5 events in Marquette, Michigan
From big races to Saturday morning group runs—find trail running events and connect with the local endurance sports community.
Marquette
5 events in Marquette-
Sat, May 16, 2026 at 8:00 AMSee full details
What is the Big Bay Relay?
Teams come together to go further than they ever have on a course that stretches from Marquette, MI to Big Bay, MI with friends and a community of runners by their side.
Your relay experience is as competitive as you make it. Rally your team and challenge the other teams in your division for the top ranking, or simply make it your goal to cross the finish line together! The Big Bay Relay is about coming together as a team and going further than you could as an individual. From an elite runner to the novice runner, Big Bay Relay is the perfect race for anyone.
When Is It?
The 48th Annual Race will be held on Saturday May 16th, 2026
Starts @ 8:00am at the Kaufman Sports Complex
Finishes @ Perkins Park, Big Bay
How It Works
Teams are composed of five runners for adults and up to seven for youth teams. Teams cover 26-ish miles, starting in Marquette, MI and ending in Big Bay, MI. Runners run approximately 1 mile each before handing the baton to a teammate and resting until it is their turn again. While one person is running, the rest of your teammates are on support duty in your race vehicle. As each runner begins, the crew in the vehicle drives ahead and meets them at the exchange point to pick them up and drop off the next runner.
Race History
In spring of 1972, Marquette held its first Big Bay Relay coordinated by Race Director Karen Kunkle and her husband Jack. The first race brought only ten relay teams and has grown to include over fifty teams in the past several years. A note in the Upper Peninsula Road Runners Club named the Big Bay Relay the 1990 Race of the Year.
Some relay teams have been racing for more than 20 years and hold a special place as part of the annual race’s history. If you are an elite runner who wants to compete, or a group of friends that want to try something adventurous, this picturesque relay is for you. For 47 years the Big Bay Relay has been uniting community members, families and friends, and we want you to be a part of this year’s race!
A community member describes the race- “That is what it is about: having fun with your friends and family while doing something healthy”.
Registration fees are $170+fee per team until April 12th. $195+fee April 13th until May 8th. $215+fee May 9th until May 13th. Registration divisions include five person all-female, all-male, or mixed teams and seven person junior division teams. All team members will get race swag. Shirts are available for purchase. This year all proceeds benefit the walk/hike/bike/ski trails in Powell Township. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions please contact Marcia Gonstead @ 906-345-0149, or by e-mail at [email protected].
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Mon, Jun 22, 2026 at 5:00 PMSee full details
Description
Meeting 2 days per week for 5 weeks (Monday's and Wednesday's) a team of coaches led by Queen City Striders Program Coordinator, Elliot Prusi, will be providing a positive atmosphere where youth athletes can be inspired and motivated through the discipline of running. Additionally our youth will learn the principles of leadership, respect, and teamwork as well as portraying healthy habits to last a lifetime. We will break down the fundamental skills of running to meet the needs of all those participating. Our techniques will be taught through specific stretching, drills, bodyweight strength exercises, and of course RUNNING! Included in our program is 10 1-hour sessions, post practice snacks, program T-Shirt, and discounted entries into the races listed below.
Located at Marquette High School our camp will feature drills and activities located on the track, turf, and grassy area surrounding the High School. Parents are welcomed spectate their kids participating in the camp activities, however we do ask that parents remain off the track! Any general questions regarding the program are encouraged to be asked! Please reach out to the program director, Elliot Prusi, at [email protected] for any questions! All participants will receive complimentary entries into selected local races taking place in the summer and fall months. The program coordinator will be in contact in the weeks prior to the race to verify additional details. If the race falls outside of the Queen City Striders program, they will still receive a complimentary entry.
Little and Big Striders (5-8 years old): 5:00-6:00pm
Dashers and Pacers (9-12 years old): 5:00-6:00pm
First day of Camp: June 22nd
Last day of Camp: July 22nd
Complimentary Races to for sure plan on:
-MQT Trail 50 Kids 1 Mile and Kids 5K: Friday, August 14th. The 5K race starts at 7pm, and the 1 mile starts at 7:05pm. Kids in the program will have the option to choose one of the races. This race will be held at the Forestville Trailhead in Marquette.
-Kids Pebble Beach 1 Mile Race: Friday, September 4th Time: TBD! Friday night's Kids Fun Run, held in conjunction with the Marquette Marathon race expo, gives kids a chance to lace up their shoes and show their parents how its done before the main event on Saturday. This race will be located on the northeast corner of the Superior Dome.
** Discount Codes will be provided for the Breakwater 5K on July 25th, the Trick or Trot 5K and/or Monster Mile on 10/24 to all 2026 Kids Camp Participants **
-Breakwater 5K: Saturday, July 25th. Time: 8:00am. Cost: $5 following discount code
-Monster Mile: Saturday, October 24th. Time: 11:00am. Cost: $5 following discount code
-Trick or Trot 5K: Saturday, October 24th. Time: 10:00am. Cost: $20 following discount code
Please read descriptions for our group levels prior to signing up which can be found under "Event Info" *
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Fri, Jun 26, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Join us in celebration of the trails at Marquette Trails Festival Presented by Embers Credit Union. This event will be a fun weekend for all non-motorized trail users; featuring mountain bike and trail running races.
Whether you bike or run; come out, have a good time, and help raise funds for your community trails. All proceeds from this event go to the NTN singletrack trail building.
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Fri, Jul 31, 2026 at 9:00 AMSee full details
Downhill Midwest - Marquette Mountain
The second of 3 races in the 2026 Downhill Midwest Series!
Come race some USA Cycling sanctioned downhill in Marquette Michigan at Marquette Mountain!
Come out for 3 days of fun! Practice Friday and Saturday, with optional seeding runs Saturday afternoon for Cat 2 and Cat 1/Pro. Then racing action on Sunday!
After registering you will get a link to purchase your 3 day lift pass for $80 from Marquette Mountain.
This will be one of the only times this year you will get to use the lift at Marquette Mountain due to the projects on the hill. So come out and use the lift!
Depending on the number of racers, we may restrict your access of the lift to your assigned practice times. This way we can keep lines short and get you more practice! Watch for future communication on this.
Our goal is to give racers a similar experience to what they may see at a Monster Energy Pro Downhill race. This way if you decide to travel to one of those races, you already have an idea of what you’re getting into physically and mentally.
We will have two courses.
Cat 1/Pro and Cat 2 will be announced the week of the race. But expect something new!!
Cat 3 racers will be on Jawbone. An approachable trail for beginners of all ages to come try out downhill!
Sunday’s race times won’t be posted until Saturday night. Check socials and your emails.
Depending on registration numbers, we reserve the right to combine age categories.
Downhill racing is our favorite style of mountain bike racing, and we want our racers to have a great time!
Schedule
See the schedule below for an initial idea of how the weekend is going to operate. Subject to change as we get closer.
[Marquette Schedule Draft 6-8.jpg]
USA Cycling License
All Racers will need to have a USA Cycling License.
Having USA Cycling involved will help riders get into the categories they belong in for future races when they travel.
There are also other benefits to having a USA Cycling License. Check out their website for more.
Questions?
Please reach out to Alex at
More information in the Racer Packet
Prices will go up July 6th and again July 27th. So register early to save some money!!
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Sat, Aug 08, 2026 at 8:00 AMSee full details
The Ore to Shore is set in the beautiful Upper Peninsula and utilizes much of the same trail as the popular Noquemanon Ski Marathon.
HARD ROCK (48 MILE POINT-TO-POINT)
The race course traverses some of the most scenic terrain available in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The course starts in downtown Negaunee, which is the “birthplace” of iron ore mining in Michigan. The first two miles will be a roll-out on pavement, and then the race will hit the dirt as you make your way to Ishpeming. There you will detour through downtown and travel the city streets for another mile. Then you’re back on the trails. The course will roll with the hills as you gradually drop in elevation to Marquette. You will be captivated as you pass by the lakes, rivers, ponds, and wildlife along the way. The course is wide enough the entire way to allow for easy and safe passage, but yet remains “tunneled” by nearby trees to give the sense of winding your way through the forests. Approaching the city of Marquette, you are still in the highlands, look off in the distance for a beautiful view of Lake Superior and the final destination. The course passes through local mining history in
the area. Look for the following sites along the way: Cliff’s Shaft, Rope’s Gold Mine Haul Road, L.S. & I. Railroad’s Presque Isle Ore Dock, and many other intriguing points of interest.
SOFT ROCK (28 MILE POINT-TO-POINT)
Like its HARD ROCK counterpart, the SOFT ROCK rolls over much of the same terrain. From the start in Negaunee, you will immediately begin your journey to Marquette. After a 2 mile roll
-out on pavement, you will connect to dirt trails. At about the halfway point, you will merge trails with the HARD ROCK course and will be afforded the
same splendid vistas as you make your way to the shores of Lake Superior.
SHORE ROCK (10 MILE)
The Shore Rock offers an entry-level distance for the rider looking to try mountain bike racing, or for kids wanting to expand beyond the Junior Rock. Starting at Lakeview Arena at 8am, the racers will travel towards Tourist Park along the last section of the Hard and Soft Rock course. The course will circle around and finish back at Lakeview Arena. Trophies will be awarded to the top age group finishers.
JUNIOR ROCK
The Junior Rock race is a 4 mile loop on a dirt trail starting at Lakeview Arena in Marquette, for those age 13 and under. The racers finish using the same finish as the Hard and Soft Rock racers. Each racer receives a commemorative T-shirt for participating. You will be placed into the appropriate age group from the following: 5 and under, 6 to 7, 8 to 9, 10 to 11, 12 to 13.
LITTLE ROCK
Kids will also have the opportunity to experience the thrill of the race as they approach the finish area and hear the support of the crowd. They will ride near the shores of the “Great Gitche Gumee” as they make their way around this one mile course. All kids will leave a winner by taking home a ribbon and an official race t-shirt.
LITTLEST ROCK
Your young one can’t quite reach the pedals? Bring your toddler’s tricycle, Big Wheel, or push car, and do what’s necessary to get them to the finish by pushing, pulling, or letting them “pedal”. They will cruise into the finish area with a grin that won’t quit. Each child will go away a winner by taking home a ribbon and an official race t-shirt.
Local Clubs & Organizations
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Club
USA Swimming Club. 54 members.
[email protected] +1 586-419-6704