Course Information
Sunday, October 17, 2010
This year’s course retains our international appeal, traversing both downtown Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, crossing the border at both the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Barring last minute changes due to unforeseen construction or other factors, the 2010 course should remain the same as 2009.
Organizers are grateful for the cooperation and support of the Detroit International Bridge Co., the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, the cities of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario and all of the organizations which help us define the marathon course each year.
Course Description:
The Detroit Free Press Marathon ranks as one of the best venues for running 26.2 miles in North America.
Course Features:
- International course crossing the US/Canadian border at two points
- Shared Start/Finish area on Fort St.
- Wave start to ease congestion
- Ambassador Bridge
- Detroit-Windsor Tunnel - the only underwater international mile in the world
- Fluid stations approximately every other mile
- Historic neighborhoods
- Belle Isle
- The beautiful RiverWalk on the water’s edge
- GU station
- Numerous Port-a-Johns
- Plenty of support and volunteers
- Entertainment on the course
This is a USATF-certified, Boston-qualifier course. For available maps, click here.
NEW! Start Times
Because we will utilize a wave start, marathon (including relay) and half marathon participants will not be segregated. Each participant will be seeded by the projected pace they reported when registering. Thus a faster half marathon walker might be starting beside a slower marathon runner in the same corral (wave). ALL participants must be in their assigned wave before the start at 7:15 AM.
6:59 AM- Wheelchair/Hand Cycle Division
7:00 AM- Marathon, Half Marathon Run/Walk and 5-Person Relay
7:25 AM- 5K Fun Run/Walk (using unique start line)
NOTE: No participants will be allowed to start after the final wave crosses the start line
Gear Check
Gear Check service will be provided for ALL participants. Runners must use the Gatorade® bag provided as a goodie bag for gear check. These bags will be marked and stored by race number. Your number bib includes a removable tag to be attached to your gear bag for this purpose. The Marathon will not be responsible for lost or stolen items, so PLEASE do not pack ANYTHING of value – especially car keys and/or wallets. Any bags left over will be donated to charity if not claimed within one week at the Marathon office. With a combined Start/Finish line, there will be no need to transport gear. You will be able to pick up your gear in the same location where you leave it before the races start. The Gear Check will be located in the DMP parking lot on the corner of Lafayette Blvd. and the Lodge Service Drive.
Fluid Stations
Water and Gatorade will be available at over 18 stations around the course. A GU Zone will located between the 15 and 16 mile markers.
Numerous organizations and hundreds of spirited volunteers join in the effort to support over 17,000 participants.
You must be able to complete the marathon in six and a half hours, and the half marathon in four hours, from the time the “Last Chance Pacer” crosses the start line. We will close the marathon course at 2:05 PM and the half marathon course at 11:35 AM.
We consider our events “competitive”, and not simply as fun runs or walks. A “Last Chance Pacer” will be provided for both events. These pacers will travel at the average pace needed to cross the finish line at six and a half hours for the marathon and four hours for the half marathon. Your progress will be monitored throughout the race. If you fall significantly behind the “Last Chance Pacer”, you will be given fair warning to pick up the pace. If you can’t keep pace, you will be required to board a bus following the pacers to be transported back to the start-finish area.
We are fortunate to offer two international border crossings during the course of our event. To continue providing this unique opportunity, we MUST re-open the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel to vehicular traffic at 10:00 AM. To ensure your safety and to meet all time limits, we have established the following milestones:
Marathon and 5-Person Relay
1.85 Mile Mark (Bridge Entrance)……….….8:02 AM
6.9 Mile Mark (Tunnel Entrance)……….…..9:14 AM
8.1 Mile Mark (Tunnel Exit)……………….…..9:35 AM
12.7 Mile Mark (Campus Martius)………….10:44 AM
13.1 Mile Mark………………………………….…10:50 AM
16 Mile Mark……………………………………….11:33 AM
18 Mile Mark……………………………………….12:47 PM
23 Mile Mark…………………………………………1:17 PM
Finish Line…………………………………………….2:05 PM
NOTE: If at any time, you fall behind these milestone times, you may be required to board a bus to be transported back to the start-finish area.
Half Marathon Run/Walk
1.85 Mile Mark (Bridge Entrance)……….….8:08 AM
6.9 Mile Mark (Tunnel Entrance)……….…..9:37 AM
8.1 Mile Mark (Tunnel Exit)……………….…10:00 AM
Finish Line………………………………………….11:35 AM
NOTE: If at any time, you fall behind these milestone times, you may be required to board a bus to be transported back to the start-finish area.
