Marathon races near Menomonee Falls

The 44th Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, Wisconsin's largest and oldest marathon, is set against the backdrop of Milwaukee, offering scenic views of the city's skyline. This established event provides a significant challenge within the local running scene, rooted in a rich history along the Lakefront. The course travels along the Lake, presenting views throughout the race. Runners will experience the iconic Hoan Bridge as a key feature, making for a journey through Milwaukee on a route celebrated for its distinctive path.

Trailbreaker is Waukesha’s running event, held annually in Wisconsin since 1993. It offers a marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K run/walk, accommodating marathoners, shorter-distance runners, walkers, and local families. The event began with a marathon, half marathon, and 5K, later adding the 10K. Since 2009, the Park Foundation of Waukesha, a volunteer-led nonprofit, has managed the event, with proceeds supporting city parks, trails, recreation programs, and the urban forest. The marathon begins in a downtown park, follows the Fox River Corridor through Waukesha, and connects with the paved Glacial Drumlin Trail. On the Lapham Peak route, runners leave the pavement around mile 11.3 for a rugged 2.36-mile section of the Ice Age National Trail, ascend to the 40-foot Lapham Peak Tower, ring the bell, and return toward Waukesha. This route gains 438 feet from the start to the tower's summit. If snow, ice, or wet trail conditions affect the rough section, the race can use an alternate certified marathon route that stays on the Glacial Drumlin Trail toward Waterville Lake, providing a flatter option.

Brew City Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K starts from Veterans Park in Milwaukee and gives runners a spring race on the Lake Michigan side of the city. The lineup covers the full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, an untimed 5K, and virtual versions of the main distances, so it works for marathoners, casual runners, and people who want the event without the clock. It is part of the Run Wisconsin Race Series, and its April slot usually brings early-spring Milwaukee weather in the 40s and 50s. The course uses Milwaukee’s lakefront and city neighborhoods, with long flat stretches along Lake Michigan and Lincoln Memorial Drive plus gentler rolling sections away from the water. Runners pass through the Historic Third Ward and the Brady Street entertainment district, which gives the race more of a city tour feel than a simple out-and-back by the lake. The flatter lakefront miles make it a practical choice for runners chasing a personal best or a Boston qualifying time. The finish leans into the Brew City name with a craft beer celebration, and all distances get finisher medals, with runners also choosing a pullover or another finisher item.