Michigan · Marathon · Half · 5K
Detroit Free Press Marathon
Detroit Free Press Marathon is a marathon, half marathon and 5K event held in Detroit, Michigan. It was last held on October 18, 2026 and is usually run in October; the next date hasn't been announced yet. About 30,000 runners take part across all distances.
- Usually held
- October
- Location
- Detroit, MI
- Field size
- ~30,000 runners
Race details
- Last held
- October 18, 2026
- Usually held in
- October
- Location
- Detroit, Michigan
- Distances
- Marathon, Half, 5K
- Field size
- About 30,000 runners
- Course
- Flat
- Registration
- detroitmarathon.enmotive.com
- Official website
- freepmarathon.com
Registration, course & weather
- Registration status
- Registration status as last checked October 2, 2026: sold out
- Start time
- 7:00 AM EDT
- Course profile
- Point-to-point course; Road surface; 388 ft gain, 397 ft loss (estimated from third-party elevation data); USATF certified; Boston qualifier
About the Detroit Free Press Marathon
Michigan's premier and largest marathon, famous for its US-Canada international course crossing into Windsor, Ontario via the Ambassador Bridge and returning through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Total participation across all events is expected to approach 30,000 in 2026.
Rankings and notes
- Rankings and awards
- USATF-certified; Boston qualifier; features the only official underwater international mile in the world (Detroit-Windsor Tunnel); marathon and international half sell out within days; Michigan's largest running event
- Notes
- Largest MI marathon
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Guides from the RaceRove blog
- 8 min read How to Choose Your First Marathon A practical checklist for choosing a first marathon based on course, weather, cutoff, travel, field size and support.
- 7 min read How to Find a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon Near You A practical way to find running races near you: pick a distance, decide how far you'll travel, read the listing properly and confirm the details before you register.
- 9 min read How to Run a Race in All 50 States How to plan a 50-state running challenge: set your own rules, group states into trips, build a calendar around the seasons, budget for it and keep track of every finish.
- Blog All guides Planning advice for finding, choosing and travelling to races.
Detroit Free Press Marathon: common questions
- When is the Detroit Free Press Marathon?
- The next date hasn't been announced in the listing yet. The race is usually held in October. Check the organiser's website for the official date.
- Where is the Detroit Free Press Marathon held?
- In Detroit, Michigan.
- What distances does the Detroit Free Press Marathon offer?
- Marathon, Half and 5K.
- How many people run the Detroit Free Press Marathon?
- About 30,000 runners across all of its distances. That figure is an estimate of the field size, not an entry cap.
- How do I register for the Detroit Free Press Marathon?
- Registration is handled by the organiser at detroitmarathon.enmotive.com. Entry fees, caps and deadlines are set there.
- Is registration open for the Detroit Free Press Marathon?
- Registration status as last checked October 2, 2026: sold out. Listed fee for the longest distance, $170 (from detroitmarathon.enmotive.com, checked October 2, 2026).
- What time does the Detroit Free Press Marathon start?
- 7:00 AM EDT.
- What is the course like at the Detroit Free Press Marathon?
- Point-to-point course; Road surface; 388 ft gain, 397 ft loss (estimated from third-party elevation data); USATF certified; Boston qualifier.
Plan this race in RaceRove
Save it to your plan, compare it with other races, check typical race-day weather and track your 50-state progress in the interactive app.