Chin Up: Find your race, run or ride in Wisconsin

Finally – it is spring. Time to get out of the house and find an event. Here are just a few suggestions of races, runs and rides. For the entire list, check out this story online. And if I missed something, let me know and I will include it.

APRIL

1 – South Shore half marathon. Great race by the Badgerland Striders, this is a scenic route and one of the first races of the season. It could be freezing cold and miserable, or pleasantly cool.

1 - Trailbreaker Marathon, half marathon,10K and 5K in Waukesha. The 25th anniversary of this event.

15 - Brew City Half Marathon and 10K. Starts in Veterans Park and boasts it has the biggest race medal around.

22 – Donut Dash 5K, in Hart Park, Wauwatosa, to support the Police Unity Tour Wisconsin Riders.

23 – Sweet Home Milwaukee 5K, Veterans Park, Milwaukee.

23 – Eisenbahn Marathon, Half Marathon & Quarter Marathon, West Bend. The former railroad corridor now known as the Eisenbahn State Trail serves as the race route for the Adrenaline Marathon, which takes runners off the roadways and unfolds through the green landscapes of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

29 – The Deer Run 5K and 10K, Brown Deer. Race starts and ends at Village Park.

29 – Bloop. “What’s a Bloop??” Chris Ponteri, Bloop’s race director, explains it’s short for “Bay View Loop.” Complete a half marathon, marathon or ultra-marathon by running 1-mile loops around Humboldt Park. The course is a 1-mile Bloop. So marathoners will do 26.2 Bloops, half marathoners will do 13.1 Bloops and those who opt to do the 6-hour timed Bloop will do as many Bloops as they can within the allotted time.

30 – Oshkosh Marathon, half marathon, relay and 5K. Races are along the shores of Lake Winnebago.

MAY

6 – Wisconsin marathon and half marathon, Kenosha. A great run, especially for first-time distance runners, because it is a relatively flat and fast course. Scenes along the Lake Michigan lakefront are beautiful. The finish line is big, spectacular and spectator-friendly – and they call your name when you cross.

13 – Warrior Dash, Johnson Creek. This 5K features mud and obstacles.

13 – Color Vibe Run, Milwaukee. This low-pressure fun run features packets of color that runners can throw around, especially at each other. Color may or may not come out in the wash.

13 – Every Kid Needs a Superhero, Kenosha. This 5K run and walk supports the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha and runners are encouraged to dress up like a superhero.

13 – Ice Age 50 Trail Run. These are some of the best amateur athletes around. Fifty miles, on uneven terrain in the dewy and cool late spring of Wisconsin. There’s a 50K and a half marathon, too. Good training, fuel, mental toughness and runner camaraderie all help push the body past the painful points.

18 – The Traveling Beer Garden 5K series, the first of four races in four parks over the summer by Silver Circle Sports Events. This one is in Juneau Park.

20 – White Deer Triathlon, Boulder Junction. 3K paddle (kayak, canoe or stand up paddle board), 22K bike race and 6K run. A great event, worth the five-hour drive north from Milwaukee. It’s my favorite event ever.

21 – The Cancer Assault Challenge, to benefit the MACC Fund. This is a family friendly event, both in terms of cost to you and in terms of fun obstacles and great volunteers.

27-28 - Madtown Twilight 5K, 10K and then, half marathon, Madison. There are also challenges for completing a combination of the races.

JUNE

3 – Trek 100, Waterloo. Bike distances are 100 miles, 100K (62 miles), 36 and 19 miles. This is a fundraiser for the MACC Fund. Individual registrations and minimum donations start at $245 for the 100-mile ride.

3 – Harborview 8K in Port Washington. Run next to Lake Michigan and through the Port Washington Marina. This race is part of Port Washington Pirate Festival Weekend.

3 - Stampede for Scouting 5K Run/Walk, Milwaukee County Zoo. This race supports the Three Harbors Council for Boy Scouts of America.  

4 - UPAF Ride for the Arts sponsored by Miller Lite. Five routes start and end at the Summerfest Grounds. 

9, 10 – Ragnar Relay. There’s really nothing else out there like this. It is a team relay run from Madison to Chicago. Get 12 people, two vans and run 200 miles, nonstop, relay style, one runner at a time, through all hours, through the night, on roads, through parks and trails. This requires planning and commitment but it will be one of the most unforgettable athletic experiences of your life. There’s a bond with Ragnar teammates that can’t be broken after you survive an adventure like this.

10 – Rock ‘n Sole, half marathon, quarter marathon, 5K in Milwaukee on Summerfest grounds.

16 - 12th Annual Capuchins’ Run-Walk for the Hungry. The Capuchin ministry depends primarily on donations and volunteers to serve the poor, the hungry and the homeless. 

17 –  Terrain Race: Wisconsin, a 5K or 10K obstacle course mud run at Little Switzerland, Slinger.

17 – Toughman Triathlon, Sherwood. The swim is in Lake Winnebago along a unique and panoramic shoreline: starting and finishing at the beach. Half: 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run; Aqua Bike: 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike; Sprint: ¼-mile swim, 22-mile bike, 5K run.

17 – Fat Tire Tour of Milwaukee, Pabst Brewery. The Fat Tire Tour of Milwaukee is the oldest group ride in the greater Milwaukee area. This annual movie-themed group ride is a casual paced ride covering 15-25 miles over a 6- to 7-hour span.

24 – Spartan Sprint, Lambeau Field. It’s back. After a year off, and the previous three years before that at Miller Park, the shortest of the Spartan Races returns to Wisconsin, this time at Lambeau Field. The 3- to 5-mile race features 20-23 obstacles – but there’s a catch. Racers do 30 burpees as a penalty (the pushup kind) for any failed obstacle. This makes the race competitive – beyond the other photogenic mud runs – and that medal feels completely earned at the end.

25 – Bigfoot Triathlon, Lake Geneva. Big Foot Beach State Park – 2 miles south of downtown Lake Geneva. Olympic distance, sprint and relay options.

JULY

1 – Independence Day Run, Fox River Park. This is part of Silver Circle Sports' Trail Assail running series, a really great collection of races throughout the warmer months in the area. This one is my favorite because it kicks off the Fourth of July holiday with a beautiful run through a park. And they’ve done a great job with the shirts the last two years.

4 – Firecracker Four, in Hales Corners, a nice 4-mile run by the Badgerland Striders.

13 - Storm the Bastille 5K run/walk, in memory of the 18th century attack on the Bastille prison in Paris. The 5-K run and 2-mile walk will take place on opening night of Bastille Days, at 9 p.m. The best social night run in Milwaukee all year.

15 - 19th annual 5K Famous Racing Sausages Run/Walk. From the Milwaukee Brewer, the event is family friendly and benefits Fisher House Wisconsin.

22 - Lombardi Walk/Run to tackle Cancer, Festa Italiana.

22, 23 – Scenic Shore 150. This is the 25th anniversary of this highly regarded ride that benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This two-day, 150-mile, fully supported ride along Lake Michigan begins in Mequon and ends in Sturgeon Bay with an overnight stay in Manitowoc. Individual registration is $500: $100 to register and $400 minimum in fundraising. There also is a one-day ride option and an option to create a team. As of March 23, the full 150-mile ride and the 75-mile ride were both at 75% capacity.

23 – Big 10K. Are you an alum, or a fan, of a Big Ten university? This may be your race. The Big Ten 5 and 10K, Grant Park, Chicago. All Big Ten schools will be represented at this race.

23 – Mountain Biking: the Colectivo Coffee Bean Classic, Minooka Park, Waukesha. Racers will face steep climbing and flat-out speed on a mix of flowy single track with huge berm turns, technical segments and flat-out stretches that will approach road bike speeds. Yes, to the novice, this is intimidating, but that’s OK. There are all kinds of levels, including a beginner, non-competitive race. This is part of the Wisconsin Off Road  Series.

29 – 13th annual Airventure Runway 5K, Oshkosh. If you like planes, and you like running, jogging or walking, you’ll love this run. It’s first thing in the morning, so there are no crowds except runners and planes taking off and landing on the runway nearby. A super flat and fast course, there’s tons to look at, you’ll only slow down because you’ll spot something you’ll want to study a little more. Great family 5K.

AUGUST

1-6 – The 2017 Reebok CrossFit Games will be held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. This is a pretty big deal. These athletes are crazy fit and the Games will feature the top athletes.

5, 6 – Bike MS: Toyota Best Dam Bike Tour. Pewaukee to Whitewater to Madison. Fully supported ride travels from the Milwaukee area to Madison with an overnight stay in Whitewater, and 82% of the money raised supports Multiple Sclerosis Society programs, services or MS research.

12 – Dirty Girl Mud Run, Waukesha County Fairgrounds. This now-classic 5K features low-pressure, easy going obstacles of the kinder variety, like bounce house style slides. Women only.

12 – Lake Country Triathlon, Oconomowoc, ¼-mile swim, 15.75-mile bike and 3.1-mile run. Wet suits are OK if the water is colder than 78 degrees.

12 – Paavo Nurmi Marathon and half marathon, Hurley.

12 - Hitting 4 the Cycle benefit bike ride. The 25 mile route, starting and ending at Miller Park, is prior to a tailgate party and the Brewers game. Hitting 4 The Cycle benefits local non-profits as well as Brewers Community Foundation.

19 – Piece of Cake 5K, Frame Park, Waukesha. A run for those who are getting married, like fitness and the outdoors, or just love cake.

19 – Madison Mini Marathon. The half marathon course covers Capitol Square, Dane County Farmer's Market, State Street, Camp Randall Stadium, Kohl Center, the Arboretum (including wild turkeys), Picnic Point and the University of Wisconsin campus. There also is a 5K.

26 – RAW – Ride Across Wisconsin. Dubuque to Kenosha, 175 miles. A large climb across the southern part of the state.

SEPTEMBER

2 –  Rockin’ Chocolate Marathon, Madison. Full marathon, half marathon, team relays and a mini marathon for kids.

2 - The Great Inflatable Race. Bounce houses are placed throughout the course as obstacles. Looks like a family friendly, fun run. Veterans Park.

9 – Brewers Mini Marathon, Milwaukee, Miller Park. Half marathon, 10K or 5K. Nice run, some hills, fun crowds.

9 – The GloRun. A 5K (that can be doubled) at night at the Milwaukee Lakefront with all the glow-in-the-dark colors.

9-10 - Tough Mudder, Road America, Elkart Lake. The ultimate muddy obstacle course 'race' - that really isn't tracked for time. But it is challenging. Very team oriented. There's a half distance as well from the 12-mile event.

10 – Ironman Wisconsin, in Madison. 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, 26.2-mile run.

16 – Briggs & Al’s Run and Walk for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. It’s a sight – 16,000 people descending down Wisconsin Ave. to the lake for their run and walk. It’s nice that this is an 8K run (5 miles) and something different than the typical 5K. The walk is pretty, too, finishing along the lakefront.

16, 17 – The North Face Endurance Challenge, Kettle Moraine State Park. Some of the most challenging running you will find in the state, especially at the longer distances: 50 miles, 50K, marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K, all in the forest and over uneven terrain. There’s a marathon relay, too. The rocks, sand and hilly trails make the longer runs of 13.1 miles or more challenging.

23 – Lake Geneva Triathlon. Several distances to choose from: SuperSprint race (300-meter swim, 13.1-mile bike and 1.5-mile run), Sprint distance race (500-meter swim, 13.1-mile bike and 3.1-mile run), an Olympic distance race (1,500m swim, 26-mile bike and 6.2-mile run) and an Olympic distance AquaBike race (1,500m swim and 26-mile bike).

24 - Komen Race for the Cure, Milwaukee, lakefront. For the fight against breast cancer.

OCTOBER

1 – Lakefront Marathon. This is the granddaddy of them all, established 30 years ago and still going strong even as our fitness cravings have changed and other events have come and gone. With a starting line in Grafton and a finish at the Milwaukee lakefront, with views of Lake Michigan along the 26.2-mile course, this is the race many runners put on their bucket list.

7 – UWM Panther Prowl, Milwaukee. Proceeds benefit UWM scholarships.

15 – PNC Milwaukee Marathon, Milwaukee lakefront. City-wide marathon also includes a variety of other distances: half marathon, 10K and 5K, with arguably one of the best race finish lines in southeast Wisconsin for the runners and spectators at Veterans Park.

21 –  Fall 50, Door County. Participants may compete as members of a team of 2-5 runners or as a solo ultra-marathoner in the 50-mile race. The course starts at the northern tip of the Door County peninsula at Gills Rock and travels south primarily on back roads along the western shoreline. It passes through quaint villages and beautiful park areas including Ellison Bay, Sister Bay, Ephraim, Peninsula Park, Fish Creek, Juddville, Egg Harbor, Murphy Park, Little Harbor, Old Stone Quarry Park and finally Sturgeon Bay.

NOVEMBER

23 –  Drumstick Dash, Miller Park. Thanksgiving Day tradition done in the morning.

23 – St. Leonard’s Turkey Trot, Muskego. Nestled in the middle of a residential area, this race is huge – and all locally run, with proceeds going to the church. Good luck beating Father Dan, though. He completed it in 22 minutes 20 seconds last year.

Also, please check out these groups and organizations:

Badgerland Striders. Running club has tons of events and they are very reasonably priced; you won’t find a better deal for a race.

Lighthouse Events: They have tons of races, including duathlons and triathlons and a winter running series.

Silver Circle Sports: Something for everyone. Running series for both the road and the trail, your times are tracked and you can see where you rank over time. Fun themes and some of the best race shirts around, especially if you’re partial to women’s/ladies fit.

Wisconsin Bike Fed: Events, information and advocacy for our right to our little part of the road. They have good articles and follow the news, too. Great merchandise with a Wisconsin theme.

Wisconsin Tri Series: Triathlons! All over the state.

Wisconsin Cycling Association: Lots of information here, but this is where you’ll find cyclocross races and events. They are so cool. Part riding, part obstacle course racing and part sprinting.

WORS: Wisconsin Off Road Series – mountain biking. This is a growing sport and why not? Great workout, great environment – and usually on those trails you don’t even worry about cars or traffic or idiot drivers on their phones. But it takes practice to get good. And some of us will never be fast. Still, it’s the best way to spend a free afternoon, on a bike, in the trees. They have races all over the state.

USTA adult tennis: Not just for kids, this game was meant to be played for life. There are leagues and tournaments.

USA Powerlifting Wisconsin: Powerlifting includes the squat, bench and deadlift. This takes lifting past the high school sports arena.

Yoga @ the Museum: Once a month, it’s yoga with a view of Lake Michigan. The next one is Saturday, April 15 – 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. A $15 donation holds your spot – and it includes a same-day ticket to the museum. Doors open at 7:45 a.m. and bring your own mat.

November Project: Meets every Wednesday morning at 6:26 at O’Donnell Park and Friday mornings as well (check their social media updates). They’re fun and upbeat – even at this early hour.

Milwaukee Running Group: Running club that meets all year for group practice runs and has a lot of its own events.

Endurance House of Delafield: Has a Tuesday night running group, and other support programs for cyclists and amateur athletes.

Performance Running Outfitters: Has programs, classes, clinics and run training programs. Thursday night fun runs in Shorewood and Saturday morning flapjacks run at Brookfield.

Fleet Feet Brookfield: Tuesday night fun runs year round.

Run Ozaukee: Meets each Saturday at 7 a.m. in downtown Cedarburg for a group run and will begin to meet Tuesday nights in the summer.

Lori Nickel covers sports and writes about health and fitness for the average person in her weekly Chin Up column. Email her atlnickel@journalsentinel.comand follow her onTwitter at @LoriNickel and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChinUpLoriNickel/​.