WhistleStop Marathon & Half-Marathon
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WhistleStop Marathon & Half Marathon - Ashland, Wisconsin
The WhistleStop Marathon, established in 1998, is an annual race weekend held each October in Ashland, Wisconsin. The 28th annual Tamarack Health WhistleStop event is scheduled for October 10, 2026. The weekend includes multiple distance events and community activities in and around downtown Ashland.
The primary courses use an old abandoned railroad bed and the Tri-County Corridor Trail. Surfaces are mainly crushed limestone and soft trail, offering a point to point layout for the longer distances and a wooded loop for the shorter races. The full marathon starts two miles east of Iron River and follows the trail toward Ashland through sections of the Chequamegon National Forest, passing lakes, wetlands, and historic trestles before finishing downtown near the bay and lakewalk. The half marathon begins at the midway point on the corridor trail. The 10K and 5K routes start in the woods, loop through neighborhoods, and end downtown.
Race details and policies noted by the organizer include USATF certification and Boston Marathon qualifying status for the full marathon, a no refund policy with a military deployment exception, and the option to transfer entries subject to deadlines and possible fees. Packet pickup is organized at the Bay Area Civic Center festival tent during race weekend. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
- 26.2 miles full marathon point to point
- 13.1 miles half marathon point to point
- 6.2 miles 10K mostly on trail and neighborhood roads
- 3.1 miles 5K wooded loop ending downtown
