Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
From lakeside parkways in Minneapolis to the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol, this fall classic winds past four urban lakes and the Mississippi River before a late-race hill separates the prepared from the hopeful. Cool October air and a spirited crowd make the effort feel worth every step.
The course.
Race-day weather.
Early October in Minneapolis-St. Paul typically delivers ideal marathon weather: clear skies, highs around 60°F, lows in the low 40s. The 2023 edition was a notable exception, with start-line heat advisories forcing a cancellation. Most years, the leaves are turning and the morning is cold enough to fog breath.
Entry.
Open registration, no lottery. Marathon fills steadily through summer; entry is usually still available a few months before race day. Time-qualifier and charity guaranteed-entry pathways exist for runners who miss the cap.
Register on race siteLogistics.
MSP, 10 mi from the start.
From the community.
Race history.
Founded in 1982 as a merger of the Minneapolis Marathon and the St. Paul Marathon, Twin Cities became one of the first American marathons to deliberately route through both downtowns. It has hosted the US Olympic Marathon Trials and is regarded as the gold standard of mid-size US fall marathons.
First run in 1982. Roughly 6,500 finishers in a recent edition.