The Marathon, International Half and Relay closed Sept. 8 and are sold out with a waitlist; the Motor City Half is also sold out. The 5K, 1-Mile and kids races are open online through Oct. 8, and domestic races may reopen at the expo if space remains. No refunds; transfers and deferrals are allowed.
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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Oct 17, 2026 | ||||
| 1-Mile | 1 Mile | Oct 17, 20268:25 AM | $40 | – |
| 5K | 5K | Oct 17, 20268:50 AM | $70 | – |
| Meijer Little Detroit Dash | Kids | Oct 17, 202610:05 AM | $25 | – |
| Kids Marathon | Kids | Oct 17, 202610:30 AM | $35 | – |
| Sunday, Oct 18, 2026 | ||||
| International Half-Marathon | Half Marathon | Oct 18, 20267:00 AM | See registration | – |
| Marathon | Marathon | Oct 18, 20267:00 AM | See registration | – |
| Marathon Relay | Relay | Oct 18, 20267:00 AM | See registration | – |
| Motor City Half-Marathon | Half Marathon | Oct 18, 202610:30 AM | $170 | – |
Fees and dates are from the race's official website on the date shown below; confirm them there before you register.
A typical finisher at a marathon in Michigan runs 4:13:25, about 9:40 a mile, based on 13 races with published results. Women typically finish in 4:30:23 and men in 4:03:21.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:47 AM, and the 1-Mile starts at 8:25 AM. The start sits about 650 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Fort Street between the Lodge Service Drive and Third Avenue, downtown Detroit, Detroit, MI
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Around October 18 the day usually runs from 46°F at dawn to 61°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 25% of days. Cold snaps dip to 37°F and hot years reach 72°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
What runners should know about Detroit Free Press Marathon, in brief, from the official race website.
Schedule and packet pickup
The free expo is at Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd., Friday Oct. 16 from 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturday Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bibs are assigned at pickup and there is no race-day pickup. For US-only events a friend may collect a packet with a printed confirmation email.
Schedule and packet pickup
Corrals on Fort Street open at 6:15 a.m. and close at 6:55. Adaptive athletes start at 6:58 and the main field at 7:00 in waves three minutes apart; the Motor City Half starts at 10:30 with no corrals. The only gear check is on Monroe near Campus Martius, 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The finish is on Woodward at Congress.
Parking and travel
The free People Mover opens at 5:30 a.m. Sunday. The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel is closed to cars from 6:15 to 10:15 a.m. From Windsor, shuttle buses leave Bruce Avenue at Riverside Drive West between 5:15 and 6:15 a.m. for 15 Canadian dollars each way, card only, and drop off at Mariner's Church.
Shirt and medal
Every participant gets a long-sleeve technical shirt, which the race says runs small. Finishers of every race get a medal sized to the distance, plus water, Gatorade, a heat blanket and snacks in the recovery area. Kids Marathon runners log 25.2 miles at home and run the final mile on Saturday.
Rules and FAQ
The Marathon, International Half-Marathon and Relay Leg 1 enter Canada, so runners need a valid travel document such as a passport, passport card or enhanced driver's license, and must show it in person at the expo to get a bib. A past offense like a DUI can bar entry to Canada. The race cannot rule on eligibility.
Rules and FAQ
Limits are 6.5 hours for the Marathon and Relay (finish closes at 2 p.m.), 4 hours for the International Half (course closes 11:45 a.m.), 3.5 hours for the Motor City Half, 1 hour 10 minutes for the 5K and 20 minutes for the mile. Marathoners must be 16 or older; half and relay runners 14 or older.
Facts on this page come from the race's official website (freepmarathon.com, freepmarathon.com/marathon, freepmarathon.com/international-half-marathon, freepmarathon.com/pricing), checked Sep 25, 2026. Confirm dates and fees there before you travel.
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Detroit's marathon starts downtown on Fort Street, crosses the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor, Canada, then returns to tour Woodbridge, Eastern Market and the Dequindre Cut before finishing by Campus Martius. An international half and a US-only Motor City half run the same Sunday; Saturday's shorter races use Atwater Street.