calendar icon Nov 8, 2024

Marathon Details - Journeys Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > WI > Eagle River > Journeys Marathon

Journeys Marathon

Journeys Marathon & Half Marathon, 13.1 Mile Power Walk, 10K, 5K

location icon Eagle River, WI USA

calendar icon May 9, 2020 - CANCELLED

calendar icon http://www.eagleriver.org/featured/journeys-marathon

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Race Details

Journeys Marathon is an inspirational race that starts with a woodland backdrop on rustic roads while meandering through the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest and passing many scenic northern Wisconsin lakes. This is a race not to be missed. Races included in the day are a half marathon, 13.1 mile power walk, 10K and a 5K race. For more information or to register, please contact the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center at 800-359-6315 or visit the Official Journeys Marathon website at www. journeysmarathon.org

Contact Information

Name: Matt Haugen
Address: 201 N Railroad St
Eagle River, WI 54521
Phone Number:  1-800-359-6315
Fax Number: 1-715-479-1960
Email: Email the organizers

Race Organizer

A challenging and beautiful course (11/18/15)


A challenging and inspirational race that starts with the woodland backdrop of the Boulder Junction, Wisconsin area on rustic roads, while meandering through the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest and passing many scenic northern Wisconsin lakes along the way.
New in 2016 for the 20th anniversary- we are adding a 10K race.

Runner Reviews (32)

Course Rating Course 4.5 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.7 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.4 
 
 
Number of comments: 32 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 > ]

 

Rob Klein from Paradise, Michigan (5/17/2016)
"A Blanket of Snow and Sub-Freezing Overnight Temps" (about: 2016)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Journeys Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


Weather was definitely going to be a factor for this marathon. Forecasts were for light snow and sub-freezing overnight weather. And this time, the weatherman seemed to get it right. The night before, check-in was at the local high school, and the Chamber of Commerce had a spaghetti dinner for the participants. Check-in was a breeze and the food was good, with plenty to eat.

Buses were to depart the school parking lot at 6:45 a.m., to have the runners to the start-line in plenty of time for the 8:00 a.m. start. The start was at some kind of resort, so runners got to hang out inside until close to start time.

The first half was rather hilly, and headed east, ending up where the 1/2 marathon start was. It looked like there were lots of lakes in the area with many summer homes along the way. The second half was flatter, though there were some turns, and we had to cross Highway US 45. After perhaps 2 to 3 miles on Highway 45, the course turned right, coming into town by the airport, missing and heavily traveled automobile routes, ending just past the foot-bridge over the river.

The event was very well organized, and there were lots of volunteers. The course was very well marked. It would have been difficult to have gotten off-course. There were adequate hydration stations, and there were one per mile for the last 5 miles or so, but 3 of the last four hydration stations had been abandoned by their staff workers, while there were still runners out on the course, and at least one of the stations left no resources for the runners. That was really dumb.

Then this race - advertised to have a 6-hour time limit - had awards after the course closed. Because of this, there were lots of people trying to cram into the tent where awards were to be handed out. To facilitate this, they moved all the post-race food to the back of the tent, then with everybody in the tent, the food was basically inaccessible. I was told by someone that the food was gone - not knowing the food was there, just pushed back out of the way. In any case, I was back at the school before I learned there was still food there for the runners. Tough luck for me. Anyway, it looked like they had some really nice prizes to hand out. But the medal was small, unspectacular, and mine was rather scratched up, with the copper coating coming off. I was not too happy about that, but those are the medals they chose for us and they were not as good a quality as they could have been. Still, a great marathon event and a very beautiful setting.

 

A. K. from Naperville, IL (5/14/2014)
"Perfectly organized, quiet, scenic race" (about: 2014)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Journeys Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my 25th marathon, and one of the best I've ran so far. The course is really scenic, going through pine woods, by lakes and rivers. The hills may be kind of steep, but none of them are longer than a couple of minutes at most.

The only thing I did not like about this race was the stretch along Highway G, when we had to pass groups of slower half-marathoners, running on the right side on a road with some traffic.

To stay safe, I had to pass them on the right, running in a ditch, which I did not like at all.

Other than that, I enjoyed the race at all, and I will definitely consider doing it again. There were many water stops with very friendly volunteers - thanks to all of you!

Also the T-Shirt and post race food were really good.

 

H. O. from Central WI (5/13/2013)
"Lonely course, but peaceful" (about: 2013)

2 previous marathons | 1 Journeys Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 1


'I ran the half marathon in 2013. It starts halfway through the marathon course and doesn't have the huge hills that the marathoners have to deal with during the first 13 miles. There is almost no crowd support...literally I didn't hear a single cow bell! But, I did have a deer dart across the road about 50 feet in front of me.

Packet pick up was a breeze. The T-shirt was thin and flimsy. Really sub-par. No 'expo' to speak of. There are busses to take you to the start lines. The course ends in a park and the bus brings you back to the high school, where they offer free use of the showers in the locker rooms.

Post race food was the standard fare...bananas, bagels, grapes, cookies, gatorade. It was really cold so I didn't stay long at the finish line. Everyone who crossed the finish line had their name announced and that was a nice touch.

Each mile was clearly marked with large signs (different for the full and half). Very few porta potties and I only saw one photographer on the course. For most of the race, I was running pretty much by myself, so I was really grateful for my ipod to keep me company, although I can see how nature-lovers would enjoy the relative solitude of this course.

The course was open to traffic, but most of the vehicles seemed to know what was going on and they slowly made their way around the runners. The fast marathoners and wheel chair marathoners had to weave their way through the half marathoners as they caught up, but I think it is encouraging to see the faster runners.

If you don't want a big event, you may like this race.'

 

J. J. from Wisconsin (5/12/2013)
"Well done small town race" (about: 2013)

50+ previous marathons | 3 Journeys Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


This was my third running of Journeys. First half of course changed from 12 years ago but still a challenge with all the hills. Second half pretty flat. Very beautiful running through the northern WI forests. Only complaint is having to weave around and through the half marathon walkers. Plenty of water stops and enthusiastic volunteers. Race director very professional and seems to enjoy putting on this event. Plenty of great door prizes during awards ceremony so stick around for that. Note that Days Inn does not allow late check out so look for a different hotel.

 

m. b. from Milwaukee, Wisconsin (3/20/2013)
"Beautiful course, but caters to shorter races." (about: 2012)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Journeys Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 2  FANS: 5


This is a nice course and challenging marathon, but not well planned for the marathon participants, who caught up with the 13.1 mile walkers and had to constantly weave around walkers who were walking up to 3 abreast on a county highway, and sometimes were not willing to move to the right. Very frustrating in the last miles of a marathon. Also, there were sausages for sale at the end, nothing that was healthy or easier on the stomach.

 

frank tarantino from mercer wi (5/13/2012)
"race is very well done" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 3 Journeys Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


my only complaint was the medals, I think they shouldn't have been the same as last years. I think a medal in the shape of an eagle would be truly great

 

frank tarantino from mercer wi (5/13/2010)
"very well done" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Journeys Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I felt bad for the pitstop people who had to wait forever for me to finish. How do I find any pictures of the marathon?

 

Scott Pfeifer from Wisconsin (5/12/2010)
"Narnia" (about: 2010)

2 previous marathons | 2 Journeys Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


That's what it looked like with the snow beautifully covering all of the trees. I think I saw the faun Mr. Tumnus too, but that may have just been the guy running in a monkey suit (literally). This was my second journeys marathon, and again it was well run and a great trek through the north woods of Wisconsin. I didn't care for the switch from Gatorade to Hammer HEED on the course though, they should call that stuff "Hammer Heave" because that's what I felt like doing after drinking it. Managed to beat last year's time by 15 minutes but it was tough.

 

C. S. from Oshkosh, Wisconsin (5/9/2010)
"Community support is wonderful" (about: 2010)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Journeys Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


The 2010 marathon occurred on a cool day just after a snowstorm, but you couldn't tell in the attitudes of all the volunteers at the event. They were fantastic, and the community really rallied around this event. There were few spectators, which was not unexpected since the course is in a really rural, scenic area. The first half of the course was pretty hilly, which didn't bother many of the runners but took it out of me.

 

Tammy Hunter from Amherst WI (5/13/2009)
"Wonderful time had by all!" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Journeys Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


What a great well organized race. The course is tough, but once you get to mile 13, things tend to smooth out a bit with the hills. One of the best races I have done. This was my 43rd marathon and I hope to do it again someday. The race director and all of the volunteers did an awesome job.

 

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