Lakefront Marathon
Lakefront Marathon race day weather
Mild temps, strategic pacing needed
Runners will face a mild start at 60°F, rising slightly to 61°F by the finish. Winds from the S will peak at 12 mph, providing a tailwind during parts of the race but also creating headwinds between miles 5-11 and 15-17. With high humidity at 78%, runners should adjust their pace conservatively, especially on the exposed stretches, while staying hydrated throughout.
Pace Calculator
Enter a finish time to see what race day does to it.
Get forecast alerts for Lakefront Marathon
We'll text or email you when the forecast shifts — so you can adjust gear, pacing, and strategy. Max one per day.
Lakefront Marathon route and elevation
The Lakefront Marathon course has about 765 ft (233 m) of climbing and 795 ft (242 m) of descent, a net drop of about 30 ft (9 m). It is hillier than 58% of the marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. The hardest mile is mile 3, with 103 ft (31 m) of climbing and a 1.5% average grade.
Biggest climbs
- Miles 1.6 to 2.7: climbs about 95 ft (30 m).
- Miles 8.5 to 12.7: climbs about 120 ft (36 m).
- Miles 14 to 16.1: climbs about 85 ft (27 m).
What the hills cost
- 3:30 on a flat course is about 3:31 here (1 minute slower).
- 4:00 on a flat course is about 4:01 here (1 minute slower).
- 4:30 on a flat course is about 4:31 here (1 minute slower).
Hills only, priced mile by mile on the course map. The pace calculator above adds the race-day weather.
Even-effort splits for a 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 finish
| Mile | Climb | Descent | 3:30 | 4:00 | 4:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83 ft | 85 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:14 |
| 2 | 44 ft | 57 ft | 7:55 | 9:03 | 10:10 |
| 3 | 103 ft | 23 ft | 8:39 | 9:53 | 11:07 |
| 4 | 24 ft | 20 ft | 8:00 | 9:09 | 10:18 |
| 5 | 2 ft | 119 ft | 7:33 | 8:38 | 9:42 |
| 6 | 47 ft | 39 ft | 8:02 | 9:11 | 10:20 |
| 7 | 41 ft | 26 ft | 8:06 | 9:15 | 10:25 |
| 8 | 36 ft | 44 ft | 7:56 | 9:04 | 10:12 |
| 9 | 49 ft | 40 ft | 8:03 | 9:12 | 10:20 |
| 10 | 18 ft | 12 ft | 8:01 | 9:09 | 10:18 |
| 11 | 33 ft | 4 ft | 8:12 | 9:23 | 10:34 |
| 12 | 25 ft | 3 ft | 8:09 | 9:19 | 10:29 |
| 13 | 39 ft | 63 ft | 7:53 | 9:00 | 10:07 |
| 14 | 36 ft | 36 ft | 7:58 | 9:06 | 10:15 |
| 15 | 49 ft | 3 ft | 8:21 | 9:33 | 10:44 |
| 16 | 39 ft | 10 ft | 8:13 | 9:23 | 10:34 |
| 17 | 12 ft | 20 ft | 7:56 | 9:04 | 10:12 |
| 18 | 37 ft | 43 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:13 |
| 19 | 51 ft | 54 ft | 7:57 | 9:06 | 10:14 |
| 20 | 28 ft | 48 ft | 7:54 | 9:01 | 10:09 |
| 21 | 28 ft | 67 ft | 7:49 | 8:56 | 10:03 |
| 22 | 38 ft | 33 ft | 8:00 | 9:09 | 10:18 |
| 23 | 42 ft | 76 ft | 7:50 | 8:58 | 10:04 |
| 24 | 32 ft | 39 ft | 7:57 | 9:04 | 10:13 |
| 25 | 15 ft | 13 ft | 7:59 | 9:08 | 10:16 |
| 26 | 36 ft | 43 ft | 7:56 | 9:04 | 10:12 |
| Last 0.2 | 1 ft | 2 ft | 1:47 | 2:02 | 2:17 |
Explore the Lakefront Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
Get your personalized Lakefront Marathon race plan
A mile-by-mile breakdown of where your time goes, weather-adjusted splits, fueling timeline with aid stations, packing checklist, carb tracker, spectator guide, all built around your goal and race-day conditions.
About the Lakefront Marathon
The Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon is run each October in downtown Milwaukee by the Badgerland Striders Running Club. The marathon and half marathon start together at the Baird Center on West Wisconsin Avenue and share the first 10 miles. More than 40 percent of the route follows Lake Michigan, and the marathon crosses the Hoan Bridge twice, near miles 7.5 and 23.5. The course is USATF-sanctioned and the marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier.