Friday 24 May 2013

Lakefront Marathon changes course

Lakefront Marathon

Organizers of the Lakefront Marathon have tweaked the 26.2-mile course between Grafton High School and Veteran's Park to show off the lake bluff at Concordia University and shorten the finish, or at least make it seem that way.

With the extra half-mile added in the loop on the university campus, the finish will be shifted off the sea wall and along the lagoon in Veteran's Park. The change eliminates an agonizing loop at the end, with the finish line in sight.

"Nobody ever likes running past the finish line, than having to run back," said Kristine Hinrichs, the race director.

Hinrichs said the shift to back side of the Concordia campus will give runners an additional view of Lake Michigan, something a number of runners have requested, after complaining: "'It's the Lakefront Marathon, and I didn't see the lake for 22 miles.'"

One other change will be made at the start line, which will be shifted about one-half block, to Cheyenne Ave. The runner staging will remain in Grafton High School.

For those of you already plugging split times into your Garmin, all the markers from the 8-mile point to the finish will be moved a half-mile north.

The 31st annual Lakefront Marathon will be held on Oct. 2. Registration filled in April.

6 Comments for "Lakefront Marathon changes course"

  1. The winding and sharp turns in the last mile of the old course were annoying. This sounds like a nice improvement.

    leftmid Jul 26, 2011 10:32 AM

  2. agreed. welcome change. straight on to the finish. Aces!

    Unreasonable Jul 26, 2011 11:44 AM

  3. "It's the Lakefront Marathon, and I didn't see the lake for 22 miles."

    I'd have to second that. It's also the Milwaukee Lakefront
    Marathon, and only about 6 miles are in Milwaukee. A better name might
    be the Northern Milwaukee Suburb, Kind of close to the Lake Marathon.

    I kid, but I've never understood why they don't use a route that's actually
    on the Lake.

    waxworks Jul 26, 2011 12:00 PM

  4. Being tethered with 70+ others and avoiding a sharp turn at the end,
    surely will aid us in breaking the Guinness World Record for most runners
    tethered together and finishing a marathon. Way to go Kris Hinrichs and
    the Badgerland Striders! See you in a few miles....roy

    Roy Pirrung Jul 26, 2011 12:05 PM

  5. Better bring your own water!!! Me, I'm planning to enter about 3 miles from the finsih line! Better results that way!

    telling it like it is! Jul 26, 2011 12:05 PM

  6. Race organizers need to do a better job of ensuring that runners are aware that most of the course is open to car traffic. Every year, this event creates havoc to the residents of the communities that the race passes by not allowing residents to safely gain access to their homes. We are not against the event, it is just very poorly controlled by the organizers.

    What? Jul 26, 2011 3:21 PM

Post a Comment

Limit of 2000 characters,  characters remaining

Preview

Discussion guidelines | Privacy policy | Terms of use

Please login to post a comment.

Page Tools

Latest Posts

Archives