Date & Location

• Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024
• Finish Location: Empire Beach - 10484 Niagara St. Empire, MI 49630
• Half & Full Start Location: Dune Climb Parking Lot off of Hwy 109 at Hunter Rd.
• 5K Start Location: Empire Beach - 10484 Niagara St. Empire, MI 49630
• Start Times:
  • 7:30am - Marathon
  • 8:00am - Half Marathon
  • 8:20am - 5k Run/Walk
  • 1:30pm - Course Close

Per Person Entrance Pass

National Park Service Pass

• Message from National Park Service:
  • Participants may purchase their park pass at the visitor center, campgrounds, Dune Climb, or Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. Staff will be at the Platte River Campground until 8:00 pm on Friday. The Philip Hart Visitor Center in Empire will be open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily for pass sales. They can also utilize the self-pay stations at North Bar Lake, Peterson Road Beach, or the Maritime Museum Beach. Other beaches have self-pay stations but those 3 are the closest to Empire. If they don't have time to purchase a pass before the race, they can always do it after the race is over.
• Full and half marathon participants must have a valid Sleeping Bear Dunes Entrance Pass on race day, either before or after the race. Information can be found here to purchase a pass.
  • • This is NOT a parking pass. Regardless of where you park, you will still need this pass.
• 5K participants, spectators, and volunteers DO NOT need a Sleeping Bear Dunes Entrance Pass

Packet Pick-Up

• Date: Friday October, 4
• Location: Fleet Feet – Traverse City South - 3301 South Airport Rd, Traverse City, MI 49684
• Time: 1:00-6:45pm EDT

• Date: Saturday October, 5
• Location:
  • Half & Full Marathon: Johnson Park - 11698 S Reynolds St. Empire, MI 49630
  • 5K: Empire Beach - 10484 Niagara St. Empire, MI 49630
• Time: 6:00-8:15am EDT

What You Get

• Finisher Shirt and Medal
• Post-Race Refreshments and Snacks
• Free Shorts beer for those 21+
• Professional Race Timing with Fast, Accurate Results
• Free Digital Race Photos From Focal Flame Photography
• Free Race Tracking with the Race Day Events App
• One of the Most Beautiful Running Courses Around

Runner Tracking

The Race Joy will be updated approximately 1 week prior to Race Day. Track your favorite athletes with the RaceJoy app! Available on iPhone and Android, RaceJoy allows you to track participants based on their splits. Additionally, if an athlete carries their phone during the event, they can be tracked by GPS (participant must also have RaceJoy app and enable tracking) and spectators can send them personalized messages To Track A Participant:

• Select “Sleeping Bear Marathon” and press the “Live Tracking” icon to add your favorite participants.
• You’ll need to log-in with Facebook or create an account.
• Participants must be added by name as bibs are not assigned until packet pick-up.
• Choose “Notify Me” to receive push notifications for that participant.
• Be sure to allow the app to provide you with notifications.

Awards

• Overall: Awards will be given for top 3 overall male and female in each distance.
• Age Group: The top three finishers (male and female) in each age division for all distances will win awards.

• 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+

Parking

Parking is located at Johnson Park. This location is approximately a 5 minute walk to the 5K start/finish line and a 2 minute walk to the shuttle buses. For navigation purposes, use this address: 11698 S Reynolds St. Empire, MI 49630. Overflow parking is in the downtown Empire area if needed. All athletes and spectators must park at Johnson Park or within Empire.

Shuttle Buses

HALF AND FULL MARATHON ONLY Shuttles will be available for half and full marathon athletes from Johnson Park, to the start line at Dune Climb Parking Lot off of Hwy 109 at Hunter Rd. Shuttles will run from 6:00AM – 7:45AM.

Weather / Refund Policy

This race does not offer refunds or deferrals. If you are registered for the event, you agreed to the no refund and no deferral policy prior to submitting your online registration. This includes those who experience illness, injury or any other condition that may prevent them from participating in the event.