Wisconsin Marathon
The Lowdown
The Wisconsin Marathon is Kenosha's springtime lakefront marathon, half marathon, and 5K, established to fill the need for a quality long-distance running event in the Chicago/Midwest region with support from the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; the 2026 edition marked its 15th annual running. All distances start and finish at 7:00 AM near the Kenosha Civil War Museum (1st & 54th), on a flat, USATF-certified, largely lakefront course along Lake Michigan through downtown Kenosha, area parks and beaches, and into Pleasant Prairie, with only a few gradual early hills and no gravel sections. It is an official Boston Marathon qualifier with a 6.5-hour cutoff, pace groups from 3:30 to 6:00, and marathon finishers receive the event's signature 'Big Cheese Medal.' The 2026 race (its most recent completed edition, run April 25, 2026) has closed; the next edition is set for Saturday, April 24, 2027, with registration expected to open in late September 2026. YASH Technologies became the race's presenting sponsor in March 2026, succeeding earlier title partners, so this record uses the long-term neutral event name rather than the current sponsor branding.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Intimate field
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Moderate spectator support
Boston Qualifier
This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.
Kenosha Civil War Museum (start/finish, 1st & 54th)
Lake Michigan lakefront route
Downtown Kenosha
Baker Park, Pennoyer Park, and Alford Park
Village of Pleasant Prairie
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
US
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age requirement applies for the full marathon; check the official FAQ for exact age minimums by distance
Required Documents
- Photo ID for packet pickup
Entry Methods
- Online registration via wisconsinmarathon.com
- Online registration via RunReg (runreg.com)
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Entry fees are generally non-refundable; review the official cancellation/deferral policy on wisconsinmarathon.com before registering
Founded to serve as a quality springtime long-distance event for the Chicago/Midwest running community, developed with the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
2026 was the race's 15th annual running (implies founding around 2011-2012).
YASH Technologies signed on as the new presenting sponsor as of March 2026, per Endurance Sportswire.
Approximately 8-13% of marathon finishers have hit Boston Qualifying times in recent years (8.1% in 2025, 13% in 2024), per FindMyMarathon's Boston-qualifier rankings.
Results/tracking via ChronoTrack; race photos via FinisherPix.
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.

