Door County Half Marathon & 5K

Saturday, May 4, 2024 • Fish Creek, WI • Course Map

Shaded by trees throughout much of the course and featuring views of the waters of Wisconsin’s Green Bay on one side and Lake Michigan on the other, the Door County Half Marathon & Nicolet Bay 5K takes runners along the paved pathways and park roads of Peninsula State Park, a 3,776-acre park that lies nestled on the northern end of the state’s Door County Peninsula.

Often called “the Cape Cod of the Midwest,” the park offer abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation from the spring through the summer and fall seasons, including an 18-hole golf course, an island just off the park’s northern coast, hiking throughout the trails that wind through the park, and camping at any of the more than 400 campsites located throughout the park’s forests.

Like the 5K race, the half marathon starts and finishes at Nicolet Beach, which overlooks the waters of Nicolet Bay on the park’s northeastern corner. From there, runners follow a winding loop route that heads first westward and then southward along the park’s northern edge, along Shore Road.

Just after passing the mile 2 marker, runners then turn onto Bluff Road and head back along the shoreline, and turn again onto the road that leads to the Blossomburg Cemetery.

The race organizers describe the park’s hills as “challenging,” and it’s here that runners will begin to encounter the first big rise in elevation, as they pass the cemetery and turn left onto Middle Road, as they’re passing through mile markers 4 and 5.

The next few miles take runners into the park’s interior and remain hilly, with stretches along Skyline Road, Hemlock Road and Highland Road before heading back toward the shoreline for the return route back to the finish line.

After the field passes the mile 10 marker, the course then features big downhill to the 11th mile, after which runners then head back along the route they ran in the early part of the race to the finish.

Race Weather & Climate

Located along the northern end of Wisconsin’s Door County Peninsula, the town of Fish Creek typically experiences mild to cool weather conditions in May, with temperatures typically ranging from the upper 30s to the upper 50s.

On race day (May 4), the average low is 36°F and the average high is 50°F.

Past Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the Door County Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

  • 10:00 AM – half marathon
  • 10:15 AM – 5K

Fees

  • $65 – $80 for the half marathon
  • $35 – $45 for the 5K

Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2024 running of Fish Creek’s Door County Half Marathon or 5K race, register online at RaceRoster.com here.

Official Race Website

www.doorcountyhalfmarathon.com

Comments

Ever run in the Door County Half Marathon? Share your impressions here, or post your review in the Comments below.

See more races in: May, Wisconsin

1 comment… add one
  • Terrell Johnson February 12, 2015, 9:07 am

    Here’s what commenter Lauren Hogan had to say about the 2014 race, from our old comments: “I just ran this race yesterday and I have nothing but good things to say about it. It was extremely well organized. We did morning-of-race packet pick up and did not arrive until around 9:15, as the race didn’t start until 10 a.m. and had enough time. Parking was well-run — lots of people directing cars where to park in campsites. Packet pick up was quick, so was bag drop. There were plenty of port-a-potties and we didn’t have to wait too long.

    The race is run in Peninsula State Park on paved roads. The course is beautiful — just gorgeous views of the bay. We got extremely lucky with the weather – it was just beautiful. The course is definitely challenging — there is a pretty wicked hill in the first 4-5 miles and rolls a lot throughout, so I would prepare for them, but it is definitely doable, as I PR’ed by about 6 minutes. There are pace groups, which is just wonderful for a medium sized half marathon. The shirts were great, aid stations were well-stocked. I ran with a half marathon 1st timer and a 2nd timer and they really enjoyed themselves as well. I loved it and we will be back. :)”

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