American Birkebeiner

Click on an event below to learn more:

• 26.2 mile Individual Marathon
• 26.2 mile Marathon Relay
• 13.1 mile Individual Half Marathon
• 13.1 mile Birkie Trek (Nordic Walk)
• 5K Fun Run/Walk

Five Events to Choose From!

The 9th Birkie Trail Run & Trek offers several fun and challenging events including the Individual Marathon Run, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, Birkie Trek Nordic Walk and the 5K Fun Run! The events are guaranteed to challenge even the strongest runners and Nordic Walkers.

All events take place on the famous and hilly Birkie trail at one of the most beautiful times of the year in the Cable-Hayward, WI area. The course is wide, mowed, and relatively free from rocks and roots.

There's something for everyone! More than 95% of 2010 participants indicated they would "likely return" for the 2011 event and over 98% would recommend the race to a friend.

Start Locations & Event Info

The Marathon Run and Marathon Relay will start at Hatchery Park, two miles west of Hayward, off highway 77. The Half-Marathon Run and Half-Marathon Birkie Trek will start at the highway "OO" trailhead. All events will finish at Telemark Resort. The 5K Run/Walk starts and finishes at Telemark Resort. 

For more information on individual events, see the links on the left side of this page or click on the highlighted event name in the descriptions below.

Great Tech-Ts from SportHill guaranteed for the first 750 participants registered in any of the five events.

Fun & Festivities Following the Events

Complimentary food and beverages will be available for all participants at the finish area, as well as be available for spectators at a nominal cost. Expect lots of door prizes, plus awards for top finishers and age class winners. Plan to be part of this fun event at a beautiful time of the year at a fantastic site.

* All race proceeds are used for Birkie Trail maintenance and improvement.

The last leg of the marathon / half-marathon course (which includes the Birke Trek – Nordic Walk) transitions from the Birkie Trail to the Kortelopet just before the 9K Birkie Ski marker and Timber Trail crossing. About two miles north on the Kortie, the trail curves to the left at forest trail marker #79. There is a two-way branch here. Take the right-hand branch, which is simply a short-cut to another section of the Kortie and allows us to create the 26.2 and 13.1 distances. This cut-off rejoins the Kortie at what is this year’s 5K course (Blue on the map). All the events then follow this Blue 5K course to the Finish.

*** If you are training on this portion of the course, you will see plenty of signs that direct you to Telemark Lodge. Please note that the map may be subject to small variations on race day.

The Birkie Trail Marathon Run is an individual running event.

The individual Marathon Run will include men's and women's divisions and 10 year age classes. All marathon runners must be at least 16 years of age on race day.

Relay Team categories include 3 person and 6 person "Open", "Womens" and "Mixed" Teams:

• "Open Teams" may include all men, all women, or any combination of genders.
• "Womens Teams" must have all women members.
• "Mixed Teams" must include at least one member who is of the opposite gender for 3-person teams, and at least two members of the opposite gender for 6-person teams.

All team members must be at least 12 years of age on Race Day. Teams will be handicapped based on participant ages and genders. Water, energy products and medical support will be available on the course, but teams will be responsible for transporting team members to specified relay exchange points using a single vehicle. Higher clearance vehicles are recommended.

The individual Half Marathon will include men's and women's divisions and 10 year age classes. All half marathon runners must be at least 16 years of age on race day.

The 13.1 mile (21K) Birkie Trek is a non-competitive, untimed Nordic Walk with poles modeled after European Volksmarches. Participants, age 16 and over walk the trail over this half marathon distance. Use of poles is recommended, but not required. Loaner poles will be available at no cost.

The Birkie Trek will include a warm-up stretch at the start lead by Linda Lemke, the Queen of Nordic Walking from Hoigaards in the Twin Cities.

The 5K Fun Run/Walk is open to anyone age 12 or older on race day. This is also for you Trekkers who aren't quite ready for the Birkie Trek.

The Birkie Trail Run events take place on the famous Birkie Trail. The Birkie Trail offers a challenging race course for trail runners, on a mowed and relatively smooth grass covered surface from start to finish. The trail is relatively free of rocks, roots or other obstacles.

All finishers of the Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K and the Birkie Trek will receive a great medal. 

PLEASE, as a courtesy to all participants, no pets, leashed or unleashed, or strollers on the course.