Detroit Free Press Marathon 2026
Detroit, MI, USA
The course
The Detroit Free Press Marathon starts and finishes in downtown Detroit and crosses the international border twice: runners head out over the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor, Ontario, and return to the US through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. It is one of the flattest marathon courses in North America, with only about 59 feet of total climbing; the bridge crossing and the tunnel ascent are the only notable grades. The route also passes through neighborhoods including Indian Village and along the Detroit riverfront.
Course summary source: runnersconnect.net
Course map & elevation
No GPS track for this course yet.
We haven't mapped the Detroit Free Press Marathon route yet. Elevation data will appear here once a licensed or organizer-verified course map is available.
Training for the Detroit Free Press Marathon?
Coach Icarus builds your plan around your fitness, your schedule, and this course's elevation.
Race-week weather
Typical high
16°C
Typical low
8°C
Year-to-year swing
±0.9°C
Rain
3.1 mm/day
Based on 2020-2025 of race-week history, with peak gusts around 24 km/h.
Difficulty
Race facts
- Official race site
- freepmarathon.com ↗
- Start time
- 07:00
- Field size
- 3,569 finishers (2025)
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
Distances: 42.2 km · 21.1 km · 10 km · 5 km
Training for the Detroit Free Press Marathon?
Coach Icarus builds your plan around your fitness, your schedule, and this course's elevation.
More USA races
October 3, 2026
St. George Marathon
St. George · Marathon
October 4, 2026
Portland Marathon
Portland · Marathon
October 4, 2026
Twin Cities Marathon
Minneapolis · Marathon
October 4, 2026
Wineglass Marathon
Corning · Marathon
October 11, 2026
Chicago Marathon
Chicago · Marathon
October 18, 2026
Columbus Marathon
Columbus · Marathon