Rails to Trails Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K

Sunday, October 6, 2024 • Norwalk, WI • Course Map

Known for its steady and challenging uphill stretches that await runners along the first few miles of the course, the Rails to Trails Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run takes runners and walkers on a tour of the Elroy Sparta State Trail that winds through this corner of southwestern Wisconsin.

A former railroad that’s been converted into a 32-mile paved recreational trail that winds through the small towns and countryside areas of southwestern Wisconsin between towns of Elroy and Sparta, the paved trail features three long tunnels that hikers, walkers, bikers and runners can pass through — one of which runners will run through during the race.

All four races in the event start and finish at the Norwalk Village Park on State Highway 71 in the town of Norwalk. From there, participants follow the course along a northwestern route up and out of the center of town out along the trail, and encounter what are perhaps the course’s most significant hills in the first four miles of the race.

From the starting elevation of just over 1,000 feet above sea level, the course reaches nearly 1,400 feet above sea level by the time runners reach the mile 4 marker. There are a few short downhills along the way but otherwise it’s a long, steady uphill stretch from the start to the fourth mile.

Shortly after crossing the mile 4 marker, runners enter the longest tunnel along the entire Elroy Sparta Trail, which is roughly three quarters of a mile long.

As they’re about to enter the tunnel, course volunteers hand every runner a flashlight to carry with them through the tunnel to light their way, which they can drop off on the other end and pick up once again on the return during the second half of the race.

Open to both runners and walkers, the half marathon starts at 9:00 AM, and follows an out-and-back route that turns around at about the half-way point of the full marathon course, and then runs back through the tunnel a second time for the finish in Norwalk Village Park.

The entrance to one of the tunnels on the Elroy Sparta State Trail in Norwalk, Wis. (Photo by Kenneth Casper/flickr)

Race Weather & Climate

Located in the southwestern corner of the state, just over 40 miles from the border with Minnesota and about 2 1/2 hours from Madison, the town of Norwalk typically experiences cool to mild weather conditions in the mid-fall season, with occasional wet or frozen precipitation.

On race day (Oct. 6), the average low is 43ºF and the average high is 62ºF.

Past Results

• 2023 Results
• 2022 Results
• 2021 Rails to Trails Half Marathon Results
• 2019 Rails to Trails Half Marathon Results
• 2017 Rails to Trails Half Marathon Results
• 2016 Rails to Trails Half Marathon Results
• 2015 Rails to Trails Half Marathon Results
• 2014 Rails to Trails Half Marathon Results
• 2013 Rails to Trails Half Marathon Results
• 2012 Rails to Trails Half Marathon Results
• 2011 Rails to Trails Half Marathon Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the Rails to Trails Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

• 8:00 AM – full marathon
• 9:00 AM – half marathon
• 10:00 AM – 5K
• 11:00 AM – 1-mile fun run

Fees

• $50 – $80 for the half marathon
• $65 – $95 for the full marathon
• $22 – $30 for the 5K
• $15 for the 1-mile fun run

Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2024 running of the Rails to Trails Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K, visit the event website below.

Official Race Website

https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Norwalk/RailsToTrailsRun

Comments

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