Michigan · Marathon · Half
Sleeping Bear Marathon
Sleeping Bear Marathon is a marathon and half marathon event held in Empire, Michigan. It was last held on October 3, 2026 and is usually run in October; the next date hasn't been announced yet. About 800 runners take part across all distances.
- Usually held
- October
- Location
- Empire, MI
- Field size
- ~800 runners
Race details
- Last held
- October 3, 2026
- Usually held in
- October
- Location
- Empire, Michigan
- Distances
- Marathon, Half
- Field size
- About 800 runners
- Course
- Rolling Hills
- Registration
- runsignup.com
- Official website
- sleepingbearmarathon.com
Registration, course & weather
- Registration status
- Registration status as last checked September 25, 2026: open
- Start time
- 7:30 AM EDT
- Course profile
- Out-and-back course; Road surface; 836 ft gain, 848 ft loss (estimated from third-party elevation data); USATF certified; Boston qualifier
About the Sleeping Bear Marathon
A small but stunning race in and around Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, starting at the iconic Dune Climb and passing Glen Lake, Glen Arbor and views of the Manitou Islands before finishing in Empire.
Rankings and notes
- Rankings and awards
- USATF-certified; Boston qualifier; one of the most scenic marathons in Michigan within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Notes
- Scenic course near Lake Michigan
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Guides from the RaceRove blog
- 8 min read How to Choose Your First Marathon A practical checklist for choosing a first marathon based on course, weather, cutoff, travel, field size and support.
- 7 min read How to Find a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon Near You A practical way to find running races near you: pick a distance, decide how far you'll travel, read the listing properly and confirm the details before you register.
- 9 min read How to Run a Race in All 50 States How to plan a 50-state running challenge: set your own rules, group states into trips, build a calendar around the seasons, budget for it and keep track of every finish.
- Blog All guides Planning advice for finding, choosing and travelling to races.
Sleeping Bear Marathon: common questions
- When is the Sleeping Bear Marathon?
- The next date hasn't been announced in the listing yet. The race is usually held in October. Check the organiser's website for the official date.
- Where is the Sleeping Bear Marathon held?
- In Empire, Michigan.
- What distances does the Sleeping Bear Marathon offer?
- Marathon and Half.
- How many people run the Sleeping Bear Marathon?
- About 800 runners across all of its distances. That figure is an estimate of the field size, not an entry cap.
- How do I register for the Sleeping Bear Marathon?
- Registration is handled by the organiser at runsignup.com. Entry fees, caps and deadlines are set there.
- Is registration open for the Sleeping Bear Marathon?
- Registration status as last checked September 25, 2026: open. Listed fee for the longest distance, $120 (from sleepingbearmarathon.com, checked September 25, 2026).
- What time does the Sleeping Bear Marathon start?
- 7:30 AM EDT.
- What is the course like at the Sleeping Bear Marathon?
- Out-and-back course; Road surface; 836 ft gain, 848 ft loss (estimated from third-party elevation data); USATF certified; Boston qualifier.
Plan this race in RaceRove
Save it to your plan, compare it with other races, check typical race-day weather and track your 50-state progress in the interactive app.