Rails To Trails - Race Reviews

This is one more of Wisconsin's marathon events that uses an old railroad bed converted to a sports trail for riders and runners. Rails to Trails and Elroy's Apple Dumpling Marathon both have a tunnel, and these two towns are not all that far apart from each other geographically, but I think Elroy's trail is flatter. The race director sent informational e-mails ahead of time so the runners were well informed about the details. There were several races going on, but there were only about 50 marathoners. The staff people who I spoke with said that the registration numbers were likely down this year because they had cancelled the previous year's race due to excessive rainfall, flooding, and trail washouts. Rain was a factor again this year, but rainfall this year was not significant. Participation required a drive across Wisconsin, through lots of farmland to get to Norwalk, from my home in the Upper Peninsula. My GPS served me well. Norwalk is a small town in a valley that primarily serves the area farms and dairies. Coming into town from the east, there were a lot of narrow farm roads with lots of sharp turns. So it took a while to drive the last 10 miles or so. I stayed in Tomah - where I-90 and I-94 converge - because I could not find accommodations in town. When I arrived on Saturday, it was easy to find the Community Center (it is a small town). That is where packet pick-up was, and where the spaghetti dinner was held. Packet pick-up was a breeze and the dinner was great. Lots of volunteers pitched in on this event. The start time for the various races were staggered, so there was not a lot of congestion at the start line. The start/finish was right across the street from the community center, and there seemed to be adequate parking to everybody. They did have an early start, but they only offered it to walkers. The rest started as a group at 8:00 a.m. The trail seemed to go pretty much east and west. Since they wanted us to avoid going into the town of Sparta - to the west - the course started out from ground zero with a 1.5 mile out and back going east. Then we went about 11.5 miles west, and returned to ground zero. The trail was in good condition, although there were still some lingering signs of the rainfall from earlier in the week. The tunnel was about mile-post 6, it extended for about ¾ of a mile, and it was lit with lanterns from one end to the other. They were spaced at, perhaps, every 20 feet, and they were in pairs, one on the right side and one on the left side. You could see all the way through the tunnel as you were approaching it. It looked like a runway at night. The area between each pairs of lights was dimly lighted, but the area between successive lights was in a shadow, and was quite dark. And the ground surface was like sandstone with bicycle tire ruts in it. Then there was a lot of water dripping down from overhead, and it made divots in the ground, and they created little mud puddles we had to navigate; they were potential trip hazards too. I am not aware that anyone fell, but the possibility was increased. Then there is a law - with signs posted - that you can not ride bicycles through the tunnel; you were required to dismount and walk your bike through. On the return, I encountered four bicycle riders, riding through the tunnel, and they refused to dismount. That just make is dangerous for everyone. The law is necessary for safety of everyone, but it is hard to enforce. One other runner said that there is a 1,000-foot incline over the course. I did not find out officially, but it seemed uphill during the return. It was hard to judge from the landscape. For most of the course there was a canopy of trees growing on both sides of the trail, with branches hanging high over the trail. So it was mostly cool and damp. The last two miles before the turn-around to the west seemed to have a lot fewer trees, and there was a lot more sun getting through. Still, with the temperature near 60, with a damp landscape, and lots of shade, it was a great day for a marathon. Then there were volunteers passing out fluids and carb snacks (pretzels, potato chips, and sliced oranges) about every 1.5 to 2 miles. They did a great job. But there were no gels on this course. We were told that before the races started, but by then it was probably too late for most runners to obtain their own gels. At the finish-line, there was roasted chicken, potato chips, a bread roll, and some kind of drink for the runners. There was an abundance of cookies and baked goods too. Jugs of water and Gatorade/Power-aid were still available too. Overall, the organizers and volunteers did a great job putting on this race. The smaller size and their attention to detail make it highly desirable.

I guess attendance was down this year (2017) due to coinciding with the Chicago Marathon (bat habitat issues forced the organizers to move the race from it's usual November date). I've previously run Chicago and there is no comparison, but this is a beautiful race in a beautiful part of the state, put on by nice people who are proud of their town. I pretty much ran the final 5 miles solo (which was fine with me!). There's ~ 1000 ft of overall elevation gain, so it's a challenging course (long and steady inclines and declines!)

One of the most friendly races, simple beautiful bike trail course with an AWESOME 3/4 of mile railroad tunnel. I highly recommend this beautiful race.

The marathon begins and ends in a small rural town in western Wisconsin. It is very well run, with dedicated volunteers. Course follows the path of a former rail line, trough farmland. Most of the course is over bare limestone. It originally had a crushed stone surface, but most of that is gone. A great job was done blowing leaves off of the course. Part of the course goes through a rail tunnel. On marathon day, lanterns are placed in the tunnel to provide dim lighting. There are some groves in the tunnel floor, but I did not find this to be a problem.

Due to calendar issues I was having a hard time finding a fall marathon that fit into my schedule but did settle on the Rails to Trails Marathon in Norwalk WI. I hadn't run a marathon for a couple of years and wanted to do one for my 65th birthday with the goal of qualifying for another Boston Marathon, I couldn't have picked better! I run for the solitude, this beautiful rail trail course through western Wisconsin was one of the most scenic marathons I've done. The course for the most part was relatively flat, the only challenge being a long five mile gradual uphill climb between miles 17 and 22. The volunteers were fantastic with lots of water/gatorade stops and plenty of encouragement. This is a trail run over crushed limestone which I really liked, definitely easier on the feet and knees. As it's a small marathon, I was able to park within a hundred yards of the start finish and just stash my gear in the car, no bag check needed. They also provide a great spaghetti dinner the night before and a fantastic chicken bbq at the finish along with free beer. Overall a fantastic marathon experience enabling me to achieve my goal!

Do not come to Norwalk looking for loads of frills. If you're the type who needs huge crowds and a band at every mile, keep looking. If, however, you're hoping for a fun run on a picturesque course that's supported by nearly everyone in the small local community, you've found a good candidate. The course is crushed limestone, out-and-back. Not very wide, which for the first three or four miles can be slightly crowded. After the run thins out, there's plenty of room to look around and enjoy the scenery. The tunnel is odd  essentially a very long limestone (I think) cave. It's a little wet and damp, and there are a few potholes to watch for. But the race lights it up pretty well so it's more of a fun thing than a danger. The crowds are as you'd expect for a small-town race: not huge, but very energetic and friendly. Water stations are well-stocked with water and some form of sports drink (I think it was Powerade, but I could be wrong.) There are a few stops that have buckets of gel packets for runners to take. A nice touch, but I do wish they'd mentioned it somewhere so I wouldn't have carried my own. Post-race chicken barbeque is awesome. So much food. Really, you'll not leave hungry. And it's good, too. The chicken is slow-cooking at the start, so you know what you're running for. :-) The medal is very nice for a small-town race, even in comparison to some bigger races. Parking is simple, fifty or so yards from the start. There is a gear check (your bag) but you're unlikely to need it given the proximity of parking. Packet pick-up is very simple  here's your number and shirt  but it features a good seemingly home-cooked spaghetti meal served by the nicest of people. This is included in your entry fee. Hotels in the area are pretty inexpensive, and the nearby town of Tomah has all sorts of stores and restaurants. Overall, a great race, and an even better value. I'll likely be back next year.

I've run marathons in all of the states and all of the continents and this marathon and the Walker, Minnesota North Country Marathon are two of my favorites for the same reasons: Friendly running communities, nice scenery, easily runable trails and no hassles to deal with getting to and from the start and finish lines. I give it five stars for spectators because there aren't many, aside from the friendly and helpful volunteers. I like the quiet and don't like cow bells, senseless hollering and fake, or unearned, praise. The town of Norwalk and the folks who put on the race do a great job.

Definitely the smallest marathon I've ran and the best bang for my buck. A beautiful, unique course (only four stars there though because I'm not in love with out-and-backs) and the support was friendly and tremendous; it felt like most of Norwalk was out for us. Nice to get the pre-race and post-race meals (and BEERS! MANY BEERS!) included. Ran a PR; a nice, relatively level course. Would/will do again.

You can't get a much better course for a small marathon. Scenic with fall colors and I loved the tunnel. If your looking for lots of crowd support, this is not the race for you. It's a good thing it's a there and back course so you see some other runners. Quite different from other big races. My only complaint is its a very steady small incline from mile 15-23. I'd rather have rolling hills or a big hill that ends! Overall loved it. It's nice to drive right up to the start line 30 minutes before start time.

This was my 13th marathon in my 13th state. My only criticism is lack of information about the course. I wanted to run a time in this race, but it had an overall elevation gain of nearly 1,600 feet, most after mile 15. So, no P.R. for me. That said, it was well worth the trip. The scenery is beautiful and not running on pavement is a bonus. The aid stations were plentiful and the train tunnel on the way out made me feel like a big kid. (The way back I was pooped from the climb and was just focused on getting through it.) The spaghetti dinner wasn't very good and I don't eat chicken, but it's nice the race includes the free meals in the marathon entry. I would recommend this race simply for the beauty. Thanks.

The Norwalk WI Marathon blessed me immensely with the assistance I needed. Leg cramps were severe. I came out of that experience avoiding the Hospital and I was able to enjoy the rest of the day with my grandchildren in WI before I had to head back home to TN on Monday.

This really is an extraordinarily beautiful course. The railroad grade is often well above the surrounding fields, so you can see some really great farmland. On my way to the race in the morning, I saw not one but two Amish horse and buggy carts along the road. As for the business of the race itself, I was a little reluctant to do this race in past years because I figured that a trail with 'limestone screenings' would be slow. This year I didn't sweat it. The path is actually quite good. Most of the surface is packed dirt, with some fallen leaves. A few areas of gravel but not dominant. Traction thus wasn't a big issue. I ran a slower race than usual, but that was mostly down to me rather than the course. Tunnel footing is a little disconcerting, and it throws one's Garmin off, of course, but it was still a fun and unique feature. The event was well planned, well supported, and the day perfect.

Of the 90 marathons I have done this one ranks in the top five for beauty. It is entirely on a limestone trail through rural Wisconsin. Although not hilly (an old railroad bed) it is surrounded by hills and farms. The fall colors were spectacular. There is a 0.75 mile tunnel which we ran through twice. It was lit with lanterns about every 50 yards. The plentiful water stops were well stocked with sports drink, fruit, cookies and gels. The town of Norwalk did a fantastic job putting on this event! Thank you!!!

I have run this marathon from the start. It took them a couple years to iron out the kinks but they improved every year and added something for the value. While it's still friendly, it seems a little stagnate, they price hike didn't offer anything additional from my point of view. This is a beautiful marathon, whomever had the idea to utilize this trail is a genius. The registration fee was increased by $10-15 dollars this year, not sure why? With bigger numbers this race should become more affordable to put on. Emails/facebook posts go unanswered, couldn't even get a copy of the race course? don't they realize it's on file with the state officials? i understand that people putting on race aren't runners, but you do need be intersted in running and able to provide information for participants. A buddy of mine wanted to know their plan for emergency evacuation. This could be challenging due to the tunnel, terrain? Question goes unanswered. you would thnk insurance company would want to know. I realize that waivers are signed , but this is a sue happy world and race directors do get sued personally. Ask the guy at Fox City. Any way over all good race, just continue to improve and stay with the times. You've gotten a little stagnate.

This was my first year taking part in Rails to Trails. I ran the 1/2 Marathon. The course was an out and back with great views of the vibrant autumn colors. While the GPS maps of the course indicate big (midwest big) inclines, there are no big inclines. However, there are long steady inclines and declines due to this once being a railroad bed. The maps are wrong because GPS devices don't work inside the 3/4 mile tunnel. I'll note that the tunnel is amazing. It has rough footing, darkness, and dripping water - too cool. The after-race feedbag was nice as well.

I loved the event. The area was beautiful and people very friendly. It was a great deal with lots of places to stay near the start. I highly recommend it. The turn around was a little tight but it was worth it to not run on roads or in traffic. There was not much crowd support but what was there was enthusiastic. It was such a pretty part of the country, no big hills and the tunnel! It got a bit wet in the tunnel and I needed to watch my footing but it was well worth it.

The overall vibe of this event is great. It's low key and you really feel very little pressure and that often lends itself to free and fast running. I finished in 3:14 and qualified for Boston after running a marathon 4 weeks prior in MN where I ran a 3:22. The course is not congested outside the first 400 meters. The overall course is NOT hilly. It ungulates more in the beginning and is mostly flat. The tricky part is maintaining speed and focus when running through the WET and very dark train tunnel. Do yourself a big favor, where a headlamp in this race. My name is Dennis, and I will be back next year! Awesome race!!

The race was really nice. I loved the views at different parts of the trail. I personally wasn't too fond of the first three miles thou. I think I would've rather go 1.5 miles further on the other direction. That little turn around was a bit of a bottle neck. But, not a big complain. The spectators were not that many, but you could tell the ones that were there were going around to cheer in different places and were really energetic. I loved loved the tunnel. The race 'felt' a lot uphill, so it is a good challenge. I don't train running uphill for more than 2 miles, so this was really a challenge for me. The dirt road made it easy on the feet, that's for sure. It was a cool race and I would recommend it.

I've ran Boston, Chicago and the Twin Cities Marathon, as well as a small town race (La Crosse, WI) and can easily say that the Norwalk Marathon is my favorite. Though considerably smaller than others, the community really comes together for the event, the course is FANTASTIC, and the refreshments afterwards are perfect (Chocolate milk and Pearl Street Brewery beer). The 3/4 mile tunnel was a surreal experience.

Having ben cancelled out of the New York Marathon I scrambled to find one close to home and I was not disappointed. I registered the night before and was offered a complimentary spaghetti dinner and free beer. Hotel was only 17 minutes away and dinner at Antonnini's in Sparta was wonderful (make a reservation). Easy access on race day morning and no need to get there hours ahead. The trail was very smooth with the exception of the tunnel. While very neat to run through it will slow you down a bit and you need to be careful. Race support and water stations were very adequate and enthusiastic. Remember you are running on rural bike trail so not alot of crowds but enough to have fun with. It is also very easy for family and friends to follow you. After the race you were given a free Chicken dinner and an option for more free beer. This was my 19th marathon and was just as much fun as Chicago and Grandma's. I will run this again if I am every looking for a late fall run.

Course: I ran the half this year and the full last year. Both times the course was easy on my legs-better then trail races with rocks and roots and better then city races with the pounding your feet take on pavement-you can run it injury-free! The start for the half was too crowded, I didn't notice this when I ran the full-they should take advantage of the wide starting area-move it back some and funnel the first part or start in waves. The lights in the tunnel seem improved over last year-I brought a sub-par headlamp this year and relied on the tunnel lights-I know some slowed down here-I increased my speed in the tunnel. Spectators: They were fun and awesome again. Organization: Everyone in the community pitches in for this event and I'm guessing they grew this year and along with it there were a few glitches that will be adjusted as they become apparent. Most port-a-potties ran out of toilet paper before the start of the half marathon. Desserts are awesome and are all home-made! Grilled chicken after the race was great! Results were posted quickly at the race.

I was looking for a small town trail marathon on an easy course. It was such a small town, however,the nearest motels were a dozen miles away. I liked the laid-back atmosphere, the pre-race pasta feed, the scenic course and the cool, early-November weather. The course was very crowded the first couple of miles, but the runners spread out after that. If the race gets any bigger the organizers might consider starting the runners in waves. I have one complaint and that is about the tunnel. The first time through there were plenty of battery powered lights working. However I was one of the slower runners and on the return trip most of the lights had gone out and the flashlight they supplied went dead after a few minutes. The running surface in the tunnel was wet and uneven, and I ended up walking the whole .75 mile. Would it be asking too much for the organizers to supply flashlights with fresh batteries for us 5 hour plus runners? I will also say there were very few spectators, which wasn't a problem for me, but some runners wouldn't like it. The aid station volunteers were very enthusiastic and encouraging.

Course: It's said that this is crushed rock;but, it seemed to me that it was more like dirt-which was great, and easy on my feet. If it had rained this would have added a challenge to the course. Tunnel was fun and was a place that I gained time on many-recommend headset lamps. This is a potential PR course-you don't have to worry about crowding at the start and course etiquette was better then most. Organization: I enjoyed myself so much it didn't really seem to be much of a deal;but, the only thing I saw is that they could offer water or Gatorade consistently in the same order-each aid station required me to watch who was calling water and who was calling Gatorade-some races put them in a consistent order and there is one less thing you have to watch for. Spectators: Some folks were enthusiastic, others were complimentary, all were genuinely enjoyable. I enjoyed the volunteers so much in this event. From the retired ladies working in the kitchen to the knee-high tots handing out water-this was a community event that was special because of the people in the community. With a smile on my face I deal with the dilemma of trying to fit in other runs and still come back for this one.

Rails To Trails was a perfect choice for my first full marathon. The event organization, small town atmosphere, hospitality of the volunteers, soft-surface trail, rural setting, and pre- and post-race meals all contributed to a very positive experience. Kudos to all who made the marathon such a success in 2011 and worthy of repeat participation in the future. The Strawberry Lace Inn Bed & Breakfast in Sparta was a top notch local lodging choice.

This is the only marathon I've done twice. I love this race because of the tunnel,the scenery, the people who put it on (the entire town) the food, and the great price. There are a good amount of aid stations,too. Fantastic race, highly recommended.

This marathon has all the essentials covered .. aid stations, great volunteers, nice shirts/medals/packet pickup/course etc. all the stuff you take for granted at the big events. Now add the one-of-a kind tunnel, post-race chicken que, raceday registration / packet pickup, and the small town charm I grew up with... and you've got a must-do marathon! A little brighter in the tunnel would be nice ... but then again, I did manage to 'find the light at the end of the tunnel' ... somebody had to say it. :)

This race was great! I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did. I'm used to huge urban marathons like Chicago, MCM, and Boston. The fact that it was small and unassuming was wonderful. The dirt trail was nice to run on. The scenery was beautiful. And the people organizing were very friendly and competent. I would consider running it again.

I LOVED this marathon! The course was beautiful and shaded from the wind. Few hills and great scenery made the entire 26.2miles exciting. The aid stations were well stocked with enthusiastic volunteers (especially ones with jell-o shots haha). The tunnel was incredible (need more flashlights tho), and I liked that the marathon started in the opposite direction and came back thru the start/finish! The stretch around the Half turn-around needs an aid station! I can't wait to do this one again!

This was my first small town race. Didn't know what to expect, but was well organized and started promptly at 9, as stated. There were few spectators, but the ones who were there were uplifting and cheerful! The trail was scenic and the tunnel was very neat. Although lit nicely on the way out, most of the propane lights were burnt out by the way back through and most of the flashlights weren't working, but still neat! The water stops were nice, but seemed far apart after the tunnel (until the turn around). The volunteers were great and friendly and parking was easy and close. The showers were accommodating too, since our hotel was far away.

What a cool race! The town of Norwalk does a great job of organizing and running this event. The course is out and back, and while I thought this may be tough on the path it was not at all. The tunnel was absolutely beautiful with granite walls and water flowing down the sides. The rest of the trail was incredible too as it transformed from being in a valley to being high above valleys on each side. There are a couple of long but pretty gentle hills. The volunteers were friendly and there was plenty of water and sports drink at every stop. Getting to the race was completely hassle free.

This is a hometown marathon with a hometown feel. I don't have one complaint. Great meals which where included in the race fee. Packet pick up was a breeze. Getting to the start line was super easy. Waterstops were well stocked. This is the most beautiful course I have ever run, the tunnel added a great touch. I smiled the whole way thru it both times. The addition of a free beer at the end this year made the race even better. There was a bonfire at the end to keep people warm, we sat around for hours enjoying the bbq chicken, beer and stories of the marathon. When I signed up for such a small marathon, I never would have guessed I would come back, but I'm already recruiting people for next year.

Although I did not see one black squirrel anywhere, the race was terrific! The 3/4 mile tunnel was a one of a kind and awesome experience (well I guess you go through it twice actually). The aid stations were well stocked and very close together. At one point there were 2 within a mile of each other. The first 1.5 miles was a little crowded with the skinny trail and then lead runners hitting the first turnaround, but overall a great trail. Plenty of food at the end and the chocolate milk hit the spot!! Anyone looking for a late fall marathon without crowds - this is one to look at.

Went to Norwalk looking for a low-key end to the season and was not disappointed. Scenic out-and-back on an easy-on-the-legs dirt trail with no cars to deal with. The 3/4 mile long dark tunnel was awesome. All the things you like about a smaller race - short walk from your free parking spot to the race start, no need to line up until minutes before the start, short porta-potty lines. Good picnic-style food at the finish. The only minor gripe I have is that they were using undersized cups at the aid stations, so you pretty much had to grab twice what you are used to. Definitely will be recommending this to Chicago area runners looking for something low-key.

This is the smallest town that I've run a marathon in; it was my 13th overall. It's unique in that the race is super organized and run like a pretty polished machine. Pre-race pasta dinner was really fun. Completely quaint and wonderful. The little town was inundated with foreign-made cars and I assume yuppies from IL, but here's the strange part - there were no stores open to sell anything. This race doesn't make a lot of sense. I assume the race director is from a much larger community with experience and contacts. The course is unique in that it features some tunnels to run through. Fun, out-and-back course on pretty level ground (railroad grade). It seemed like the runners were pretty serious types, which made the competition strong. Nice shirt and finish medal. I was disappointed by the post-race meal, but that is a similar complaint for most marathons (I'm a vegetarian). Overall, if you are a serious runner, this is a great event.

I ran this half-marathon with my 14-year-old daughter. This was her first. The location, the weather, the shirt, the medal, the ease of parking, the quickly posted results with the chip timing, the course, the food, and everything about it made her mind up. She had me sign her up for another next year in Chicago. We enjoyed the B&B we stayed in. The entire area is beautiful and I would recommend this half to anyone. Her favorite part was the well lit tunnel. Can't say anything bad. Good job listening to remarks each year as it seems it's almost perfect.

Overall, this was a decent marathon. I would not say it had any exceptional qualities, but it did have adequate organization and support at a very reasonable price. Race day packet pick up was greatly appreciated. The course was beautiful and the tunnel was obviously the highlight. The only miles that "felt" like they were downhill were 22-25. The rest "felt" like they were uphill. The only real complaints I had were about the aid stations - almost every one was understaffed and, as mentioned, the cups were small. I would definitely consider running this race again for no other reason that the scenery and ease of entry.

This was my 3rd marathon, with the previous two being big-city races (MCM and Chicago). I was a bit nervous about a small race and the lack of spectators to help the time go by, but my worries were for naught. It was a beautiful fall day (40s to start, 60s at the finish). The course is flat and fast on a compact dirt trail. I was able to run a 35-minute PR and finish under 4 hours. I did bring my iPod, and was glad I did. The spectators who were there, though few in number, were enthusiastic and wonderful. Aid stations were well stocked (though I could have used a few more... they seemed sparse from after the tunnel to the turnaround). Biggest negative to me was having HEED as the sport drink; ANYTHING is better than that. The tunnel... so cool! And nice that it was cooler in there with some condensation to cool off a bit from the sun! Last comment:I really liked the small size of the race. I was never crowded on the course, but never felt too alone. Made it easy to spot my husband at different parts of the race, and made it easy for him to find me. And since the course was never crowded, it allowed him and our pups to jog with me for a few yards. A nice energy boost!