Michigan · Marathon · Half
Sleeping Bear Marathon
Sleeping Bear Marathon is a marathon and half marathon event held in Empire, Michigan. Its next confirmed date is Saturday, October 3, 2026. About 800 runners take part across all distances.
- Race day
- October 3, 2026
- Location
- Empire, MI
- Field size
- ~800 runners
Race details
- Date
- Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Location
- Empire, Michigan
- Distances
- Marathon, Half
- Field size
- About 800 runners
- Course
- Rolling Hills
- Registration
- runsignup.com
- Official website
- sleepingbearmarathon.com
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
- 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.
- 8 min read How to Choose the Best Half Marathon for a PR, Racecation or 50-State Challenge The best half marathon depends on what you want from it. How to choose a course for a personal record, a race worth travelling for, or an efficient stop on a 50-state challenge.
- 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 confirmed date is Saturday, October 3, 2026.
- 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.
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.