Runners spread across a city avenue during a marathon

Detroit Free Press Marathon

The Detroit Free Press Marathon is a road marathon run in Detroit, Michigan. It is the only US marathon whose course crosses an international border, passing through Windsor, Canada, so every entrant needs a valid passport.

Prepare for Detroit Free Press Marathon

A plan built from your answers and your race date.

The Detroit Free Press Marathon runs through downtown Detroit, the riverfront neighbourhoods and the Canadian side of the Detroit River in Michigan. The course is flat and urban, with two landmark crossings: the Ambassador Bridge over to Windsor and the tunnel back under the river. Mid-October weather is cool and sometimes damp.

This is the only marathon in the United States with an international section. A passport is required for the affected races, so paperwork needs sorting well before entry. 0975 km, a marathon relay and a 5K.

The formats

5 formats on the program.

Format	Distance
Marathon	26.2 mi
International Half Marathon	13.1 mi
Motor City Half Marathon	13.1 mi
Marathon Relay	26.2 mi
5K	3 mi

Organizer information, checked on September 21, 2026 · freepmarathon.com

When to start

At this distance, a build usually runs 12 to 20 weeks. The 2027 date is not published, so counting back from October puts the start around May 24, 2027.

These ranges are working conventions, not a research finding — no trial has compared plan lengths against each other. What matters more is that the plan was built for the weeks you actually have, rather than shrunk down from a longer one.

How to choose your start date

When to start

May 24, 2027

→ July 19, 2027

Worth reading before you enter

Races and distances 10K, half, marathon: what each one really asks They are all running. They are not the same event. What limits you, how long you need, and how the race falls apart — all three change with the distance. Read Races and distances The big marathons: what each one actually demands A marathon is 42.195 km everywhere. What changes is the profile, the crowd, the weather you are likely to get — and so what your training should emphasise. Read Training Eating and drinking: what’s proven, what isn’t This is where confident advice most often runs ahead of the evidence. Some of it is well tested. Some is opinion wearing a number. And one common habit can kill you. Read

Questions

What is the date of Detroit Free Press Marathon in 2027?

The date of Saturday, October 16, 2027 is going around for Detroit Free Press Marathon, in Detroit, but the organizer has not confirmed it. Check their website before you commit.

Do I need a passport for the Detroit Free Press Marathon?

Yes. This is the only marathon in the United States whose route crosses an international border, taking runners through Windsor, Canada. A valid passport is required to start the races that include the crossing.

Other races

This list keeps growing; it draws no line. A race that is missing is prepared for in exactly the same way.

Lake Buena Vista (Orlando) · United StatesMarathon Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Jan 6 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is a road-running weekend staged at Lake Buena Vista near Orlando, Flo Houston · United StatesMarathon Chevron Houston Marathon / Aramco Half Jan 17 The Chevron Houston Marathon is a road marathon run in Houston, Texas, alongside the Aramco Houston Half Miami · United StatesMarathon Life Time Miami Marathon & Half Jan 31 The marathon, half marathon and 5K are all run on a flat coastal course. Your race is not here? Tell us about your race You can prepare for it all the same. Any race, anywhere, and even a goal without a race.

Your race is on the calendar. Your plan should be too.

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