2023 Sleeping Bear Marathon: Training plans, distance, date, location, and more

Find out all you need to know about the Sleeping Bear Marathon – including how to choose the best training plan to get race-ready and set a new personal best.

Arial view of the race city.

About the event

The Sleeping Bear Marathon is a remarkable 26.2-mile race set in the pristine surroundings of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. The course takes runners through a mesmerizing landscape of sand dunes, dense forests, and alongside the clear blue waters of Lake Michigan. The varied terrains and elevations provide both challenges and visual rewards, offering glimpses of the area's unique topography and natural beauty. Celebrated for its majestic views and the serene environment, the Sleeping Bear Marathon stands as a testament to the unparalleled splendor of Michigan's lakeshore and the allure of endurance running in nature's lap.

Date: 

Sat
Oct 7
2023

Location: 

Empire, United States

Distance

42.2km / 26.2mi

Elevation profile: 

Moderate

Website: 

Link

Elevation gain: 

426m /

Number of participants: 

Join 0 people currently training for the Sleeping Bear Marathon with Runna

Join other runners just like you, currently training for the Sleeping Bear Marathon with Runna

Start your plan

How to train for Sleeping Bear Marathon: Sleeping Bear Marathon training plans for every runner

To train for Sleeping Bear Marathon, you’ll need a personalized training plan and to build up your weekly mileage progressively.

Runna offers running training plans for every runner and goal out there.

With Runna, your running coaching app, you get a personalized Marathon training plan that:

  • Structures your week and sets out all sessions for you
  • Automatically adjusts your mileage and types of runs to help you perform at your best
  • Incorporates deloads and strength training
  • Helps you manage your recovery and nutrition

Having a plan will also help with accountability, meaning that you can focus purely on improving your running game.

Check out our personalized Marathon training plans to find the one that best suits your goals.

Stories from Runnas

01/05
My first marathon and second ever running race. Sub 3 hour was my goal, but thanks to Runna managed to run a 02:41:49!
Dan C
San Sebastián Marathon
User @danrconnell finishing a race with a medal.
02/05
I’m 45 and only started running 12 weeks ago when I downloaded the Runna app.
Just finished my first half marathon - my goal was just to finish it before the 3hr cutoff but I made it in 2 hours 30 mins.
Somaclay
Sunshine Coast Half Marathon
User @somaclay finishing a race with a medal.
03/05
Completed my first ever marathon. I had never run more than 5km before the start of this year.
Through training with Runna since January, I’m so proud to say I’ve completed a marathon in 3hr37min
Sathi
Richmond Run-fest Marathon
User @sathi6 finishing a race with a medal.
04/05
From struggling to run 5km to running our first half marathon within 6 months of training using Runna! Loved every second of it.
Sara C
Belfast Half Marathon
User @saramcclements finishing a race with a medal.
05/05
Trained with Runna for 16 weeks to complete my first 250km ultramarathon in Tanzania in 37 hours
Henry G
Ultra X Tanzania 250
User @henry_galligan finishing a race with a medal.

Take your running to the next level

Start your plan today for just $17.99 per month / $109.99 per year.

Download on the App Store.
Download Runna on the Google Play Store.
QR code for downloading the Runna app.
First week free. Cancel anytime.
Download on the App Store.
Download Runna on the Google Play Store.
QR code for downloading the Runna app.
First week free. Cancel anytime.

Sleeping Bear Marathon FAQ: All you need to know about the Sleeping Bear Marathon

What is the Sleeping Bear Marathon?

Sleeping Bear Marathon distance: How long is the Sleeping Bear Marathon?

Where does the Sleeping Bear Marathon take place?

When is Sleeping Bear Marathon?

When is the next Sleeping Bear Marathon?

What’s the elevation gain of the Sleeping Bear Marathon?

How can I prepare for the 2023 Sleeping Bear Marathon?

How do I choose the right training plan for the 2023 Sleeping Bear Marathon?

How can I register for the Sleeping Bear Marathon?

If you are an official race organiser with any questions about this page, please get in touch: races@runna.com

Other races you might like

Our partners

Graphic with two phones and a smartwatch featuring Runna app.

Take your running to the next level

Your personalized running coach with tailored training plans to achieve your goals, from running a faster 5k to finishing your first marathon.

Download on the App Store.
Download Runna on the Google Play Store.
QR code for downloading the Runna app.
First week free. Cancel anytime.
Download on the App Store.
Download Runna on the Google Play Store.
QR code for downloading the Runna app.
First week free. Cancel anytime.
$17.99
$109.99
$19.99
$129.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$19.99
$129.99
$29.99
$179.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$19.99
$119.99
$19.99
$119.99
$19.99
$129.99
$19.99
$129.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
R$99.90
R$599.90
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
BGN 39.99
BGN 249.99
$17.99
$109.99
$19.99
$119.99
$19.99
$129.99
$24.99
$149.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17,990.00
$99,990
¥128.00
¥798
$99,900.00
$599,900
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
€19.99
€119.99
Kč 499.00
Kč 2,990.00
kr 149.00
kr 999
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
E£599.99
E£3,499.99
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$19.99
$129.99
€19.99
€119.99
$19.99
$129.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$148.00
$888
Ft 7,990.00
Ft 49,990
$19.99
$129.99
₹1,999.00
₹9,900.00
Rp 299,000.00
Rp 1,999,000
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
₪59.90
₪399.90
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
¥2,500.00
¥15,000
$17.99
$109.99
₸9,990.00
₸59,990
$19.99
$129.99
₩25,000
₩149,000
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$19.99
$119.99
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
RM 79.90
RM 499.9
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$399.00
$2,299
$17.99
$109.99
$19.99
$129.99
$19.99
$129.99
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
$29.99
$199.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
₦9,900.00
₦49,900
$17.99
$109.99
kr 229.00
kr 1,490
$17.99
$109.99
Rs 4,900.00
Rs 29,900
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
PEN 69.90
PEN 399.90
₱999.00
₱5,990.00
zł 99.99
zł 599.99
€19.99
€119.99
QAR 69.99
QAR 399.99
lei 99.99
lei 599.99
₽1,490.00
₽1 9,990
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
SAR 79.99
SAR 499.99
$17.99
$109.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$24.98
$149.98
€19.99
€119.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
R 399.99
R 2,299.99
€19.99
€119.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
kr 229.00
kr 1,329.00
CHF 18.00
CHF 100.00
$590.00
$3,990
$19.99
$109.99
TZS 39,900.00
TZS 249,900.00
699.00
3,990.00
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
₺399.99
₺2,499.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$19.99
$109.99
$19.99
$109.99
AED 69.99
AED 399.99
£15.99
£99.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$19.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
₫499,000
₫2,999,000
$17.99
$109.99
$17.99
$109.99
$19.99
$129.99