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<p><em>This is an international race and requires a valid travel document. For more information or if you have questions about your entrance admissibility to Canada visit our &ldquo;Link to requirements&rdquo; page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freepmarathon.com/canadian-border-services-agency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</em></p>
<p><em>Adaptive Athletes looking for more information&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freepmarathon.com/adaptive-athletes-division/">click here</a>.</em></p>
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<h2 class="" data-fontsize="28" data-lineheight="33.6px">Age Requirements</h2>
<p>All participants of the Detroit Free Press Marathon must be 16 years of age or older by race day to participate.</p>
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<h2 class="fusion-responsive-typography-calculated" data-fontsize="28" data-lineheight="33.6px">Time Requirements</h2>
<p>You must be able to complete the marathon in 6.5 hours from the time the Last Chance Pacer crosses the start line. We will close the marathon finish line at 2 p.m., with roads incrementally opening along the course up to the 2 p.m. cutoff.</p>
<p>The pacer will travel at the average pace needed to cross the finish line at six and a half hours. Your progress will be monitored throughout the race. If you fall significantly behind the pacer, you will be given fair warning to pick up the pace. If you can&rsquo;t keep pace, you will be required to board a bus following the pacers to be transported back to the Start/Finish area.</p>
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<h2 class="" data-fontsize="28" data-lineheight="33.6px">The Course</h2>
<p>We&rsquo;re one of the few truly international marathon courses in the world! A true showcase of Detroit, the course features iconic neighborhoods like the historic Woodbridge, the District Detroit, Eastern Market, the Dequindre Cut and a finish line at the foot of Campus Martius.</p>
<p>With a wave start, participants are sent off at three-minute intervals beginning at 7 a.m., which eases congestion in those early miles. Groups are based on the projected pace indicated on the registration form, so an accurate response is necessary.</p>
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<h2 class="fusion-responsive-typography-calculated" data-fontsize="28" data-lineheight="33.6px"><strong>Marathon Pace Teams</strong></h2>
<p>We are currently in the process of organizing our pace teams for the 2025 event. Below is a sample of what we hope to provide in 2025.</p>
<p>On Pace Race will be providing pacers for the Marathon, International Half-Marathon and Motor City Half-Marathon. On Pace is a vibrant community of athletes who can be found pacing races throughout the United States. It has 76 members on its team, each helping other runners get to the finish line in their goal time.</p>
<p>You can connect with the pacers in the starting corrals. They will be in order of pace (faster pacers closer to the start) at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the race. Feel free to introduce yourself &mdash; and run with a pacer! On Pace&rsquo;s strategy will be to run mainly even splits.</p>
<p>They will be pacing the following times:</p>
<p><strong>Marathon:</strong>&nbsp;3:00, 3:05, 3:10, 3:15, 3:20, 3:25, 3:30, 3:35, 3:40, 3:50, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00, 5:15, 5:30, 5:45, 6:00, sweeper</p>
<p>Pace Groups are subject to change based on availability.</p>
<h2 class="fusion-responsive-typography-calculated" data-fontsize="28" data-lineheight="33.6px">Prizes</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.freepmarathon.com/awards/">Click here</a>&nbsp;for prizing details for Marathon runners. All individual cash prizes are based on &ldquo;clock time&rdquo; (not chip time). We invite walkers to participate in this event, however no prizes will be awarded specifically for walkers.</p>
<p>To be eligible for our prizes, you must adhere to all rules and regulations, including our new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freepmarathon.com/antidopingpolicy/">Anti-Doping Policy</a>.</p>
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<h2 class="fusion-responsive-typography-calculated" data-fontsize="28" data-lineheight="33.6px">Additional Marathon Prize Incentives:</h2>
<p>First male to break race record of 2:13:07 (Greg Meyer, 1980) wins an additional $500<br />First female to break race record of 2:34:16 (Elena Orlova, 2004) wins an additional $500</p>
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Detroit Free Press Marathon Half Marathon

Pre-Race Review/ Lineup

Marathon registration, event popularity, participation trends

The Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union announced record-breaking registration numbers, with both the marathon and international half-marathon selling out within days of registration opening on January 1, 2026. The marathon sold out within one week, and the half-marathon sold out a couple of days after that. This marks the third consecutive year of record-breaking participation, with total event participation expected to reach nearly 30,000 runners across all distances—up from approximately 26,000 in 2025. The combined registration for the Marathon, International Half-Marathon, and Motor City Half-Marathon is projected to reach approximately 23,000 runners, up from about 20,000 the previous year.

Are you the Race Director for Detroit Free Press Marathon & Half Marathon? If you need to update any information about this event, please use this form to let us know what changes are needed. We'll review your request and update the listing as soon as possible.