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You are here: Home / running / Madison, Wisconsin – my favorite city to run in

Madison, Wisconsin – my favorite city to run in

November 12, 2018 by MCM Mama 11 Comments

Madison, Wisconsin is one of my absolute favorite places to run, especially in the summer. It’s a small laid back city with a lot of sights to see. It is also a very fitness friendly town with trails of all types and distances available to the runner and the biker.  Add in the lovely weather in the summer and you have a great destination for a runner. It’s also where Beer Geek and I plan to retire to eventually. It took me a long time to convince him (umm, close to 20 years…), but he’s on board with living there from spring through fall and traveling the rest of the year. Sounds like a great retirement plan to me. 6 more years to go…

Here are some of my favorite places to run:

 

  • Mendota Lakeshore Path – This is one of the best known paths  in the Madison area, having been in existence since the early 1900s. This path stretches for 19 miles, offering plenty of mileage for marathon training long runs.  There are a number of different access points, including the entrance at the student union that acts as the start point of a 5 mile round trip run out to Picnic Point.
  • UW Arboretum – This 1200 acre nature area, bordering the southern half of Lake Wingra, has 4 miles of paved paths and approximately 20 miles of trails.  While there are a number of hills, the paths are peaceful and surrounded by trees, prairies, and water.
  • Monona Lakeshore Path – This is my personal favorite, in part because I am usually staying near this path.  This is a paved path around Lake Monona that winds its way along the water and then through neighborhoods for a total of 12 miles.  I’m not usually going that far, so I tend to run from Olin Park around to the terrace and back, for a total of 4-5 miles. This past summer I actually ran farther along the path into the neighborhoods on the opposite side of the lake from where we stay. Let’s just say I can’t wait to move to the area.

 

If the timing is right for you, here are my two favorite races:

  • Crazy Legs – This race is crazy!  Nearly 20,000 people come out for this race each year, but it’s one of Madison’s best races. At 8K, it’s a nice change from the usual 5K, but still doable for those who have not yet graduated to a 10K.  Like many of the races/running routes in this area, there are plenty of hills. It’s held in late April every year. I haven’t gotten to run it myself yet, but my dad and other family members have. It’s definitely on my bucket list.
  • Madison Mini – This is Madison’s best known half marathon.  Starting just off of State Street near the capitol, it covers all the sites you want to see in Madison. The course includes running past the capitol, a jaunt down State Street, the Arboretum, Camp Randall, and Lake Mendota.  Beware, though, this race is hilly and can be very hot as it always takes place in late August. The year I ran it, it was crazy humid. I felt like I was running in Virginia LOL. It’s absolutely on my to do list in a future year.

 

I’ve waxed poetic about Madison before in my five best things about Madison post. Fingers crossed that someday soon we actually make things happen and get to move there. I may have already picked out my condo with a view of the lake…

Do you have a favorite city to run in? Is it one you live in or would like to live in some day?

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Comments

  1. Melissa says

    November 13, 2018 at 5:42 am

    I’ve never been to Madison- it looks beautiful!! I love running by water, so the Lakefront path sounds great.

    Reply
  2. Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says

    November 13, 2018 at 6:45 am

    We still don’t know where we want to retire to — but not here! I don’t think we’ll be snowbirds so it’s not going to be someplace super snowy & hopefully someplace with a lot more sun than here!

    Reply
  3. Wendy says

    November 13, 2018 at 6:58 am

    You hit my sweet spot with this city! I debated on Madison vs Chicago. It’s a tough call because I love both. I have yet to run CrazyLegs but I’m thinking you and I should make it a date!

    Reply
  4. Laurie says

    November 13, 2018 at 7:40 am

    I hope you get your wish to retire to Madison. Hubby and I always thought we would retire to a city. We live in a small town now and would like the convenience and excitement of living in a condo within walking distance to restaurants, theaters, shops. Then grandkids came along, and I could not imagine moving away from them! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Michelle @ Running with Attitude says

    November 13, 2018 at 10:37 am

    I’ve never been to Madison – looks like a great spot! And your retirement plan sounds ideal!

    Reply
  6. Deborah Brooks says

    November 13, 2018 at 11:56 am

    I have actually never been to Wisconsin! I know you love it there-maybe someday

    Reply
  7. RunCanvas says

    November 13, 2018 at 12:10 pm

    Your pics are great. I am going to look into the mini. I am starting to pencil in 2019 races and I absolutely love traveling for half marathons.

    Reply
  8. Darlene says

    November 13, 2018 at 7:50 pm

    I loved Madison but I wasn’t a runner when I was there.

    No so far for me it’s NYC and Paris.

    But I haven’t run in DC yet.

    Reply
  9. Zenaida Arroyo says

    November 13, 2018 at 7:58 pm

    The only time I’ve been to Madison is when I did the Ragnar Relay from Madison to Chicago in 2012.

    Madison sure looks like a pretty place to retire. 6 years, huh?

    Reply
  10. Kimberly Hatting says

    November 13, 2018 at 8:41 pm

    Believe it or not, I have not run (anywhere) in Wisconsin…yet. I have heard good things about the Madison Mini…I’d love to make an appearance there someday.

    Reply
  11. Farrah says

    November 16, 2018 at 12:57 am

    I’ve never been to Madison but one of my childhood friends moved there earlier this year and it never hurt to have an extra excuse to visit! :] It looks beautiful there!

    Reply
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Who is MCM Mama?
A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath, and has a minor addiction to the Marine Corps Marathon.

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