History of Eau Claire Marathon in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 27, 2025

The Eau Claire Marathon is an annual marathon held in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, starting and finishing at Phoenix Park with scenic Chippewa River views. It received recognition as the best marathon in Wisconsin by RaceRaves in 2023 based on runner feedback. The accompanying half marathon also earned similar honors in 2024, solidifying the event's reputation in the running community.

May 2, 1982: First Indianhead Track Club Eau Claire Marathon

On May 2, 1982, the Indianhead Track Club Eau Claire Marathon was first run, directed by Rick Kettner, with 95 finishers. The race started at Wilson Park and finished at Eau Claire North High School.

May 8, 1983: Second Eau Claire Marathon

On May 8, 1983, the second Eau Claire Marathon was held with more than 100 runners. The race started at the corner of Grand and Graham in Eau Claire and finished at the Lake Altoona pavilion. Entry cost $3 and was advertised for "men and boys only."

1984: Barney Klecker and Cindy Spaeth Win Eau Claire Marathon

In 1984, Barney Klecker won the Eau Claire Marathon with a time of 2:28:51 despite starting late. Cindy Spaeth won the women's race. About 130 runners competed in the marathon that year.

1985: Last Eau Claire Marathon until 2009

Eau Claire had an eponymous marathon from 1982 to 1985.

2009: Inaugural Eau Claire Marathon

In 2009, Patrick Russel won the men's race. 1700 runners participated in all Eau Claire Marathon-affiliated events, including 270 in the marathon. The race started and finished at Carson Park and raised $32,000 for the Eau Claire YMCA. A passing train blocked runners during the race.

2009: Current Iteration of Eau Claire Marathon Started

In 2009, the current iteration of the Eau Claire Marathon was started by race directors Karen and Kevin Drechsel, inspired by crowds at other marathons.

2010: Second Eau Claire Marathon

In 2010, the second Eau Claire Marathon featured minor changes and was held at Carson Park. The marathon, half marathon, and two mile race shared the same finish line, and chip timing was introduced. Jessop Keene and Wendy Miller won the men's and women's races respectively. A total of 1,800 runners participated in all three events, including 178 who ran the marathon. The race generated a $65,000 profit and brought $256,500 to the local economy, also serving as a Boston Marathon-qualifying race.

2011: Third Eau Claire Marathon

In 2011, the third running of the Eau Claire Marathon drew 1200 runners in all three events including 338 runners from 21 states running the full marathon. Patrick Russell won the men's race and Lisa Tavares won the women's race. The race faced cold, rainy weather and possible flooding for the first time.

2012: Dan and Debbie Market honored by UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association

In 2012, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Alumni Association honored Dan and Debbie Market for involving the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team in service-learning opportunities such as the Eau Claire Marathon.

2012: Fourth Eau Claire Marathon

In 2012, the fourth Eau Claire Marathon took place, with about 1700 runners signing up for all three races including 360 runners who signed up for the marathon. Patrick Russell won the men's race, and April Cole won the women's race.

November 2013: 2014 Eau Claire Marathon Initially Cancelled

In November 2013, Karen Drechsel announced that the 2014 race would not take place after having raised $120,000 for the Eau Claire YMCA.

2013: Debbie Market leads student volunteers at water station; Tom O'Leary runs the Marathon

In 2013, Debbie Market led a group of student volunteers to run a themed water station along the race course. Also in 2013, Tom O'Leary, the cross country coach from Byron, Minnesota, ran the Eau Claire Marathon.

2013: Fifth Eau Claire Marathon

In 2013, the fifth Eau Claire Marathon took place, with 1469 runners participating in affiliated events. Scott Hayden won the men's race, and Sarah McCall won the women's race. A passing train obstructed half-marathon runners, and litter left after the race drew complaints for the first time.

2014: Kristin Weinzierl and Eric Glaubke Win Eau Claire Marathon

In 2014, Kristin Weinzierl and Eric Glaubke won the women's and men's race respectively. A total of 2500 runners participated in the Eau Claire Marathon and the race was able to donate $31,000 to about 30 local charities.

2014: Kinesiology class includes Eau Claire Marathon

In 2014, a kinesiology class at the University of Minnesota, started by Chris Lundstrom and Dr. Stacy Ingram, included completing the Eau Claire Marathon as 40% of the final grade. A total of 105 students in the class participated in the 2014 Eau Claire Marathon.

2014: Sixth Eau Claire Marathon with New Course and Changes

In 2014, the sixth running of the Eau Claire Marathon took place with several changes including a rerouted course to avoid railroad crossings, staggered starting times, opened bathrooms in Carson Park, a family zone with face-painting, consideration of capping entrants to 2500 runners, and no music played before the race. Rain also required the race be re-routed near Owen Park and Hobbs Municipal Ice Center.

2014: Pat Toutant announced as the new race director

Less than three weeks after the announcement of the cancellation, the Eau Claire Marathon organization announced Pat Toutant would be the new race director and would be sponsored by Scheels. Toutant's daughter, Emily Uelmen, is also a co-race director. The Powertex Group designed the current Eau Claire Marathon logo that year.

2015: UW-Eau Claire offers similar running class

In 2015, Dr. Matt Evans at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire offered a similar class to the University of Minnesota's, entitled Distance Running for Health and Fitness, which was inspired by the class offered by the University of Minnesota. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire course incorporates adult continuing education students as well.

2015: Course Changes and University Engagement

In 2015, a number of minor course changes were made for the race to make the course more spectator-friendly. Nathan Schaffer was assigned as the race's liaison with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

2015: Seventh Eau Claire Marathon

In 2015, the seventh running of the Eau Claire Marathon took place with about 3400 runners participating, including 361 who finished the marathon. It was an unseasonably hot year, and the Eau Claire Marathon was able to donate about $125,000 to local organizations.

2016: Eau Claire Marathon Described as Midwest Version of NYC Marathon

In 2016, Don Alexander, who finished second, compared the crowd support near the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus to Boylston Street in Boston.

2016: Governor Walker Promotes Eau Claire Marathon

In 2016, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker wore a "Run EC" hat promoting the Eau Claire Marathon while touring the state.

2016: Eau Claire Marathon App and Post Race Liquor License Approved

In 2016, the Eau Claire Marathon had an app for the first time. Additional minor course changes were made, and the Eau Claire City Council approved a liquor license for the marathon's post race celebration after contentious debate.

2016: Eighth Eau Claire Marathon

In 2016, the eighth running of the Eau Claire Marathon took place with 3800 runners participating in affiliated races, including 417 in the marathon. Makoto Westby and David Luy won the women's and men's race respectively.

2017: Eau Claire Marathon Independently Certified

In 2017, After the Milwaukee Marathon was short by 0.8 miles (1.3 km) in 2017 and too long in 2016, Toutant assured runners that the Eau Claire Marathon is independently certified and he bikes the route himself to make sure the course is the correct distance and set up correctly on race day.

2017: Ninth Eau Claire Marathon

In 2017, the ninth running of the Eau Claire Marathon took place with slightly more than 4000 runners participating in affiliated events. David Luy and Margaret Ho won the men's and women's race respectively. A couple got engaged at the finish line.

2018: 10th Eau Claire Marathon

In 2018, the 10th running of the Eau Claire Marathon took place with slightly less than 5000 runners participating in affiliated races including 455 in the marathon. David Luy and Tammi Braund won the men's and women's race respectively. The event was put on with the help of over 800 volunteers and 41 police officers.

June 25, 2019: Eau Claire City Council Approves Course Change

On June 25, 2019, the Eau Claire City Council unanimously approved the course change for the marathon, aiming to avoid Carson Park.

2019: 11th Eau Claire Marathon

In 2019, the 11th running of the Eau Claire Marathon took place with 5000 runners participating in affiliated races including 700 participating in the marathon. Margaret Ho and Adam Condit won the women's and men's race. Toutant led the crowd in making "moo" sounds at the finish to cheer on Condit.

2020: Eau Claire Marathon Moved to Virtual Race

In 2020, the Eau Claire Marathon was moved from May to September and then moved to a virtual race to avoid the transmission of covid-19 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin.

2021: 12th Eau Claire Marathon

In 2021, the 12th running of the Eau Claire Marathon took place. Adam Condit and Rachel Ragona won the men's and women's race respectively.

2021: Eau Claire Marathon Receives Marketing Grant

In 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism awarded the Eau Claire Marathon a $39,500 marketing grant to help grow the economic impact of nonprofit events.

2021: New Start and Finish Location for Eau Claire Marathon

In 2021, the start and finish location was moved from Carson Park to Phoenix Park and the finish to a location on Graham Avenue.

2021: Eau Claire Marathon Limits Entries and Has Rolling Start

The Eau Claire Marathon took similar steps in 2021 to avoid the transmission of COVID-19. It pushed its races from May to September, limited entries to 2000, and had a 25-person rolling start.

2022: Eau Claire Tours releases audio tour featuring Eau Claire Marathon

In 2022, Eau Claire Tours released an audio tour of Eau Claire sports history that features the Eau Claire Marathon.

2023: Eau Claire Marathon Named Best in Wisconsin

In 2023, RaceRaves announced that the Eau Claire Marathon was the best marathon in Wisconsin based on feedback received.

2023: Speck of Dust Theatre Company performs play about Eau Claire Marathon

In 2023, the Speck of Dust Theatre Company aimed to put on plays created within 24 hours and performed such a play featuring Eau Claire Marathon runners who attempted to cheat by cutting the course and inadvertently got stuck in a time loop.

April 2024: Eau Claire Police Department Purchases Polaris Ranger

In April 2024, the Eau Claire Police Department purchased a Polaris Ranger XP 1000 utility task vehicle for large events such as the Eau Claire Marathon, funded by a Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant.

2024: Emi Uelmen is Sole Owner and Race Director

As of 2024, Emi Uelmen is the sole owner and race director of the Eau Claire Marathon.

2024: Half & Half Challenge Medal

Beginning in 2024, participants who ran the Get In Gear Half Marathon (in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota) on Saturday and Eau Claire Half Marathon on Sunday would receive a "Half & Half Challenge" medal.