Ironman Wisconsin coming to campus this weekend

More than 2,800 athletes will converge upon Madison for the 12th annual Ironman Wisconsin competition Sunday, Sept. 8. A portion of the event will bring competitors through the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, affecting traffic.

Runners will be using State Street, North Park Street to the Lakeshore Path, Marsh Drive, Observatory Drive, Walnut Street, North Breese Terrace, Spring Street, North Murray Street, West Dayton Street and Old University Avenue and Monroe Street from the stadium to North Randall Avenue.

View a map of the running course (pdf).

Runners will be on campus from approximately noon to midnight on Sunday with the heaviest period for the runners from 5 to 8 p.m.   

The event begins with a 2.4-mile swim in Lake Monona followed by a 112-mile bike ride through rural Wisconsin, finishing with a 26.2-mile run bringing athletes through downtown Madison.

University police are asking people to use Linden Drive and to stay away from Observatory Drive during the run. Access will be provided to those persons needing to cross Observatory Drive in order to get to the lakeshore residence halls. UW–Madison police officers will be stationed at crossings located at Charter Street, Babcock Drive, Elm Drive and Walnut Street.

“The partnership between UW–Madison and Ironman is a great relationship that has been around since the inception of Ironman Wisconsin,” says race director Ryan Richards. “We are very fortunate to be able to use the facilities and the grounds of one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. The support from the staff and students at the university allows us to put on a world-class event in the city of Madison.”