Here are several races, runs, rides in Wisconsin you should consider entering in 2023
Lori NickelHow's your health and fitness going?
Signing up for a race, run or ride can be one way to find inspiration and motivation to eat better and get moving. Training for these sporting events is a good excuse to make time for fitness. There are lots of events out there, all with different personalities and athletic challenges, and now that I'm getting the ball rolling this Sunday with a 5K, here are seven races I’m contemplating for 2023 – and why.
For dozens and dozens of other race ideas, check out:
If you have something in Wisconsin you’re looking forward to doing, please comment below.
Milwaukee Marathon 5K, March 26
Starting at Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee. Yes, this race has been plagued by issues – and the most recent ones mean that it can hold a half marathon and a 5K this year, contrary to the name, and that announcement was made 46 days before race day.
Oh well! If we want these events to return to action, we can adjust, and dealing with some inconveniences is still not nearly as bad as the racing seasons of 2020, which was non-existent, and 2021, which was so limited due to the pandemic.
Sweet Home Milwaukee 5K, April 16
Veterans Park. Simple fun run along the Milwaukee lakefront, and any time spent there looking at sailboats and seagulls is a win for any runner, wogger (walk and jogger) or walker. The course is flat but occasionally spiced with the extra challenge of a strong spring breeze, and wind chill (thanks Wisconsin), so you may burn more than 300 calories. The event shirts and medals are some of the best Milwaukeean type gear you’ll find anywhere. Great way to kick off the running season with friends or just on your own.
Tough Mudder, May 13 and 14, Town of Polk
For a while there, it looked bad for mud runs and obstacle course races. The precautions we all took for the pandemic meant an end to a lot of these races. But thankfully, Tough Mudder is making a return to Washington County’s Heritage Trails County Park.
More:You win some, you lose some: My Tough Mudder experience
Heritage Trails County Park has roughly 250 acres of varied landscape of hills, wooded trails and open fields to host this gnarly obstacle course event.
The Trek 100, June 10, Waterloo
The Trek 100 was greatly missed during the pandemic, moving to virtual options only for a few years. Thankfully, it’s back to its normal spot on the calendar and normal location – the heart of Wisconsin, where the best hills are there to challenge the legs and the lungs. This is a fundraiser for the MACC Fund, so while the registration costs are a bit more, it's for a great cause.
A cyclist once told me he gains weight during this century ride. How is that possible?
Registration isn’t open yet, but there are usually various ride distances – 19, 36, 62 and 100 miles in the past – and all of them feature many rest stops. These little breaks along the course offer all kinds of snacks, treats, full meals and dozens of volunteers there to take care of the riders. That means cyclists can take their time, not feel rushed, and enjoy the breaks as well as the ride itself. You can ride hard-core if you want, but it is best to make a day of it.
And the trek is through some of the wildest rural country roads in central Wisconsin. Lots of hills, open spaces and rolling farmland – and I like that it’s between the spring and fall seasons, where those places stink to high heaven of fertilizer. It’s been well-marked every time I’ve done it, so it was easy to follow the path of the course. And with about 2,000 riders in the past, there was always a rider around to follow.
Door County Triathlon, July 15-16, Egg Harbor
The Sprint Tri & Kids' Tri is on July 15; the Half Iron Tri is on the 16th.
This race also allows relay teams; that way athletes can focus on breaking up the multi-sport race and focus on just one or two sports. Of course, swimming is one of the best exercises around, but for the non-swimmer, this may be the way to go – as long as you can find someone who will be willing to do the open water swim in Egg Harbor Bay. This event can draw as many as 1,600 athletes in some of the most beautiful racing scenery we have in Wisconsin.
Waupaca Area Triathlon, Aug. 19
South Park's Shadow Lake, downtown Waupaca.
This is the one I look forward to the most because this is also a Dri-Tri. In other words, in addition to being a normal triathlon, it’s also a ‘dry' triathlon where participants can paddle the water leg of the race rather than swim. (Thank goodness).
My favorite race of all time, the White Deer Triathlon, folded after the 2022 event. The Bravado Challenge in Waukesha no longer exists, either. There aren’t a lot of Dri Tri options, unfortunately. This is special. So I can’t wait to try Waupaca for the first time.
There’s a long and a short course open to all triathletes, including the swimmers:
Long: half-mile swim, 20-mile bike, 3.1-mile run
Short: quarter-mile swim, 12-mile bike, 2-mile run.
And those who want to paddle in a kayak or on a paddle board will be on the short course: 1-mile paddle, 12-mile bike, 2-mile run.
This race has grown from 150 participants in 2001 to 1,000 participants in some years.
"We currently average about 650 for both the long, short course and relay teams," said Henry Veleker, chairman of the Waupaca Area Triathlon.
"Our philosophy early on was to have a fun, family-oriented event where first-time athletes could compete without intimidation and we have had competitors compete using our race as a warm-up to the Iron Man held in Madison about a month later. Through the years our event has evolved to create the short course option and a couple of years ago we implemented the ability for participants to substitute a paddle for the swim portion of the races."
This triathlon also pays its volunteers by making a donation to the respective non-profits they represent; that's led to $150,000 to local non-profits. This tri also supports two $1,000 scholarships to Waupaca High School students pursuing a career in medical or health related fields.
IRONMAN Wisconsin, Sept. 10, Madison
Every race is entirely dependent on volunteers. The people behind the registration desk, the helpers at the transition areas, the guides on the course pointing to the next direction, and thousands of other people doing those thankless tasks (like clean-up) - it's all volunteers. But it’s also a great way for the volunteer to be inspired by helping and supporting the athletes on their journey. Just please: mind what you say. Don’t promise an athlete that there’s Gatorade at the next water station if you’re not 100% sure, and don’t say “you’re almost there or almost done” - ever. “Almost there” could mean a mile or 500 feet, but that’s not your call. Just stick to the basics with the facts and be positive, encouraging and supportive.
Lakefront Marathon, Oct. 1, Milwaukee
If I am not covering this event for the Journal Sentinel, I am going to volunteer for it. And if I can get my times fast enough, I’m going to run the 5K before I do all the above. (There’s also the most popular half marathon and Boston-qualifier marathon distance in this race).
Some things just need to be preserved and this event is one of them. Yes, the course is now different. Yes, there are challenges. Yes, we can deal with it. There’s room for two marathons in the city as well as a world-class USA Triathlon event in August. We have beautiful paths and parks along an enviable water shoreline, and an extremely supportive and inclusive fitness community. If someone is willing to do all the work to put an event like this together, I will support it.
The amount of people who volunteer for this event is staggering and many of them come from the Badgerland Striders.
But the real reason I want to go to the Lakefront Marathon?
The finish line. Watching people see and then reach the finish line is one of my favorite things in the world. The front-runners who glide in, the middle-of-the-pack people still studying their smart watches, and the walkers and staggerers bringing up the rear. Their smiles and cries, their joy and relief, their prayers and curses, their dances and photo poses – it’s some of the best moments in sports.