FAQs
REGISTRATION QUESTIONS
Yes! Please visit our Registration Changes page.
Please check out our new Pregnancy and Post Partum Policy.
Yes! ALL runners MUST be officially registered with an event-issued bib that is visible to race officials. Any “bandits” may face a stiff fine and be banned for life from participating in any future Run Madtown events. Pacing another without a bib is not permitted. Thank you for officially registering and for supporting our race and charity partners.
Online registration will stay open through 7:00pm on Saturday May 25th for the Twilight 5K and Mad for Madtown Challenges and until 7am on Sunday May 26th for the 10K or Half Marathon
OR until an event distance sells out!
5K \ 1oK: No age minimum
Half Marathon: 14 yrs old
Sorry, hand cycles (hand bikes, hand-crank devices, or other mechanically gear driven devices) are not permitted on the course. Athletes using push-rim wheelchairs are allowed.
Yes, as long as you can complete the course before course closures.
- 3.5 hour time limit from the time the last runner crosses the start line.
Yes! Transfer to another participant or to a different event distance is allowed through May 18th - as long as space is still available! Please visit our Registration Changes page.
REFUND AND DEFERRAL POLICY
Run Madtown does not offer refunds or deferrals, as we offer all registered participants the opportunity to transfer their registration another person or to change their distance. If you are registered for the event, you agreed to the no refund and no deferral policy prior to submitting your online registration.
When registering you will be asked to confirm that you accept the no refund policy. If you are registered for the event, you agreed to the no refund and no deferral policy prior to submitting your online registration.
Verify your registration HERE
RACE DAY QUESTIONS
Pace times are based on gun time, not GPS or chip time. If you fall behind the sweeper, you may be directed to the sidewalks off the official course and may continue at your own risk but without race support.
There are porto-potties available near the start \ finish line, near the Post-Race Party and at every water station along the course.
There will be ambulances and medical personnel at the start line, finish line and on roving bikes on the course. If you need medical attention, find the nearest water station or course monitor, bearing in mind you may have just passed one. If you are not able to make it to a water station by yourself, notify a volunteer, spectator or another participant to notify the nearest water station of your location and condition. Water stations will have the ability to contact Run Madtown's medical staff to provide you with help.
There is 1 water station on the 5K course, 4 on the 10K course and 8 on the Half Marathon Course.
Only water will be served at the Twilight 5K. Gatorade and Water will be served at the 10K and Half Marathon water stations
The course closes 3.5 hours after the last runner crosses the start line on Sunday.
For the safety of all participants as well as for the spectators, we cannot permit any non-participants to enter any part of the race course or finish line and recovery chute. Participants who disregard this rule may be disqualified.
Race Day Parking: All downtown parking ramps will be open. Street parking is also available for free on Sundays. Please make sure you do not park on the course, as you will be towed. See parking ramp locations.
Yes, gear check is available. Be sure to attach the gear check tear off tab from your race bib to your bag if using this service!
Please use either the official race bag or a CLEAR bag no larger than a large plastic grocery bag for Gear Check.
For security reasons, please store your bags at the official Gear Check area ONLY. Do not leave bags at other locations in the Start/Finish area or anywhere along the course.
Please note there is no gear check for the Twilight 5K
Saturday May 25
Twilight 5K - 7pm
Sunday May 26
7:00am – Half Marathon & 10K
The ChronoTrack BibTag is an ultra-thin, lightweight, disposable timing device that is applied to the back of your race bib. The BibTag cannot be altered in any way prior to or during the event. Please DO NOT bend, cut, remove or alter the tag in any way. Please make sure you wear your bib on the FRONT of your body and on the outside of your clothing at all times during our events. Doing anything different may reduce the readability of your results.
Average High: 70 degrees F
Average Morning Rel Humidity: 79.0%
Average Low: 45 degrees F
Average Afternoon Rel Humidity: 50.0%
Mean Temp: 57 degrees F
Typical Sky Cover: Overcast
We understand that many participants like to wear headphones to aid in their running \ walking concentration, or distraction. Headphones are allowed but we ask that you keep the volume low to hear course volunteers and police officers.
Dogs – yes you can participate with your dog in the Twilight 5k! Participants with dogs will start a few minutes after all ‘non-dog participants’ have started. Other animals (non-dog) and bicycles (aside from our bike escorts) are not allowed, strictly for safety reasons.
Strollers are allowed in the Twilight 5k only.
Colored flags will be located at each aid station to alert participants to changing course and weather conditions. In cases of emergency, please follow the instructions of volunteers and police officers. In rare instances, it may be necessary to either close the race course or re-route participants. If this occurs, it is being done for the safety of the participants and volunteers.
Black Flag
Event canceled
Extreme and dangerous conditions or course emergency. Participation stopped, seek shelter immediately. Follow directions from public safety officials, race staff and volunteers.
Red Flag
Dangerous conditions
The race is stopped. Finish times will not be published and no awards are given after a red flag. Participants should go to the nearest water station for more information.
Yellow Flag
Less than ideal conditions
Slow down & drink plenty of fluids
Green Flag
Good conditions
Enjoy the event, but stay alert!
If race day conditions exist that could be potentially dangerous, Run Madtown follows the below protocol:
-->Events may be delayed up to 60 minutes.
-->Runners, walkers and spectators will be notified of conditions via: Text messages, Social Media, on site announcements and email.
If conditions improve or are expected to improve after scheduled start time, the race will begin approximately 20 minutes after race officials have been given an “ALL CLEAR” determination by the appropriate authorities.*
If conditions do not improve or are not expected to improve in order to start after a delay, the race may be canceled completely.**
**Permits/requirements from the City of Madison do not allow the course to stay open beyond permitted times.
PACKET PICK UP QUESTIONS
Run Madtown does not offer packet mailing
If you are unable to attend the Run Madtown Packet Pick Up and do not have anyone who can pick up for you, you may pay for race day packet pick up for $10 (per participant) and we will have your packet waiting for you at packet pick up beginning at 5am on Sunday May 26th.
Race Day Packet Pick Up will be available:
Sunday 5:00-6:30AM
Please note that if everyone comes at 6:30, you may be waiting in a line and miss the start of the race.
Shirt sizes are not guaranteed.
No refunds if you decide to pick up your packet during pre event packet pick up hours.
You may add this option if available to your existing race registration here.
You have 2 options:
- Someone else may pick up your packet with a copy of your drivers license (paper or digital).
- You may add on race day packet pick up to your registration here.
You can learn more here!
PACKET PICK UP QUESTIONS
We support many local non-profit groups through both donations and our volunteer platform.
Our official charities for 2024 races are
Visit the charity page to learn more about our partners and how you can get involved.
Run Madtown has partnered with the Hyatt Place Madison. Check out our hotel page for rates and more details.
Finisher medals will be given to all finisher's of the Run Madtown Half Marathon, 10K and Twilight 5K.
Overall Awards
Half Marathon, 10K and Twilight 5K
1st thru 3rd place Male, Female and Non-Binary overall winners.
Awards by Age Group
Age group award medals will be given to the top three male and female for the Half Marathon, 10K and Twilight 5K
All awards will be available for pick up on race day.
Scoring
Gun time will be used for the overall prize winners (top overall male, female and non-binary) but net time (the time recorded by the timing chip) will be used for all age-group awards.
Run Madtown Half Marathon = 13.1 miles
10K = 6.2 miles
Twilight 5K = 3.1 miles