Yes. The WhistleStop FULL Marathon is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Please keep your official race result receipt to verify your qualifying time with Boston Marathon race officials. We also email our race results to Boston Marathon officials for proof.

No, we are not capping the races in 2026. However, registration closes on October 8, 2026.

Marathon or Half Marathon: Register online. You may also print a registration form from our website and mail it in or stop by the Chamber Office in Ashland. Registration closes October 8, 2026. No registration Friday, October 9 or Saturday, October 10 (Race Day).
5K or 10K: Register online, print and mail a registration form, or stop by the Chamber Office in Ashland. Registration closes October 8, 2026. No registration Friday, October 9 or Saturday, October 10 (Race Day).

If you registered online, you will receive an email from Chronotrack after you register. This is your race confirmation. If you don’t see an email in your inbox, check your junk mail.
If you registered by mail, you will receive a confirmation email of your acceptance into the race you registered for from Chronotrack. If you don’t see an email, please check your junk mail.
You can also call our office at (715) 682-2500 or email officemgr@visitashland.com

Race packet pick-up for the WhistleStop Marathon/Half Marathon/5K/10K will be held October 9, 2026 at the Bay Area Civic Center, 320 4th Ave West, Ashland, from 12:00pm–9:00pm.
There is also packet pick-up Saturday morning, October 10, 2026 from 6:00am–7:00am for the Half Marathon/Full Marathon/5K/10K inside the heated festival tent.

Race packet pick-up for the WhistleStop Marathon/Half Marathon/5K/10K will be held October 9, 2026 at the Bay Area Civic Center, 320 4th Ave West, Ashland, from 12:00pm–9:00pm.
There is also packet pick-up Saturday morning, October 10, 2026 from 6:00am–7:00am for the Half Marathon/Full Marathon/5K/10K inside the heated festival tent.

Don’t panic. If you lose your confirmation email, bring a photo ID with you to race packet pick-up and present it to one of the volunteers at packet pick-up.

Another person (family member or friend) may pick up your race packet for you. The person picking up your packet will need:

A letter of authorization from you (example: “I, Jane Doe, authorize John Smith to pick up my race packet.”)

They will need to present this to a volunteer at packet pick-up. They will also need to verify the spelling of your name, age, DOB, event you are participating in, and address so we can correct any errors before race day.

Entry fees are non-refundable. The only exception to our “no refund” policy is for those on active military duty who are deployed for service (a copy of deployment orders is required).

No. Entry deferments are not permitted under any circumstances.

Yes — but you must follow the transfer process. No one should ever run under your name for medical reasons. If something happens to the person running under your name, they would be treated as if they were you.

To transfer your registration:

Email officemgr@visitashland.com
notifying us you want to transfer your registration.

The person taking your spot must fill out a registration form and email it to officemgr@visitashland.com
.

A transfer fee may apply depending on the request date. There is no trading of bib numbers without completing this process. This is for racer safety.

No. No one should run under your name. If you are unable to participate, you may transfer your registration to another person (see above). For insurance and injury purposes, no one can run under your name.

Yes, we can transfer your registration to another race.

Prior to September 25, 2026: email officemgr@visitashland.com
and we will make the change.

September 25–October 8, 2026: a $10 transfer fee applies.

No refunds will be issued if you switch from the Full/Half Marathon to the 5K or 10K.

After October 8, 2026: no race changes will be allowed.

Entry fees are not refundable.

It is the primary goal of the WhistleStop Marathon to ensure a safe event for all involved. We will not expose participants or the community to undue risk. There may be times when we feel it is unsafe to continue with the race(s). We will make decisions based on the participation population as a whole, and protect community resources if needed.

When pandemics, weather, or other physical conditions present danger, we maintain the right to cancel the race(s). Less threatening conditions could result in an alteration of the course or race length. These conditions will be recognized as an “act of God” and will not result in refunds or future race credits.

We will not defer registrants to 2027.

Racers are encouraged to take the shuttle buses from the designated finish line area (Bay Area Civic Center) Saturday morning prior to the race to the start lines. We do not bus runners back to the start lines after the race.

If you have spectators willing to drive you to the start, follow these guidelines:

Full Marathon: No parking at the race start. Parking corral is at South Shore Sand & Gravel on US Hwy 2, 1.5 miles from the Full Marathon start. Racers and spectators can park here and will be shuttled to the start. Spectators will be bused back after runners start. Runners will not be bused back after the race.

Half Marathon: Ample parking at the Half Marathon start line. Racers and spectators can park here. Racers will not be bused back after the race. Spectators can watch the start and also see runners return at the 3-mile mark.

5K & 10K: No parking available at the start areas (private driveways). Racers must take shuttle buses from the Finish Line area (across from Associated Bank).

For a complete lodging list, visit www.visitashland.com
or call the Ashland Chamber of Commerce at (715) 682-2500. We encourage you to book early — room availability is limited near the finish line area and festivities and fills quickly. Groups of 10+ looking to stay together should contact our office at (715) 682-2500.

We love volunteer help from spectators waiting for their loved ones to finish. Contact JoAnn at (715) 682-2500 or email officemgr@visitashland.com
.

We do not have a walking division for the WhistleStop Marathon or Half Marathon. There is NO walking for the Full Marathon (walking a full marathon within a 6-hour clock is nearly impossible).

Walking is allowed for the Half Marathon/5K/10K and is very doable and fun. Walkers should line up behind runners at the start, stay to the right side of the course, and avoid walking three or four abreast. Please allow runners to pass.

PowerAde is provided at the aid stations. Water will also be available.

There is ample parking within 3 blocks of the finish line (Bay Area Civic Center). Please leave Main Street open to shoppers.

East of the Bay Area Civic Center:

BMO Harris Bank

Select Benefits

Superior Choice Credit Union

Chequamegon Clinic Area

North of the Bay Area Civic Center:

Ashland County Court House

Northern State Bank

North and West of the Bay Area Civic Center:

Parking lot at 6th & Main Street

Anich, Wickman & Lindsey S.C.

No. Automobiles, bicycles, baby joggers, roller skis, inline skates, pets, or unofficial participants are not allowed on the race course. The course is a narrow abandoned railroad bed and is congested with participants. Please do not make it more dangerous for others.

No. Unless they are a paid participant, no one should run the course with you.

For safety reasons we strongly discourage runners from using devices during the race. If you must use one, keep the volume low so that you can hear traffic, police/course marshal instructions, and nearby runners.

320 4th Ave West, Ashland, WI 54806

23700 Pilsen Town Rd, Moquah, WI

68280 Primrose Lane, Iron River, WI

If you shed clothing, we suggest doing so at an aid station. Items will be brought to the Finish Line area where the bag drop is located (inside the Bay Area Civic Center). Clothing dropped along the course may not arrive until 3:00pm. WhistleStop organizers are not responsible for lost clothing.

Lost & Found items will be held for 2 weeks after the race. After that they will be discarded or donated to a local charity.

Marathon: 350 registered runners

Half Marathon: 700 registered runners

5K: 210 registered runners

10K: 270 registered runners

Tamarack Health WhistleStop 5K & 10K: 8:30am

Tamarack Health Half Marathon: 8:30am

Tamarack Health Marathon: 8:30am

Showers will be available at the Bay Area Civic Center on Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 9:00am–3:00pm.

Friday, October 9, 2026: Conversational music with local musician Acoustic Relapse (4:30pm–7:00pm) at the WhistleStop Pasta Feed (4:30pm–8:00pm).
Saturday, October 10, 2026: Music and concessions (9:00am–11:00pm). Post Race Party (9:00am–3:30pm) is free. Blues & Brews Festival with Milkbone (6:00pm–8:00pm): $10 with brew sampling, $5 without sampling. 
All events are at the Bay Area Civic Center, 320 4th Ave West.