Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Start time
- 7:30 AM start (Detroit)
- Location
- Empire, Michigan
- Entry fee
- From $60 · goes up to $130 on Oct 1, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a hoodie or sweatshirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Marathon | Marathon | Oct 3, 20267:30 AM | $125$130 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Oct 3, 20268:00 AM | $120$125 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| 5K | 5K | Oct 3, 20268:20 AM | $60$65 after Oct 2, 2026 | 652 |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Marathon fee goes up to $130 on Oct 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Full Marathon: $125 until Sep 30, then $130 until Oct 1, then $135 until Oct 2.
- Half Marathon: $120 until Sep 30, then $125 until Oct 1, then $130 until Oct 2.
- 5K: $60 until Oct 1, then $65 until Oct 2.
Online registration closes Oct 2, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $125, entry is about 19 percent above a typical marathon in Michigan, which costs $105 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a marathon in Michigan runs 4:13:25, about 9:40 a mile, based on 13 races with published results. Women typically finish in 4:30:23 and men in 4:03:21.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:42 AM, and the Full Marathon starts at 7:30 AM. The start sits about 570 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Empire Beach, Empire, MI 49630
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (5 years)Half Marathon
5K
Full Marathon
Aggregated from official results (Race Day Events) for Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K?
At the 2025 Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:54:08 or better, the top quarter in 2:04:17, and half the field in 2:21:10; the last tenth came in after 3:06:39.
At the 2025 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 27:45 or better, the top quarter in 32:01, and half the field in 37:42; the last tenth came in after 58:10.
At the 2025 Full Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 3:48:14 or better, the top quarter in 4:13:59, and half the field in 4:46:38; the last tenth came in after 5:57:27.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | n/a | 2:41:12 |
| 20-29 | 1:46:04 | 1:32:18 |
| 30-39 | 1:49:30 | 1:32:11 |
| 40-49 | 1:48:47 | 1:45:46 |
| 50-59 | 2:09:25 | 1:50:00 |
| 60-69 | 2:15:04 | 2:00:13 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 9 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K Half Marathon year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 611 to 693 finishers, and the median time rose from 2:16:15 to 2:21:10.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 693 (+34%) | 2:21:10 | under 1:54:08 | 1:15:43 |
| 2024 | 518 (+12%) | 2:15:35 | under 1:48:14 | 1:22:14 |
| 2023 | 461 (-22%) | 2:17:44 | under 1:49:27 | 1:20:43 |
| 2022 | 590 (-3%) | 2:10:29 | under 1:45:23 | 1:15:39 |
| 2021 | 611 | 2:16:15 | under 1:48:14 | 1:21:05 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most Michigan half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 2:04:17, against 1:52:52 in a typical Michigan half marathon, so times here run 10 percent slower.
- 5K: Slower than most Michigan 5Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 32:01, against 28:36 in a typical Michigan 5K, so times here run 12 percent slower.
- Marathon: Slower than most Michigan marathons. The fastest quarter of the 2025 marathon field finished under 4:13:59, against 3:44:36 in a typical Michigan marathon, so times here run 13 percent slower.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 3 the day usually runs from 53°F at dawn to 68°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 13% of days. Cold snaps dip to 42°F and hot years reach 77°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- Empire Beach, Empire, MI 49630Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 570 feet
- Included with entry
- Unisex Lightweight Tri-Blend Hoodie
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 3, 2026), 2025 (Oct 4, 2025), 2024 (Oct 5, 2024), 2023 (Oct 7, 2023), 2022 (Oct 1, 2022), 2021 (Oct 2, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K?
- Saturday, October 3, 2026, starting at 7:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $60 before processing fees, and rises to $130 on Oct 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 2, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Michigan?
- At $125, entry is about 19 percent above a typical marathon in Michigan, which costs $105 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a hoodie or sweatshirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 693 runners finished the Half Marathon; the median finish was 2:21:10 and the winner ran 1:15:43.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 2:04:17, against 1:52:52 in a typical Michigan half marathon, so times here run 10 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- Empire Beach, Empire, MI 49630.
From the organizers
Join us for a Scenic Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K Run/Walk in the Heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore!
All races finish in Empire, MI. The Marathon and Half Marathon start at the Dune Climb, while the 5K begins at Empire Beach.
Marathon Course: This out-and-back route takes runners past the iconic Dune Climb, Little Glen Lake, and through the charming village of Glen Arbor. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Manitou Islands and Sleeping Bear Dunes throughout the course.
Half Marathon Course: Experience challenging hills and stunning scenery along the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.
5K Course: A fun out-and-back route that finishes at the beautiful shores of Empire Beach.