Crazylegs Classic

media release: The last Saturday of April each spring, Badgers descend on Capitol Square and State Street to kick off the Crazylegs Classic.

Runners and walkers will both start on Library Mall at the intersection of State Street and N. Lake Street with staging on Library Mall.

Runners — Your race bib must be worn to be timed. The 8K Run will have a pace signage which will be clearly marked as you arrive at Library Mall to help get you in place for the start. Please note the Run Start will be on Library Mall at the intersection of State Street and N. Lake Street with staging along Library Mall and down Park Street. Look for pace signage and line up according to your projected pace.

Walkers — The 2-mile walk will start after the runners.

WHEELCHAIR – 9:50am (CDT)

RUNNERS – 8K RUN – 10:00am (CDT)

WALKERS – 2 MILE WALK – 10:20am (CDT)

Packet pick-up will take place at the Kohl Center, Friday, April 24, 10am to 7pm. There will be a limited packet pick up window available (7am to 9am) the morning of the race. To ensure you start the race on time, participants are encouraged to pick their packets up prior to race day. Packets will not be mailed.

Participants are allowed to pick up race gear for others (family, friends, etc.) To keep pick-up moving and prevent delays, individuals are not allowed to pick up for more than 5 other participants. Please sign up for a Fun and Fitness team for a large group pick-up option.

Not surprisingly, the idea for this event was hatched in late 1981 by three Badger loyalists at a campus bar. The three, Tom Grantham, Ken Sparks, and Rich Backus, wanted to raise money to support UW Athletics. As admirers of then Athletic Director Elroy Hirsch, they asked his permission to name it the "Crazylegs Run" in his honor.

The first race in 1982 attracted 1,525 runners and raised $9,500. The event grew in popularity and the walk was added in 1987 with 676 walkers the first year. The event has grown substantially reaching a record high of 20,415 in 2010. Since the inaugural race 44 years ago, it has attracted over 354,000 runners and walkers. The Crazylegs Classic has become a time–honored tradition of the University of Wisconsin, as well as a much–anticipated event to kickoff spring in the Madison community.