Paavo Nurmi Marathon & Half Marathon

Saturday, August 10, 2024 • Hurley, WI • Course Map

Nestled along the Montreal River in northernmost Wisconsin, along the border with Michigan and just across the river from the nearby city of Ironwood, Mich., this tiny town of just over 1,500 souls plays host every year to Wisconsin’s oldest marathon, which got its start back in the summer of 1969 and has been running strong ever since. Welcome to the Paavo Nurmi Marathon and Half Marathon.

Named for the famed Finnish runner who won nine gold medals (and three silver medals) in the 1920, 1924 and 1928 Olympics, the Paavo Nurmi race is a reflection of the Finnish and northern European heritage of this outpost just north of the Gile Flowage, a 3,100-acre lake near the community of Gile and not far from Hurley, where runners will cross the finish line in both the half marathon and the full marathon.

Runners in the full marathon start and finish their race in downtown Hurley, while those running the half marathon start their race at the 13.1-point (and turnaround point) of the full marathon, just north of downtown Upson.

From there, runners in the half follow the second “back” half of the full marathon course all the way in to the finish line in Hurley, running through nearby Iron Belt, Pence, and Montreal before turning onto Silver Street for the race finish line in downtown Hurley.

For runners in the full marathon, the course is sanctioned by USA Track and Field and it is a Boston Marathon qualifying race. Those who don’t feel up to running 26.2 miles all on their own can join the 5-person marathon relay for men’s, women’s and co-ed teams.

Porcupine-Mountains-Ironwood-MI

Race Weather & Climate

Located just south of Oronto Bay along Wisconsin’s northern border, roughly 265 miles north of Madison, Hurley typically sees some of its warmest and driest weather of the year in August, which has brought record temperatures as low as 30°F (in 1977) and as high as 101°F (in 1947).

  • August 10 average low temp: 56ºF
  • August 10 average high temp: 73ºF

Past Results

The Paavo Nurmi Marathon Course Map

See the race route map for the Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

7:00 AM

The Paavo Nurmi Marathon Fees

  • $75 and up – half marathon
  • $90 and up – full marathon
  • $150 and up (per 5-person team) – marathon relay
  • $60 and up (per 2-person team) – marathon relay

The Paavo Nurmi Marathon Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2024 running of Hurley’s Paavo Nurmi Marathon, Half Marathon or Relay race, register online at RunSignup here.

The Paavo Nurmi Marathon Official Race Website

https://www.thepaavonurmimarathon.com/

Comments

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

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