It’s not uncommon to experience eating bratwurst and drinking beer outside Lambeau Field, home to the Green Bay Packers. But usually this is done around a football game; not after a marathon.

The Cellcom Green Bay Marathon, to be held May 21, boasts one of the best finish-line food tents in the marathon world. The “tailgate-themed” party, held just outside Lambeau Field, includes typical fare such as bagels and fruits, but also adds a touch of Wisconsin with bratwurst and beer from local microbrewery Titletown Brewing Company.

Adding to the football experience, runners pass through the Lambeau Field players’ tunnel and get to “Touch the Tundra” by running a lap around the field in the final mile of the race. The finish line is located just outside the famed stadium.

This will mark the event’s seventh year and the weekend’s competitions include the marathon, a half-marathon, a 5K fun run and a half-mile kids’ run. Last year’s race drew a total of 4,100 participants, including 1,100 marathoners and 1,600 half-marathoners.

The marathon race starts in historic downtown Green Bay, then crosses the Ray Nitschke Bridge (named after the hall-of-fame football player) into west Green Bay, then over another bridge which leads runners along the scenic Fox River Trail for six miles. There will be 22 corporate-sponsored water stations which will also have Gatorade. The elevation of the course varies less than 50 feet from start to finish.

And new this year, race organizers have launched a program called "The Final Countdown" which will feature bands, deejays, clowns and other "distractions" at each of the last six mile markers for the marathon and last two for the half-marathon.

Another new feature of the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon is the high-tech timing system, making this event the first in history to have a timing mat at each mile marker along the 26.2 mile course. And at least seven of the detection points will be linked wirelessly to Cellcom's network, allowing friends and family to receive live progress reports during the race.

Both the marathon and half-marathon start at 7 a.m. There will be an awards ceremony at noon at Lambeau Field. Age group winners who stay for ceremony to collect their medal will also receive a commemorative half-gallon glass jug from Titletown Brewing Company. Prize money will be awarded to the top 10 overall male and female marathon finishers and top 5 in the half-marathon.