late registration spots are available on race weekend but are limited and will close 45-minutes prior to each race start time.
Headphone use during the race is allowed in accordance to rule changes by the USATF. Participants who choose to use headphones are expected to be aware of changing road and race conditions as well as fellow runners.
or ask anyone in a race committee hat!
Our On Pace Race pace team will encourage and support runners to finish in a designated time. They will share stories, jokes, nutritional tips, course highlights and be your biggest cheerleader as you cross the finish line together!
3:00, 3:05, 3:10, 3:20, 3:25, 3:30, 3:35, 3:40, 3:50, 3:55, 4:05, 4:20, 4:35, 4:50, 5:05, 5:20, & sweeper
1:30, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, 2:45, & sweeper
Local runners talk about how awesome On Pace pacers are, how it helps their times, and some had no idea what a pacer did prior to running with them.
LOCATED AT MILE 5
The Blugold Mile is a loud distraction that comes when you need it the most! UW-Eau Claire athletic teams, clubs, bands, rec sports, students and staff all join in the energy as they cheer you on toward your finish!
FULLMARATHON MILES
25 MILES
12 HALFMARATHON
Just when you can’t imagine it getting any better, you run through the Blugold Mile at the UW-Eau Claire campus. You’re greeted by the marching band & students cheering & handing out high fives.
Awards are given to the overall winner (male and female) along with the top three finishers (male and female) in each age group.
Saturday from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Finish Line Area) Sunday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Beer Tent Area)
There is not a formal awards ceremony, if you think you won an award, check in with the awards area.
The Eau Claire Marathon is proud to announce our first ever competitive walking division, new in 2023 A percentage of every walker’s registration will go to the BeLikeTommy Project, helping to provide local facilities with life saving AED devices.
This is a chip-timed event and the chip is located on the back of your bib. Make sure you are wearing your bib on the front without anything covering it.
All race results can be found online at:
Awards sponsored by
In 2023, the Eau Claire Marathon partnered with the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) Wanda Age Group World Ranking.
For some it’s the feeling of accomplishment. For others it’s knowing where you want to improve. For many, it’s both and you’re ready to sign up for your next race.
With so many good races to choose from, how to decide? Here are some friends of the Eau Claire Marathon that are ready to host you! And don’t forget to save the date to #RUNEC in 2024 - registration will open on Monday, May 1, 2023 for one week of “Runner’s High” pricing!
What roads are closed on Marathon Sunday?
Street Bridge (Farwell to Whipple Ave)
Street (Madison St to Fulton St)
Street (Whipple St to 5th Ave)
Avenue (Fulton St to Chippea St)
Street (6th Ave to 9th Ave)
Avenure (Broadway St to Chippewa St)
Avenure (Madison St to Fulton St)
Street (9th Ave to 1st Ave)
Avenue (Chippewa St to Grand Ave)
Street Bridge (1st Ave to Graham Ave)
Street (Galloway St to Newton St)
Avenue (Eau Claire St to Lake St)
Avenue (Marston Ave to Wilson St)
Street (Fountain St to Garden St)
Street (Eau Claire St to Galloway St)
Corners Parking Lot (Barstow Block Party, closed all day Saturday & Sunday)
“If you think Wisconsin’s culinary culture is limited to beer and cheese, you’re in for a tasty surprise. In Eau Claire, the push toward farm-to-fork restaurants with locallysourced ingredients has taken root and the community gathers around flavorful entrees, budget-friendly shareables and delightful desserts.” -Visit Eau Claire
Use the links and information below to plan your stay in Eau Claire (click any of the white buttons); you’ll find the best places to stay, eat, where to run, and all of the many great things to do, other than the excitment of the Eau Claire Marathon!
Restaurants & Bars
Discover what to do in Eau Claire from the locals who wrote about it; includes food, lodging, running trails, and things to do in the area!
Searching for a dive into the food scene, look no further. Search by food types and link out directly to restaurant’s websites for menu listings.
Volume One is another local gem with quality reporting on great food. Find your pre- and postrace fuel sources here.
The Eau Claire Marathon has partnered with some amazing downtown businesses to provide ECM participants discounts by showing their race bib. Check out the link below for a list of those business and discounts or look for our flyer downtown!
Marathon Weekend Guide to Eau Claire
Eau Claire Area
You can find our merchandise tent during packet pick up, on both race days at the start and finish lines. On Saturday from 2pm-8pm and Sunday from 9am-1pm.
Scheels carries sporting equipment, hunting gear, fashion accessories, and top brands like Nike, The North Face, and Under Armour to support all of training, competition, and adventuring needs.
As a title sponsor of the Eau Claire Marathon, Prevea Health is proud to provide several training resources to help runners train for the ECM events. Whether you are an experienced runner or are hoping to complete your first half marathon, prevea offers something for everyone to help you stay healthy, enjoy your training experiences, and achieve your running goals.
Charter Bank, a partner with the Eau Claire Marathon since the beginning, has merged with Nicolet National Bank. This partnership combines their resources and people to serve customers and communities in western Wisconsin and Minnesota. They believe the best way to meet local needs is through local resources, now more than ever. Working together, they can help make the communities we serve stronger.
One thing that will not change with this merger is their focus on staying local. Decisions about banking-related matters and investments in the community will be made by those closest to the customer. Local decisionmaking is one of the key differences between our larger competitors and us. We are proud to have Nicolet National Bank as a Title Sponsor for 2023.
2023 will be a DECADE year for the Eau Claire Marathon and Nicolet National Bank as we celebrate 10 years of delivering one of the top races in the Midwest to the Eau Claire area.
Our mission is to enrich the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities by fostering lasting, authentic relationships through the teamwork environment of endurance events. Since 2016, myTeamTriumph and ECM has raised over $60,000!
FOLLOW #RUNEC
FACEBOOK @EAUCLAIREMARATHON
INSTAGRAM @RUNECMARATHON
TWITTER @ECMARATHON
WEBSITE EAUCLAIREMARATHON.COM
EMAIL INFO@EAUCLAIREMARATHON.COM
APRIL 27-28, 2024
Registration opens on Monday, May 1