12 minute read
A Run for Everyone
The Door County Half Marathon
A half marathon means different things to different people.
For some, it’s an opportunity to travel, see new landscapes and make new friends. For others, it’s a chance to test their physical limits on a challenging course. Then there are those who use the experience to find themselves again after a major life change. And for the business owners in the community, events such as this offer an economic pick-me-up. The Door County Half Marathon offers the opportunity for all of the above — and by design.
BIG RACE, SMALLTOWN ATMOSPHERE
Blending the challenge of more prestigious race courses with the low-key vacation vibe and unmatched natural beauty of Door County, the Door County Half Marathon has grown into a sought-after hidden gem in the long-distance-racing world. Those who stumble upon it feel as if they’ve found something truly special, which is evident by the number of repeat runners the race attracts.
When David Eliot, one of the event’s founders, first discussed the idea for the Door County Half Marathon over breakfast at Al Johnson’s in 2007, creating a Midwestern version of the Boston Marathon was in his mind. Eliot grew up outside of Boston in northeast Massachusetts and recalls the annual race being considered more of a state holiday than a local sporting event.
“The state closes down for Patriots’ Day, and people travel into the city from throughout the state,” Eliot said. “It is a big party, and the state all pauses for the day to see who wins the race.”
Both Eliot’s wife, Krista; and Lars Johnson, owner of Al Johnson’s, had run the Boston Marathon and agreed having an event that captured the local community’s attention — while also showcasing the best of Door County to visitors — was extremely appealing. A little more than a year later, on Saturday, May 3, 2008, the Door County Half Marathon welcomed its first runners to the starting line.
The state of Wisconsin may not come to a standstill for the 13.1-mile run through Peninsula State Park, but over the years, it has earned a reputation as the unofficial start of Door County’s tourist season, prompting local businesses to open a few weeks earlier than they used to. These runners fill hotel rooms, carb up in local restaurants and even do a bit of sightseeing and shopping before fueling up their cars for the drive home.
But equal in importance to kick-starting the local business scene was creating an event that touted all the professionalism
(Left) Runners await the start signal on Shore Road in Peninsula State Park. Photo by Len Villano.
of its more prestigious counterparts while maintaining plenty of local flavor.
That’s why choosing Peninsula State Park as the course location just made sense, according to Brian Fitzgerald, co-founder of the Peninsula Pacers, who was brought on at the start as the half marathon’s race director.
“I can still remember envisioning what the course could be,” Fitzgerald said.
The course begins and finishes at Nicolet Bay, offering impressive views of the bay as it hugs the shoreline before embarking on a few challenging hills throughout the middle of the course. And, because the certified course is located entirely within Peninsula State Park, Fitzgerald doesn’t have to worry as much about road construction changing the route the way organizers of races with courses that wind through city streets must.
Volunteer coordinator Joni Witalison. Photo by Dan Eggert.
2021 HALF MARATHON DATE CHANGE
As with so many other running events, the COVID-19 pandemic caused race organizers to make the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 event. Not knowing what early 2021 would bring, they decided to buy some time by turning this year’s event into a fall race, scheduled for Oct. 30, 2021.
“I look at it as the right decision because it was too early to put on an event of this size back in May,” Fitzgerald said. “Late October is really the only other time of the shoulder season — weatherwise and availability-wise — to host the race.”
Fitzgerald reasoned that the majority of the businesses that would participate in May are still open at the end of October.
“And, traditionally, this weekend would mark their last hurrah for the season,” he said. Although Fitzgerald is excited for the event to return to the first Saturday in May in 2022, this year’s date change doesn’t appear to have negatively affected registrations.
“We’ll hit capacity,” he said, which, for a race that’s purposely kept at a midsize event, comes in around 2,000 runners for the half marathon and approximately 500 runners for the accompanying Nicolet Bay 5K. The race is expected to include a mix of rollover entries from 2020’s canceled race, some new faces — including those who are first hearing about the race and those who cannot train for or attend a spring race — and a few familiar faces.
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RUNNING FOR THE LONG HAUL
Nancy Rollins is one of those familiar faces. She will step to the starting line of the Door County Half Marathon for the eighth time this fall. At age 74 and with 95 marathons under her running shoes, the Evanston, Illinois, resident has won the Door County Half Marathon in her age group several times before. Although she hasn’t set her sights on reclaiming that title at the end of
Co-founder Lars Johnson. Photo by Dan Eggert.
this year’s race, she is looking forward to the challenge before her, especially competing three weeks after racing in the London Marathon.
“I’m usually pretty consistent within my age group,” Rollins said. “But, when you’re in your 70s, every year in your age group makes a big difference in your overall pace and performance.”
That’s why she approaches every race with a focused, but relaxed attitude. Yes, she is fiercely competitive with herself, but she’s also realistic. This year, in addition to being another year older, she’s also taking into account her recovery from some emergency surgery resulting from a bad fall in April 2020.
“I don’t get too far ahead of myself,” she said.
At the last Door County Half Marathon in 2019, Rollins, then 72, clocked a 1:48:50 finish in the half. That’s an average of an 8:19 pace. She placed first
Nancy Rollins. Photo by Nate Perry.
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1 Dave Eliot (left) and Brian Fitzgerald have built the Door County Half Marathon into one of the county’s signature events. Photo by Rachel Lukas. 2 Runners take off at the start on Shore Road in Peninsula State Park. Photo by Len Villano. 3 The course features stunning views of the bay and surrounding islands, including views from atop the park bluffs. Photo by Steve Brandt. 4 Four-time winner Rodee Schneider celebrates with his son at the finish line. Photo by Len Villano. 5 Molly Schneider is all smiles as she wins the 2014 Half Marathon. Photo by Len Villano. 6 The star of the half marathon is the course, which offers runners the chance to lose themselves in the views, forests and beauty of Peninsula State Park. Photo by Nate Perry.
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in her age group, 52nd out of 732 female finishers and 213th overall.
REDISCOVERING THE JOY OF RUNNING
Katie Thoule of Green Bay first ran the Door County Half Marathon in 2009. The challenging, hilly course coupled with spectacular views (the top of Sven’s Bluff is her favorite) hooked her immediately.
But what brings her back year after year is that the event made her fall in love with racing all over again after a major life change. Now, however, she’s no longer competing for her own time goals, but as someone who’s helping others to reach theirs.
“I started as a participant,” Thoule said. “I love racing, and I love the challenge of trying to beat my time the year before. Then I had kids, and training at that competitive level just didn’t happen.”
Not wanting to give up her racing career entirely, she got in touch with race organizers to ask whether they were in need of pacers: more experienced runners who help set the speed — or pace — for the race with the goal of helping other runners accomplish a certain finish time.
“I’ll be honest: That was a hard transition,” she said. “I went from loving the competitive nature of racing to having a kid and trying to train and race. It changes things. But with pacing, the pressure was off of me.”
By shifting her focus away from her own racing goals and toward those of the runners she paced, “it reignited that passion for running and racing in me at a time I needed it most,” she said. “With pacing, the mindset is putting other people first. It’s not my day; it’s their day. I’m just there to encourage them along the way to do their best.” Sometimes that’s as simple as asking runners what their goal is for the race. Other times, it’s giving them a few motivating words in the final miles, telling them to stick with you until the finish.
“There is so much enjoyment in that that I don’t feel the need to be competitive,” Thoule said.
Course director Myles Dannhausen Jr. Photo by Len Villano.
Staying on Pace
Runners don’t have to go it alone at the Door County Half Marathon. Krista Eliot, wife of founder David Eliot, has been leading the pace team since 2013, helping guide runners to a successful finish.
Eliot, a veteran of 40 marathons and both the New Balance and Nike pace teams, says her goal is simple. “We’re here to help you, provide encouragement and support for runners to keep that finish goal in sight,” Eliot said.
The team is made up of two dozen experienced pacers, many of whom Eliot connected with while pacing races like the Chicago Marathon. That experience helps them keep a steady pace at anywhere from a 1:45 finish to a 2:30 finish.
For first-time runners the pacers are a huge help to stop them from going too fast out the starting gate, or from falling too far off the pace. The course is notorious for its hills, especially the climb to Sven’s bluff near mile five.
Pace team members aim to maintain their prescribed pace up the hills, but there will likely be a slower pace going uphill, and faster going downhill. They also slow or stop at aid stations, with slower pace teams taking slightly more time.
While a few select runners set out to win the race, the pace team is there to help the rest of the runners win their own best race.
Krista Eliot organizes the pace team that helps to guide runners to the finish line. Photo by Nate Perry.
The pacer experience also gave her a newfound sense of belonging within the running community thanks to the camaraderie the pacing group shares.
“We come from all over, and we’ve all gotten to know each other,” she said. “For the most part, it’s the same group of people year after year because we all love this race and Door County so much. It’s kind of like a big reunion.”
A PLACE FOR ALL RUNNERS
There is no question the spirit of camaraderie makes the Door County Half Marathon a perennial favorite among many runners, including Lake Villa, Illinois, resident Bob Richards.
“It’s mostly the fun atmosphere and the mixed bag of runners from all around the northern
Midwest converging to take on the challenge of Peninsula State Park,” he said.
The “mixed bag” of runners is truly that. Nearly 92% of runners come to the race from outside Door County, with 25% hailing from the Chicago area alone. About 6% have never visited Door County before.
Diversity also comes in the form of the age range the race attracts. At 72, Richards, who will complete his 10th Door County Half Marathon in October, runs alongside other age-peer competitors, a handful who are older and those who are young enough to be his children or even his grandchildren. It’s that diversity — both in the makeup of the event’s participants, as well as the course’s physical challenges and scenery — that helps make this race stand out on Richards’ crowded race calendar.
“Each time I run,” Richards said, “it’s like I’m hitting my reset button, ready to take it all in all over again.”
Bob Richards. Photo by Nate Perry.
Upcoming runs and rides from the Peninsula Pacers
The organization that created the Door County Half Marathon has created several events to keep the peninsula moving this fall.
2021 DOOR COUNTY HALF MARATHON OCT. 30, 2021
doorcountyhalfmarathon.com As this issue went to press, registration for this fall’s Door County Half Marathon and Nicolet Bay 5k was still open. Visit DoorCountyHalfMarathon.com to learn more and register to run in Peninsula State Park.
PENINSULA CENTURY FALL CHALLENGE SEPT. 18, 2021
Peninsulacenturyfallchallenge.com The Fall Challenge bike ride has a route for every rider. Ride 25, 50, 62 or 100 miles of beautiful Door County back roads, snack on great food from local restaurants, then finish with live music and food at Sister Bay’s Waterfront Park.
HEY HEY 5K SEPT. 25, 2021
heyhey5k.com A 3.1-mile run along the back roads of Baileys Harbor that starts and finishes at Door County Brewing Co. Finishers get a free glass, beer and race shirt.
ONE BARREL 2.62 RUN NOV. 27, 2021
onebarrelrun.com Not quite up for a marathon? This race is for you! Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend with your friends and family with this 2.62 mile course around Egg Harbor. Finish at the One Barrel Brewing Co. taproom and take home a sweet race hoodie!
The race returns to its usual first Saturday in May date for 2022. Registration opens Nov. 1.
