PORTAGE & RELAY
​
MARATHON NOT CHALLENGING ENOUGH FOR YOU?
PORTAGE A CANOE!
​
FULL MARATHON
Racers will start and run the same course as the full marathon. Must be able to finish within 6.5 hours.
​
HALF MARATHON
Racers will start and run the same course as the half marathon. Must be able to finish within 6.5 hours.
​
​
RELAYS
Racers will start and run the same course as the full or half marathon. Must be able to finish within 6.5 hours.
Teams made up of 2-7 people.
WIN A MARATHON - WIN A TRIP!
Full Portage Marathon Winner:
4 day/3 night Completely Outfitted Canoe trip with Kevlar canoe for 2 people. $880 Value
BWCA travel permit extra and reservation required. Recipient pays sale tax.
Half Portage Marathon Winner:
3day/2 Night Completely Outfitted Canoe trip with Kevlar canoe for 2 people. $660 Value
BWCA travel permit extra and reservation required. Recipient pays sale tax.
​
Break the Marathon Portage World Record of 4:23:20
​
A WINNING PURSE OF $5000
World Record Purse Sponsored by Piragis
CANOES
A canoe used for the Ely Marathon or Boundary Waters Bank Half Marathon must be a traditional canoe designed to be paddled by one or two people, commonly used for extended time in the BWCA. Kayaks, models, plastic, inflatable and cardboard are not allowed. An 18 pound minimum (Weight of the lightest commercially made canoe) will be instituted. Canoes are subject to inspection and measurement at the start and/or finish lines.
​
RENTAL AND TRANSPORTATION
Both the full marathon and half marathon start lines have areas in which your canoe can be stored. You may drop off our canoe any time at either location on Friday, September 20th or before the race start on Saturday.
​
You may also choose to rent the lightest canoe for your race. They will be transported to the start line for you and picked up at the finish line. This needs to be arragned between you and the outfitter! Below are our canoe outfitting partners. click on their logo for their rental sites.
​
​
​
​
​
​
REGISTRATION
​
Anyone found cheating will be disqualified.
​
Walkers are welcome! You must finish within a 16 minute/mile pace for the full marathon or 26 minute/mile pace for the half marathon.
​
PACKET PICKUP
Packet Pickup is Friday, September 20th 12:00-10:00 PM at Whiteside Park in Ely (721 E. Sheridan St.)
​
Packets not picked up on Friday will be available at the Bus Pickup area on Sturday morning. Do not get on the bus without a bib!
​
RACE INFORMATION
Please review the Ely Marathon and Boundary Waters Bank Half Marathon sites, for additional race information on your particular race.
​
AID STATIONS
Aid stations are located at miles 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25.
​
RELAY TEAMS
Full Marathon teams will be allowed up to 7 members. Half Marathon teams will be allowed up to 6 members.
Each team will be issued one bib that will need to stay within the canoe and be passed onto your teammate.
​
The first runner will start marathon/half marathon field. There will not be a separate start for the relay teams. The other team members will need to be at their exchange area well before the fastest runners pass by, as area roads will close. (The exchange areas are listed below).
​
Exchange areas will be at aid stations and will be marked!
If you are a team less than 6 people, you can choose which exchange areas you would like to be placed at.
​
You may park a car at the exchange areas, but make sure you follow the pilot car as you leave the race course.
​
Full Marathon Relay Team Exchange Areas (at aid stations)
Exchange 1: Mile 3 (Where North Arm Road connects with Echo Trail)
Exchange 2: (This will be the most challenging arm of the race) Mile 7 (Passi Road)
Exchange 3: Mile 11 (One mile from ChigaBig Road)
Exchange 4: Mile 16 (Turn-around on Clouquet Line)
Exchange 5: Mile 20 (Old Winton Road)
Exchange 6: Mile 23 (Pioneer Road and Miners Drive)
Half Marathon Relay Team Exchange Areas
Exchange 1: Mile 2 (One mile from ChigaBig Road)
Exchange 2: Mile 4 (Start of Winton Road)
Exchange 3: Mile 6 (Winton Roadhouse)
Exchange 4: Mile 8 (Winton Road heading toward Pioneer)
Exchange 5: Mile 11 (Pioneer Road and Miners Drive)
BLANKETS FOR CHARITY
If you have any blankets that you would like to donate to charity, please bring them to the start line. You can use these to keep warm until the start, and as the race begins, there will be large bins to collect them.
​
AWARDS
All finishers will receive a finishers shirt and medal.
Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 male, top 3 female finishers and to the fastest relay team.
​
​
DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS TO: run@elymarathon.com