Twin Cities In Motion

One of the best large urban marathons. Gorgeous course and amazing crowd support the entire way. Here is some course specific information for those running.

TCM will always be my favorite marathon. Great crowds to keep you running the entire course. Great volunteers at every aid station. A brutal hill at mile 21 – 23 that will test you physically and mentally.
My only piece of advice for runners… look-​up from my shoes and enjoy the scenery along the way. Especially when you cross the Franklin bridge at 19 — check out the gorgeous river views — best part of the cities is on that bridge, on the first Sunday in October.

Great Race! Very simple and not many pot holes on the course. Rainy and misty day which I think is PERFECT running weather! Many corporate competitions and family races happening same weekend. Logistics were okay. Plan to park off of University Ave and walk to the start line. Caribou coffee RULES here so it was nice to get a cup of free coffee right after a cold rainy race :)

I’ve run 27 (going on 28 next weekend) marathons from Boston to Lahina (Maui). Twin Cities is a Top 10 Marathon not only in the United States, but possibly the World. Each year they improve the logistics of the run, always improving. ¼ Million spectators along the course tells you that are always welcome. Not my favorite (Grandma’s is mine) but a real close second.

I’ve run the TC marathon three times. October 2012 was my 10^th overall marathon.
I love the course, the crowd support, and the corral starting keeps things from getting too crowded if you are looking to run this as a race as opposed to looking to simply finish.
There are several local races leading to the TCM that allow you to qualify for your appropriate corral.
Packet Pickup was a breeze for me, I was able to grab my bib over my lunch break. Maybe for an out of towner the expo could get difficult, but you do have ample garage space just across the road.
At 43 years old, I finally broke my 20 year old PR on this course that I had set in Chicago

The Twin Cities Marathon is a gorgeous course and just stunning when the weather is perfect, which is was on Sunday. There’s just a few things that would make the marathon better.
1) 2 corrals is not enough. Have more corrals. This is SO needed. It is just a clusterfuck from beginning to mile 8 or 9???
2) The crowds were great! I love their cheers but to the lady who was blowing bubbles (the soap bubbles for kids) around mile 4 – 6 please don’t do that next year. I know your heart is there but it’s really annoying.
Also, it would be great if there would be bathroom stalls just for spectators and just for runners. We all have to go pee or poo. It’s just a bit frustrating when the clock is ticking and non-​racers are in line. Don’t get me wrong, I love you crowds but let’s have a bathroom for them only.
3) It would be awesome if the water tables were before the Gatorade tables. H2O helps our thirst. Gatorade just makes us more thirsty.
My big tiff was that they just need to have more corrals or less runners.
I feel bad for the runners who came in after 6hrs who didn’t get a medal and t-​shirt –hats off to you guys who stuck through and finished the race. Not to rub it in, I have to admit their medal is pretty damn sweet. Better design than LA and NYC.
Thanks to all the volunteers, performers, and the crowds!!!
P. S. If you don’t want to do the pasta loading the night before, go to Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza. Oh, and like everyone said, it’s a pretty flat course.

Fun to watch and run. It’s one of the few sporting events that is still free to watch. If you’re going to watch It starts at 8 and I recommend watching at after mile 14, the higher miles are less hectic. Grab warm coffee and if you get there by 8:45ish you’ll see the elite runners and then hang around, cheer on the elite and see the not so elite. Kids love watching this race and cheering on the runners.
It’s a beautiful marathon for fall in MN to run, they have chip timing that sends text messages to your family and friends about your location so they can track your progress. Finishers get a nice performance shirt and a medal. You have to register early because it fills up quickly. Also you have to finish the course in under 6 hours to avoid the sweeper bus. Wish they could give everyone the chance to finish but the streets of Minneapolis and Saint Paul can only be closed for so long I guess. I don’t know if this is a PR race or not. It’s pretty flat except for the last 6 miles on summit and even those hills are very small but after running 20+ miles you can feel them. There are water and Powerade stops every few miles. GU stop around mile 17 and very nice people (I don’t think they are associated with the race) handing out bananas and orange slices.
The 10 miler is also an option but to get in you have to sign up for the lottery because it’s so popular.

Ran Twin Cities last year as my first full. Could not have chosen a better race. Organized runner frinedly race with tons of spectators. After a few bad weather years, last year was perfect. Race is almost full again this year. If you don’t get in, make sure yu join the party on Summit. Hint to all the non-​runners… eat at the Pasta Party the night before (open to the public)… all you can eat and drink… you can have my beer.

The race is completely flat, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve read repeatedly about the incline up Summit Ave. around mile 20. But other than about a short hill a block long, I don’t recall any other «hills». (Keep in mind, this, coming from a San Franciscan.) The tour of the lakes was a treat, as was the various neighborhoods the course wound through.
Out of the 35+ races I’ve done, this is my favorite, thus far. I’m a big fan of well-​organized races that are smaller and more low-​key. But I forget how a huge amount of support can help. I have never done a race with this many spectators lined up from beginning to end, cheering for YOU. After awhile, you zone out – especially in those latter miles when all you want to do is finish – but whether you realize it or not, their enthusiasm certainly keeps your morale up.
Thank you, MSP, for your Midwestern hospitality!

I ran this marathon Oct 4^th, 2009. Hats off to the Twin Cites – they did a great job! The course has a small incline the last 5 – 6 miles which will take a toll on you. A tough PR course, but well worth it. The timing is tough with Chicago and New York right after this race – does not draw a lot of super elites due to this. Crowds were good, plenty of water stations. I can not say anything bad about this race – you will not be disappointed. Registration is limited…

An awesome urban marathon that travels from downtown Minneapolis to the state’s capitol in downtown St. Paul. Passes numerous city lakes as well as travelling the banks of the Mississippi River. Nearly a crowd of 10,000 participate in this annual October event so watch for early registration in the spring if you want to get in on it. Also a 10 miler available by lottery — registration in July. Get running!