3rd Annual Madison Mini-Marathon

Saturday, August 20, 2011, Madison, Wisconsin Early wake-up and arrival at the Memorial Union at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Weather is cool, perfect for a the Madison Mini-Marathon, half marathon race.

6:55 A.M. Fascinating glove shoes in the starting corral. The national anthem, runners are ready. Pause, pause...race delayed due to weather. Time to close the course.

7:10 A.M. Back in the Tripp Commons to wait out the thunderstorm cell with the Milwaukee Brewer's Sausage Race characters.

8:25 A.M. Officials announce start of 8:30, so back to the starting coral, still raining hard.

8:30 A.M. The 2011 Madison Mini-Marathon begins.

From a participant's perspective, the race was very well run. The communication about the delay and new start time was excellent. The course and all the little "extras" made it a very enjoyable morning. Click here to see the map of the course.

Below is a short time-lapse video of the course that was created and shared by the race organizers.

11:30 A.M. A series of images made after the race while enjoying the ambiance of the famous Memorial Union Terrace.

Lots of Brewers and Packers fans in this "neck of the woods."

The music of the Mighty Short Bus was a wonderful addition to the post-race party on the terrace. 

Lake Mendota from the Memorial Union terrace.

Six sailboats ready for the beautiful day.

A very nice student, stopped and took a group, iPhone photo before the ride home to Chicago.