2026 Madison Marathon - Nov 15 Countdown

Q: When is the 2026 Madison Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 Madison Marathon is on Sunday, November 15, 2026, with the full marathon starting at 7:00 a.m. CT from Capitol Square (the half marathon and 10K start at about 7:20 a.m.) in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. The race is presented by COUNTRY Financial and organized by Madison Festivals, Inc.

Q: How hard is the Madison Marathon course?

It is a rolling, moderately challenging course, not a flat speedway. Run on Madison's narrow isthmus, the route has a steady mix of small and larger hills — about +851 ft (259 m) of total climb — and an uphill finish back to Capitol Square. It is scenic and runnable but better thought of as a strong-effort marathon than a guaranteed-PR course.

Q: Is the Madison Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and accepted as a Boston qualifier. That said, the rolling terrain and late-season cold mean it has a more modest BQ rate than the flat Midwest qualifiers — roughly 6-7% of finishers qualified in recent editions. You can check your needed pace with our Boston qualifying calculator.

Q: What does the Madison Marathon course look like?

The course starts and finishes on Capitol Square beneath the white-domed Wisconsin State Capitol, then loops Madison's isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Highlights include Tenney Park, lakeshore paths, the University of Wisconsin campus, Camp Randall and the wooded UW Arboretum before the climb back to the Square.

Q: What is the time limit for the Madison Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6-hour time limit. To finish before the course closes you need to average roughly 13:44 per mile (about 8:32 per km). Runners who fall behind that pace are moved to the sidewalks and may continue at their own risk without race support. Plan your splits with our pace calculator.

Q: How do I register for the Madison Marathon?

Registration is handled online through Race Roster via the official site at madisonmarathon.org. The weekend also offers a half marathon and a 10K. Packet pickup is at the expo at Monona Terrace on the Friday and Saturday before race day; there is no race-morning pickup, so collect your bib in advance.

Q: What is the weather like for the Madison Marathon in November?

Mid-November in Madison is cold and crisp, with a mean temperature near 43°F (6°C) — typical highs around the upper 40s°F (about 9°C) and lows near freezing in the low 30s°F (around 0°C). It is genuine fall-racing weather: dress for a cold start with layers you can shed.

-- DAYS

-- HRS

-- MIN

-- SEC

Want personality modes & weather integration? Try the full countdown experience

Race Information

Race	2026 Madison Marathon - Nov 15
City	Madison
Date	2026-11-15 at 07:00
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Timezone	America/Chicago
Official Site	Madison Festivals, Inc.
Registration	Register

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	2°C / 36°F
Humidity	82%
Wind	26.2 km/h
Rain Chance	21%
Typical Conditions	Cold, crisp mid-November Wisconsin morning — typical PR-friendly fall conditions around 40°F / 4°C

What to Prepare: A 7:00 a.m. start in mid-November can mean a near-freezing line, often in the low 30s°F (around 0°C) climbing to the mid-40s°F (about 7°C) by midday. Throwaway gloves, a hat and a long-sleeve you can shed after a few miles are smart, plus a dry layer waiting at the finish.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 26.2 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	-4.4°C	1.7°C	9°C
Dew point	-8.5°C	-0.9°C	6.1°C

Wet-day chance: 21% Runnability: 57/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	City loop on the isthmus
Elevation Gain	259m
Terrain	Road and paved multi-use path (rolling city streets, lakeshore paths, park and arboretum paths)
Profile	A scenic, rolling tour of Wisconsin's capital that starts and finishes on Capitol Square at the foot of the white-domed State Capitol. The USATF-certified course runs along Madison's narrow isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, taking in city neighborhoods, lakeshore paths, Tenney Park, the University of Wisconsin campus, Camp Randall and the wooded UW Arboretum before climbing back up to the Capitol for the finish. It is not a flat PR course — expect a steady mix of small and not-so-small hills (about +851 ft / 259 m of gain) and an uphill finish back to the Square. That terrain plus the late-season cold make it a moderate, honest marathon: a Boston qualifier on paper but with a lower BQ rate than the flat Midwest speedways (roughly 6-7% of finishers qualified in recent years). Best suited to runners who want a genuinely beautiful, lake-and-campus course over a guaranteed-fast one.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Madison Marathon - Nov 15

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

Use Calculator →

Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

Use Calculator →

Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

Use Calculator →

What to Wear Running by Temperature — Clothing Guide

Enter temperature, wind, and rain to get specific clothing picks for head, torso, legs, hands, and f...

Use Calculator →

Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

Use Calculator →

Wind Effect on Running — How Much Does Wind Slow You?

How much does a headwind actually slow you down? This free calculator turns wind speed and direction...

Use Calculator →

View all running tools

Featured In

Best Fall Marathons in 2026 (Sep-Nov) Most Scenic Marathon Courses in the World (2026) Best US Marathons 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 Madison Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 Madison Marathon is on Sunday, November 15, 2026, with the full marathon starting at 7:00 a.m. CT from Capitol Square (the half marathon and 10K start at about 7:20 a.m.) in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. The race is presented by COUNTRY Financial and organized by Madison Festivals, Inc.

How hard is the Madison Marathon course?

It is a rolling, moderately challenging course, not a flat speedway. Run on Madison's narrow isthmus, the route has a steady mix of small and larger hills — about +851 ft (259 m) of total climb — and an uphill finish back to Capitol Square. It is scenic and runnable but better thought of as a strong-effort marathon than a guaranteed-PR course.

Is the Madison Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and accepted as a Boston qualifier. That said, the rolling terrain and late-season cold mean it has a more modest BQ rate than the flat Midwest qualifiers — roughly 6-7% of finishers qualified in recent editions. You can check your needed pace with our Boston qualifying calculator.

What does the Madison Marathon course look like?

The course starts and finishes on Capitol Square beneath the white-domed Wisconsin State Capitol, then loops Madison's isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Highlights include Tenney Park, lakeshore paths, the University of Wisconsin campus, Camp Randall and the wooded UW Arboretum before the climb back to the Square.

What is the time limit for the Madison Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6-hour time limit. To finish before the course closes you need to average roughly 13:44 per mile (about 8:32 per km). Runners who fall behind that pace are moved to the sidewalks and may continue at their own risk without race support. Plan your splits with our pace calculator.

How do I register for the Madison Marathon?

Registration is handled online through Race Roster via the official site at madisonmarathon.org. The weekend also offers a half marathon and a 10K. Packet pickup is at the expo at Monona Terrace on the Friday and Saturday before race day; there is no race-morning pickup, so collect your bib in advance.

What is the weather like for the Madison Marathon in November?

Mid-November in Madison is cold and crisp, with a mean temperature near 43°F (6°C) — typical highs around the upper 40s°F (about 9°C) and lows near freezing in the low 30s°F (around 0°C). It is genuine fall-racing weather: dress for a cold start with layers you can shed.

Where can I find Madison Marathon results?

Live and final results are posted on the official Madison Marathon results page and on the Race Roster results portal. The 2025 edition was won in roughly 2:23 (men) and 2:55 (women); full finisher lists and splits are searchable by name or bib number after the race.