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Detroit Free Press Marathon
Race Details:
- Location: Detroit, MI, USA
- Race Date: 10/18/2026
- Race Distances: Full Marathon, Half Marathon
What This Race Counts Toward:
Boston: Yes
World Marathon Majors: Yes
Detroit Free Press Marathon Description
The Detroit Free Press Marathon is the only marathon in the world to cross an international border underground, sending runners through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel beneath the Detroit River between the U.S. and Canada. Held every October since 1978, the Boston-qualifying, mostly flat loop also climbs the Ambassador Bridge early on before touring downtown Detroit’s landmarks. Race weekend includes an International Half Marathon, a US-Only Half, a relay, 5K, and more, drawing nearly 30,000 runners in total. Pace groups help marathoners of every level make the most of this unique international course.
Always check the official race website for the most accurate and up-to-date race information and logistics.
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Detroit Free Press Marathon Additional Details:
The finisher medal leans hard into Detroit’s identity, etched with a cityscape of skyscrapers, a vintage Ford automobile, and a vinyl record and microphone nodding to Motown, with the design staying consistent across distances but sized and ribboned differently for each. Marathon and Beyond magazine once ranked it among the top 15 medals out of 400 U.S. marathons, and it’s easy to see why runners hang onto these rather than tossing them in a drawer. Nineteen fluid stations keep Absopure water and Lemon-Lime Gatorade flowing throughout, staffed by hundreds of volunteers, with some stops adding pretzels, fruit, or pickle juice into the mix. Runners can now carry their own liquids through the bridge and tunnel sections too, a rule change that’s made fueling through the course’s toughest stretch considerably easier.
Course Information
Profile: Mostly Flat
Type: Loop
Surface: Road/Pavement
Pace Groups: Yes
Time Limit: 6.5 hours (full), 4 hours (Intl Half), 3.5 hours (US-Only Half)
# of Finishers
23,000+ Half Marathon
3,500 to 3,600 Marathon
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: 388 ft (118 m)
Elevation Loss: 397 ft (121 m)
Average Temperature
- Low: 43°F
- High: 59°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
Things to Do in Detroit, MI, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
Zoos, Aquariums & Gardens
Detroit Zoo
Spend an easy day at the Detroit Zoo, home to a wide variety of wildlife across a sprawling, walkable campus — a flat, self-paced outing for tired legs.
Arts & Culture
Detroit Institute of Arts
See world-class collections at the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the country’s premier art museums — a relaxed, indoor way to spend a rest day.
Outdoors & Trails
Detroit Riverwalk
Walk or bike a flat stretch of the Detroit Riverwalk, spanning nearly 4 miles along the Detroit River — an easy option for tapering or recovering legs after race day.
Food & Drink
Eastern Market
Browse fresh produce and specialty foods at Eastern Market, one of the country’s oldest and largest historic public markets — a lively, low-impact way to refuel.
Scenic Drives & Viewpoints
Belle Isle Park
Explore the walking trails of Belle Isle Park, a 985-acre island with sweeping views of Michigan and Canada — a flat, scenic, low-impact outing after race weekend.
Landmark
Motown Museum
Tour the Motown Museum, birthplace of the legendary record label, and stand in the original Studio A — an easy, moving, indoor stop for recovering legs.
Museums & History
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
Explore the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, the automaker’s first purpose-built factory dating to 1904, now a museum — an easy, indoor, low-impact stop after race day.
Hotels & Lodging Near the Detroit Free Press Marathon
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Boston Qualifier: Yes