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Gandy Dancer Marathon race photo

Gandy Dancer Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USOct 10, 202642.195km · 21.1km · 5km
fafinney · CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date today
Oct 10, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Luck · 42.195km · 21.1km · 5km
Entry fee
$105Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenTBD ~ Sat, October 10, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 10, 2026
Gandy Dancer Marathon race photo
fafinney · CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Gandy Dancer Marathon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, marking the 12th edition.

Events include full marathon, half marathon, 5K, and a marathon relay, with full marathon being a Boston-qualifying certified course.

The time limit is 6 hours.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Gandy Dancer Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
bwcaguyRan in 2016 · Finish time 4:56
“I was happy to get another completion and remain injury free.”

At the Gandy Dancer Marathon, the runner followed trails in autumn colors, then mixed in walking as the legs tired late on, finishing in 4 hours 56 minutes.

Read the original on ishouldgetarealhobby
Kathleen GormanRan in 2014
“Great support for my slow a--!”

At the inaugural 2014 Gandy Dancer Marathon, this runner enjoyed a beautiful, runnable trail with falling leaves. It was the runner's second trail race, and the runner praised the support for slower participants.

Read the original on Marathon Maniacs

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Gandy Dancer State Trail | Official Video

Crosshatch Coffee Co.

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Gandy Dancer Marathon — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Marathon

Entry cost $105

until Oct 10, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost $95

until Oct 11, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

5K

Entry cost $55

until Oct 11, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Relay

Entry cost $260

Marathon Relay · until Oct 11, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform RunSignup

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Gandy Dancer Marathon course map and elevation

Your 42.195km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:30
EventStartTime limit
Marathon42.195km07:306h
Half21.0975km08:00—
5K5km08:30—
Marathon Relay42.195km07:30—
START

115 West St., Luck, WI

Start · Google Maps

The events are the Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K and Marathon Relay.

The race starts at 7:30am local time from 115 West St., Luck, WI.

Typical race-season temperature: around 7°C (45°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start

Participant benefits

Event T-shirt

Where and when to collect your Gandy Dancer Marathon race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

This is Luck's Gandy Dancer Marathon, and packet pickup details have not been published.

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNone — Luck, WI is a small rural town with no train/bus service
  • Transit cardLuck, Wisconsin (Gandy Dancer Marathon, run along a former rail trail) is a very small rural northwestern…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

None — Luck, WI is a small rural town with no train/bus service

Start/finish is at 115 West St., Luck, WI 54853, near the Luck Fire Department on the Gandy Dancer State Trail. This is an out-and-back course (not point-to-point), so no shuttle is needed.

Small rural Wisconsin trail town with no public transit; despite being a trail marathon, the course design (out-and-back) means no shuttle logistics are required.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same as start (115 West St., Luck, WI — trail start/finish coincide)

Finish is at the same point as the start on the Gandy Dancer State Trail (flat limestone surface).

Map

Start shuttle

None needed/found — course is an out-and-back on the same trailhead, not a point-to-point requiring shuttle transport.

Transit card

Luck, Wisconsin (Gandy Dancer Marathon, run along a former rail trail) is a very small rural northwestern Wisconsin town with no public transit system of any kind. This is a car-access-only venue; a rental car is essential.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

October in Luck — chilly, with an average temperature of 7°C.

Your fingers and ears will feel cold first, so bring gloves and a beanie.

Wear several light layers on your torso so you can remove them as you warm up while running.

Public transportation does not reach the venue.

Realistically, the only options are a private car or rental car.

Registration is handled through the RunSignup platform.

Full marathon really begins after 30 km.

For better endurance in the second half, pass the halfway point 5-10 seconds slower than your target pace pace,

and start taking gels early, before you feel hungry.

The 07:30 start is early.

Counting backward from waking up, breakfast, and travel, it is more convenient to stay close to start line the night before.

Registration is open until October 10, 2026.

Times are local to Luck. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

What to see in Luck after the race

Seeing Luck with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on mapEating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Luck.

Total cost and budget for Gandy Dancer Marathon

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Gandy Dancer Marathon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Luck runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Gandy Dancer Marathon

FAQ
When does Gandy Dancer Marathon 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sat, October 10, 2026 in Luck, WI, United States.

How much is the Gandy Dancer Marathon 2026 entry fee?

The main event costs $105.

What distances does Gandy Dancer Marathon 2026 offer?

Marathon · Half · 5K.

What time does Gandy Dancer Marathon 2026 start?

The race starts at 07:30.

Where does Gandy Dancer Marathon 2026 start?

115 West St., Luck, WI.

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