Everything you need to know about running in Milwaukee: popular routes, groups, races and more
Milwaukee is a running city. Don't let the cold weather or struggles putting on a marathon fool you. You'll find runners out enjoying all kinds of weather year-round to explore the wonders of Milwaukee.
Whether you're a longtime runner looking for a new running buddy, are new to the area and looking to meet some people, or are just starting your running journey, here's what you should know about the running groups and communities in the Milwaukee area:
Where to run in Milwaukee, great running routes
You can run pretty much anywhere in Milwaukee Just ask local legends Bill Hutchinson or Chris Ponteri. However, you will find runners on popular trails and routes around the city. These include:
Oak Leaf Trail: The Oak Leaf is a local running favorite. There are over 135 miles of paved trails that extend as far north as the Milwaukee County line, as far south as Bender Park in Oak Creek and the southern county line, and as far west as Menomonee Falls and Brookfield.
Hank Aaron State Trail: Another popular trail, the Hank Aaron Trail goes from downtown Milwaukee by the Harley Davidson Museum, west past American Family Field and the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Lakefront: A place you almost always see runners is around Veterans Park, Bradford Beach, the Milwaukee Art Museum and Lakeshore State Park. The paths that connect them hugs Lake Michigan for one of the best runs in the city.
Milwaukee River Greenway Trail: Feel like stepping out of the city but don't want to go far? Try the Milwaukee River Greenway Trail. There are 28 miles of trails that hug the Milwaukee River and run from near North Avenue and through Lincoln Park. There are trails on both banks and you wont even realize you're still in a city. It runs past the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, Kern Park and Estabrook Park. Important note: Almost the entire trail is unpaved.
OMG - Milwaukee Running Group
History: Easily the most active running group in the area. OMG began with five runners in 2011 and has grown to have over 3,500 members on its Facebook page. The group meets seven days a week. The group welcomes all paces and distances.
Dues: $5 annually
How many runs a week? In the summer, OMG hosts 14 weekly runs on weekday mornings and nights and on weekends. The group does fewer in the winter, but it does have a winter running program where teams get points for showing up to winter runs. It also hosts track workouts, hill workouts and other run training activities. You can find its list of upcoming runs on meetup.com.
Does the group host other events? Yes! In addition to weekly group runs, the group does have social activities and hosts events like a beer mile, Packers game nights, movie nights, group travel to races and camping trips.
How do you get involved? OMG President Patrick Bieser says show up to run or find more information on its website.
Badgerland Striders
History: One of the oldest groups in the state, the Striders are best known for hosting races in the Milwaukee area, like the Lakefront Marathon and other shorter events throughout the year. Operating since 1968 after being the UW-Milwaukee track club, the group has about 3,000 members and host 15 races. Past President and member for over three decades Jeff Weiss said that runners' ages range from 10 to 90.
Dues: $20 a year ($36 for two years) and includes discounts at local run stores
Do they have weekly runs? No. Around marathon season ahead of the Lakefront Marathon in October, the group hosts weekend long runs to help runners build up to the 26.2-mile distance. It also hosts a summer fun run series that usually includes a 3.1-mile (5K) route at area parks.
Does the group host events? Yes! It's one of the biggest race organizers in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. It hosts everything from marathons to 5Ks. You can find a complete list of races on the group's RunSignUp page.
How do you get involved? You can sign up for the Striders on their website.
FEAR MKE
History: Started in 2015, FEAR MKE was created by the fitness consulting group Social X to promote fitness and increase diversity and exposure to runners who may not be at the front of the pack. In addition to having various pace groups, it focuses on making running a social activity rather than just fitness.
"We've created a safe space for anyone that considers themselves a runner and really advocate for people of color to continue to get out, be active and feel safe while running," said group co-founder Tenia Fisher. "We also encourage those who don't identify as runners or don't have runners' bodies to feel safe to run and start on their journey."
Dues: Runs are free.
How many runs a week? There's a weekly Tuesday run at 6 p.m. that starts at Mobay Cafe (1022 S. 1st St.). It also hosts track workouts once a month at Riverside High School and long runs every Saturday from Atwater Park. You can find an up-to-date schedule on the group's Eventbrite page. Fisher said runs usually have 25 to 40 people but can have as many as 80.
Does the group host other events? Fisher said that, though unofficial, members of the group will often plan trips to run races together and plan runs outside of the scheduled ones.
How do you get involved? To get involved, Fisher recommends showing up to a run and trying it out.
Brew City Hash House Harriers
History: We won’t go fully into the history of this group since it dates back to the 1800s. We will tell you that the group’s Malaysian history is based on a game of chasing a hare. Today, there are Hash House Harrier groups all over the world, and the Brew City one lives out the group’s motto of “a drinking club with a running problem.”
“It’s a social club, not a competitive running club,” said group general manager, or grand tyrant, Zachary Frankowski. “We want to have fun on a scavenger hunt for beer.”
Dues: No annual dues. However, weekly runs are about $10 each to cover the cost of beer. Other events vary, like its half marathon to 13 bars for 13 miles.
How many runs a week? H3 typically has one run a week and it moves around the area. As Frankowski put it, runs, or hashes, are "essentially a scavenger hunt for beer." Each week, "the hare" is tasked with creating a route marked with flour chalk symbols on the ground that lead the runners, "the hounds," to the finish. The start or finish can be anywhere from a bar or brewery to someone's backyard or a parked car. Frankowski said that new runners are not left behind, and everyone gets to the finish, no matter what pace.
Does the group host other events? Yes. In addition to weekly group runs, the group does have social activities outside of the runs and hosts events like a beer mile and group runs with other hashing groups, known as Inter Hashes, in Wisconsin (like Madison and Waukesha), the Midwest or even internationally. It also runs across a frozen Pewaukee Lake each February with a beer stop on the route and hosts a Summer Slam event in August.
How do you get involved? Show up to a run. Runs are posted each week on the group’s Facebook page.
Milwaukee run stores
Performance Running Outfitters: Locations in the Third Ward, Shorewood, Brookfield and Delafield. It also hosts weekly group runs: Mondays at Lakefront Brewery, Wednesdays at its Third Ward location and Saturdays at the Brookfield location.
Rodiez's Running Store: Operating since 1986, this run store has been a staple for decades in West Allis. Owner Tony Rodiez was inducted into the Wisconsin Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2008.
Stan's Fit for Your Feet: It has been operating as an every-shoe store since 1950. The Sajdak family owns multiple locations and brands in the area like Goodmiles Running Company (locations in Brookfield and Greenfield) and The Vionic Store in Brookfield.
Andare Sports: Located in Fox Point. A store with a background in running that also services many athletic abilities and endeavors.
Notable races in the Milwaukee area
Lakefront Marathon: One of Milwaukee biggest races. The race traditionally stretches from Grafton to Milwaukee but is expected to feature a new route in 2023 that includes the Hoan Bridge. It's one of the few marathons in Milwaukee, though it, like others, has run into permitting issues with the city in recent years.
Brew City Marathon: The Brew City Marathon attracts many runners to the lakefront for routes that explore the Oak Leaf Trail and finish in Veterans Park. It features a marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K courses.
Storm the Bastille 5K: This is one of the most popular 5Ks in the area. It's hosted at night during the annual Bastille Days festival. You'll experience running or walking through the city at night with thousands of others. Plus, you finish at the best place to enjoy some beignets and other festival foods.
Six Days in the Dome: The Pettit National Ice Center is home to many runners in the colder months. The center has a running track around an Olympic speedskating long track, providing ideal running temperatures year round. This includes events like Six Days in the Dome, which has runners complete as many laps in 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, six-days. The Pettit is also home to the Pettit Indoor Marathon which is 26.2 miles worth of laps.
Are there any famous Wisconsin runners?
Absolutely! Molly Seidel, from Brookfield, won a bronze medal at the 2021 Olympic marathon, the third American woman ever to win a medal in the event. Speaking of Olympians, Gwen Jorgenson, originally from Waukesha, won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the triathlon, the first American to win the event.
Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Milwaukee running routes, groups and races
