North Country Trail Marathon
North Country Trail Marathon race day weather
Mild temps, moderate wind challenges
Runners will face temperatures starting at 63°F, gradually rising to 68°F by the finish. Winds will be moderate at 17 mph from the W, creating a mix of headwind, tailwind, and crosswind throughout the course. With humidity at 74%, pacing adjustments are recommended to avoid fatigue in the later laps. Runners should stay hydrated and be prepared for the rolling terrain.
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North Country Trail Marathon route and elevation
The North Country Trail Marathon course has about 4,322 ft (1,317 m) of climbing. It is hillier than 92% of the marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. The hardest mile is mile 5, with 210 ft (64 m) of climbing and a 3% average grade.
Biggest climbs
- Miles 4.4 to 5: climbs about 210 ft (64 m).
- Miles 7.1 to 7.8: climbs about 120 ft (37 m).
- Miles 12.1 to 13.1: climbs about 175 ft (54 m).
What the hills cost
- 3:30 on a flat course is about 3:34 here (4 minutes slower).
- 4:00 on a flat course is about 4:05 here (5 minutes slower).
- 4:30 on a flat course is about 4:35 here (5 minutes 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 | 72 ft | 24 ft | 8:15 | 9:26 | 10:36 |
| 2 | 42 ft | 41 ft | 7:52 | 8:59 | 10:07 |
| 3 | 15 ft | 82 ft | 7:36 | 8:42 | 9:47 |
| 4 | 112 ft | 26 ft | 8:35 | 9:47 | 11:01 |
| 5 | 210 ft | 52 ft | 9:12 | 10:32 | 11:51 |
| 6 | 45 ft | 189 ft | 7:22 | 8:25 | 9:28 |
| 7 | 73 ft | 107 ft | 7:44 | 8:50 | 9:56 |
| 8 | 122 ft | 91 ft | 8:06 | 9:16 | 10:25 |
| 9 | 26 ft | 145 ft | 7:26 | 8:29 | 9:34 |
| 10 | 28 ft | 54 ft | 7:45 | 8:52 | 9:58 |
| 11 | 25 ft | 25 ft | 7:51 | 8:58 | 10:06 |
| 12 | 14 ft | 10 ft | 7:53 | 9:01 | 10:07 |
| 13 | 144 ft | 13 ft | 8:58 | 10:15 | 11:32 |
| 14 | 82 ft | 162 ft | 7:34 | 8:38 | 9:43 |
| 15 | 72 ft | 73 ft | 7:51 | 8:58 | 10:06 |
| 16 | 98 ft | 80 ft | 8:00 | 9:09 | 10:17 |
| 17 | 7 ft | 40 ft | 7:44 | 8:50 | 9:56 |
| 18 | 108 ft | 20 ft | 8:35 | 9:50 | 11:04 |
| 19 | 47 ft | 67 ft | 7:47 | 8:53 | 9:59 |
| 20 | 84 ft | 47 ft | 8:10 | 9:20 | 10:30 |
| 21 | 63 ft | 92 ft | 7:44 | 8:50 | 9:57 |
| 22 | 106 ft | 102 ft | 7:53 | 9:01 | 10:09 |
| 23 | 115 ft | 27 ft | 8:36 | 9:49 | 11:02 |
| 24 | 144 ft | 65 ft | 8:30 | 9:44 | 10:57 |
| 25 | 138 ft | 94 ft | 8:13 | 9:23 | 10:34 |
| 26 | 26 ft | 232 ft | 7:13 | 8:14 | 9:16 |
| Last 0.2 | 0 ft | 56 ft | 1:35 | 1:49 | 2:02 |
Explore the North Country Trail Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
About the North Country Trail Marathon
The North Country Trail Marathon is run on Saturday of the North Country Trail Run weekend near Wellston, Michigan, in the Manistee National Forest. The 26.2-mile course is mostly single-track with about 4,300 feet of climbing: a steep hill around mile 4, a long climb around mile 15, and a stretch of old rail bed through pines. Miles 20 to 24 are hilly and wooded, and the finish comes after a sandy downhill.
