Lakefront Marathon

Milwaukee, WI, USA · October 03, 2027·
partly-cloudy-day60°·61° high·Breezy·Dry
7
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Lakefront Marathon race day weather

partly-cloudy-day
60°at start
63° high
Breezy
Dry
Your goal
0:00:00

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.

Race day forecast available in 317 days
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Pace Calculator

26.2mi
0:00:00
HH:MM:SS
Pace
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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
The Lakefront Marathon mile splits at even effort for three finish times, with each mile's climb and descent
MileClimbDescent3:304:004:30
183 ft85 ft7:579:0510:14
244 ft57 ft7:559:0310:10
3103 ft23 ft8:399:5311:07
424 ft20 ft8:009:0910:18
52 ft119 ft7:338:389:42
647 ft39 ft8:029:1110:20
741 ft26 ft8:069:1510:25
836 ft44 ft7:569:0410:12
949 ft40 ft8:039:1210:20
1018 ft12 ft8:019:0910:18
1133 ft4 ft8:129:2310:34
1225 ft3 ft8:099:1910:29
1339 ft63 ft7:539:0010:07
1436 ft36 ft7:589:0610:15
1549 ft3 ft8:219:3310:44
1639 ft10 ft8:139:2310:34
1712 ft20 ft7:569:0410:12
1837 ft43 ft7:579:0510:13
1951 ft54 ft7:579:0610:14
2028 ft48 ft7:549:0110:09
2128 ft67 ft7:498:5610:03
2238 ft33 ft8:009:0910:18
2342 ft76 ft7:508:5810:04
2432 ft39 ft7:579:0410:13
2515 ft13 ft7:599:0810:16
2636 ft43 ft7:569:0410:12
Last 0.21 ft2 ft1:472:022:17

Explore the Lakefront Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.

Race Plan

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.

Race Pace
Weather Splits
Nutrition
Gear & Packing
T-Minus
Carb Tracker
Spectator Guide
Race Band

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. Source

Race weekend

Saturday, October 2
10:30 AM5K (3.1 mi)
10:30 AMWalk the Hoan (3.1 mi)
Sunday, October 3
7:00 AMMarathon (26.2 mi)
7:00 AMHalf Marathon (13.1 mi)

Lakefront Marathon FAQ

When is the 2027 Lakefront Marathon?

The 2027 Lakefront Marathon will be held on Sunday October 3, 2027.

Is the Lakefront Marathon a Boston Marathon Qualifier?

Yes, the Lakefront Marathon is an official Boston Marathon qualifier.

What is the time limit for the Lakefront Marathon?

The time limit for the Lakefront Marathon is 6.5 hours.

What will the weather be like for the 2027 Lakefront Marathon?

The forecast calls for a high of 65°F and a low of 59°F with a 11% chance of rain.

What is the elevation gain of the Lakefront Marathon?

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.

What is the weather usually like for the Lakefront Marathon?

Over the 23 years racecast.io has race-day weather for (2003 to 2026), it averaged 51°F at the start and 61°F by a typical finish. Rain fell during race hours in 6 of those years.

What was the hottest Lakefront Marathon?

Of the 23 years on record, 2007 was the warmest, reaching 79°F during race hours. The coldest start was 2014, at 35°F.

What was the windiest Lakefront Marathon?

Of the 23 years on record, 2004 was the windiest, with wind averaging 15 mph during race hours. The calmest was 2006, at 2 mph.

Lakefront Marathon weather history

Based on 23 years of data
Avg Temp
56°F
L:51° H:61°
RunScore
8
Conditions
Rain Freq
26%
6 of 23 yrs
Wind9mph
Dew46°F

Temperature History

Range of temperatures during race hours for each year.

Detailed History

YearConditionsLow / HighRainScoreResults
2026
clear-day
53°/63°-
8
2025
clear-day
65°/77°-
5
2024
clear-day
59°/67°-
8
2023
partly-cloudy-day
65°/77°-
4
2022
cloudy
57°/60°-
7
2021
rain
68°/71°Light
4
2019
partly-cloudy-day
49°/61°-
9
2018
cloudy
53°/55°Light
9
2017
partly-cloudy-day
50°/67°-
8
2016
cloudy
60°/61°Light
6
2015
rain
51°/53°Light
9
2014
partly-cloudy-day
35°/49°-
10
2013
rain
53°/58°Light
9
2012
cloudy
38°/45°-
10
2011
clear-day
40°/57°-
10
2010
rain
43°/51°Light
9
2009
cloudy
49°/52°-
10
2008
partly-cloudy-day
41°/59°-
9
2007
partly-cloudy-day
66°/79°-
4
2006
clear-day
47°/64°-
9
2005
partly-cloudy-day
59°/73°-
6
2004
partly-cloudy-day
43°/58°-
9
2003
partly-cloudy-day
38°/48°-
10