Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend
St. Paul, MN
- Marathon, Charity Half Marathon, 10 Miler, 10K, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
No matter your reasons for running, the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend has an event for you and your whole family. Choose from “The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America,” “The Shortcut to the Capitol,” or 5K and 10K races that will take you to Summit and back! Consider running … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Oct 03):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 86 | 64 | 85 | 76 | 71 |
| L (°F) | 62 | 50 | 66 | 58 | 58 |
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My second Twin Cities Marathon
I will continue to run this one every year until I cannot anymore! I love TCM and love the support of the city while you're running. The energy is insane … MORE
I will continue to run this one every year until I cannot anymore! I love TCM and love the support of the city while you’re running. The energy is insane and led me to a huge PR in some tough conditions!
Crowd Support!
Seemed like people were spectating along the entire course! Logistics are decent, we stayed in Minneapolis and walked to the start. Could easily use the light rain system to get … MORE
Seemed like people were spectating along the entire course! Logistics are decent, we stayed in Minneapolis and walked to the start. Could easily use the light rain system to get around too. Save some energy for uphill section ~M21-23 (but at the least the last 0.25 is downhill!) Overall a great event by a great city!
Excellent race production
The people of St. Paul really show up! Unless you are a local, it is difficult to get to the start of the half, which is the halfway point of … MORE
The people of St. Paul really show up! Unless you are a local, it is difficult to get to the start of the half, which is the halfway point of the marathon. They offered a shuttle from the Radisson Hotel at 7:30am for a start time of 9:30. A bit early. They had tents with tables and chairs as well as food and drink for us. To run this half you must fund raise a minimum of $350.
Outstanding Production & Support
The Twin Cities Marathon is well-organized and produces and runner and viewer-friendly race. - The communication from the beginning was timely regarding weather changes, etc. and the specifics in the … MORE
The Twin Cities Marathon is well-organized and produces and runner and viewer-friendly race.
– The communication from the beginning was timely regarding weather changes, etc. and the specifics in the race guide as far as water stops, course entertainment, etc. was very helpful
– TCM has a top notch app which is intuitive and provides real-time tracking for family and friends. The app actually works like we need it to!
– Clear guidance for out-of-towners on transportation and scored a great hotel rate with a collaborating hotel;
– Straightforward logistics to/from Expo and race day locations; used Metro Transit to/from Expo and then walked from hotel to start line, with race shuttle back from finish.
– The course itself has a lot of shade, rolling “hills” which to me are more like small inclines, and smooth boulevards through established residential neighborhoods
– Hydration and Nuun stations are on point — every other mile or so, with electrolytes and water and very enthusiastic volunteers!
– The city of Minneapolis and St. Paul come out for this — it felt like a nonstop block party with countless groups of citizens out on their lawns cheering us on, combined with NFL watch parties (Vikings early game day) and overall the support was outstanding. Few gaps of no spectators but those didn’t last for long. The Twin Cities clearly embraces its marathoners!
– The first approx. 2 miles is in downtown and then you transition to the residential area, including multiple lakes. Quite lovely and again, rolling inclines which provided the legs a nice change.
– The only con on the course was the first two water stops were overwhelmed, looked like a war zone, and the second once actually did not exist when I got to it (I started in Corral 3). The rest of the stops were fully stocked. I suspect this is because the first couple are usually underutilized and they simply underestimated how many runner would partake — it was indeed a hot day and apparently everyone took the advice to hydrate early and often.
– The finish area was easy to navigate once I asked where bag check was — the signs for everything else were pretty clear.
– **If you have family or friends meeting you in the reunion area, I would have a specific area in mind or have the supporter have a sign or similar, as it is crowded and noisy and can be a challenge to readily locate your runner. Or meet at another tent/booth in the finish area to avoid the cluster.
– The swag was average — medal, long-sleeved Asics shirt, and multiple snacks from sponsors.
yay twin cities!!
what a phenomenal route! got to see so much of the cities' biggest hits, and running around the lakes was gorgeous as expected. crowd was amazing, don't think there were … MORE
what a phenomenal route! got to see so much of the cities’ biggest hits, and running around the lakes was gorgeous as expected. crowd was amazing, don’t think there were any dead zones the entire way, even along the more trail-like sections there were nearby cyclists and joggers cheering us on. beer garden at the end was fun! would have been a perfect day if not for subpar weather (quite warm and very windy) that made both of my legs cramp up great run I love Minnesota I love the Midwest
Back of the Pack Review
Packet Pick Up: We always spend several hours at the expo. Lots of vendors and extra swag you can buy. Still not a fan of the Asics LS shirts-they fit … MORE
Packet Pick Up: We always spend several hours at the expo. Lots of vendors and extra swag you can buy. Still not a fan of the Asics LS shirts-they fit weird. Plus the extra swag could use a pop of color. Loved the men’s bright colors more than the muted female options.
Pre-race VIP: I appreciated the optional VIP because race morning can be overstimulating and it was nice to have a place that was just out of the large crowds and where I could sit down. Private porta potties were nice and the line was so fast. Wasn’t a fan of the VIP gift this year but loved the fanny pack from last year.
Race: I was in the last wave and knew I would be using all 6.5 hrs so glad to see our wave started on time. Course itself is beautiful. A good chunk of the course is through shaded areas and you pass by several lakes in the first half. There was one section that was pretty open and very hot. We had ALL the weather from 70+ degrees at the start, 20 mph winds, sun, and it rained hard several times throughout the day.
Course was well supported with Nuun and water every 2 miles or so and loved that they had people with water pitchers to refill my flasks. I do wish they would have been more specific about what mile markers the sag buses would be. I believe in the guide it simply said “starting at mile 9”. I asked a few of them and nobody knew where the next one was. I almost went out at mile 18 but decided to power on.
Being at the back of the pack for the marathon was much different than the half marathon. Still some spectators but not the same crowds that line both sides of the street. Could have been due to the bad weather. I appreciate that they extended to race from 6 to 6.5 hrs. They did state that the course closed at 2:50pm. I came in right at 6:32 and loved that there was still a full finish line set up with photo finishes. There was plenty of people still out there with me so if you are in the back you won’t be alone. The course is also well marked.
Post-Race: After crossing the finish line I found out the VIP tent was moved to a different area than last year and a much farther walk. There was no food left after I crossed the finish line. Not sure if they were packing up due to weather or everything was gone. I got a bottle of water and that was it. Went over to VIP tent and it was totally closed up with no food there either and I had to try and find my gear bag.
Overall: This is a good race for a first time marathoner with lots to see, lots of support, and supportive to back of the pack. Only wish there was post-race food and hoping that was a one-off issue due to weather.
First Marathon
My mom ran the Twin Cities Marathon two times back in the 1990s, two of the three marathons she ever ran. She was diagnosed with ALS back in October 2023 … MORE
My mom ran the Twin Cities Marathon two times back in the 1990s, two of the three marathons she ever ran. She was diagnosed with ALS back in October 2023 and has been slowly losing her ability to do a lot of typical things. I have always been a bit of a runner throughout high school but didn’t take it seriously until the past few months and decided to train – I got the opportunity to run this race in front of my mom and entire family! What a better spot to do it than the Twin Cities – beautiful weather, beautiful course, packet pickup was seamless, and so many participants cheering you on!
Loved this race!
Packet Pick Up: The expo is awesome and I spent hours there. We could have parked on the street close by at a meter but opted to park in a … MORE
Packet Pick Up: The expo is awesome and I spent hours there. We could have parked on the street close by at a meter but opted to park in a ramp as meters are only for 2 hrs. Parking was $20. You can opt to take a bus or light rail there as well.
Pre-Race: The Half Marathon is a charity registration only and was limited to 200 runners. You could opt to raise the charity amount or donate the full amount at registration. Everyone in the half gets the VIP package. We met at the Radisson St Paul where they had a waiting room with food set up and then we took coach buses the start line. It had a fairly late start of 9:30am but this positioned us perfectly with some of the key marathon pace groups. It was very cold that morning and they had large heated tents set up with food.
Race: We started at Lake Nokomis and were fed into the marathon course at the 1/2 way point in several waves. We started based on honor system-we were not assigned corrals. Tons of spectators lining the entire way on both sides of the street. Beautiful course that was mostly shaded.
Post-Race: Since we had VIP we were able to get more food/drink at the VIP tent and sit in the VIP bleachers on the sidelines. The had private bathrooms for VIP and we were given a VIP gift as well.
AMAZING 10/10 WOULD RUN AGAIN
This was my second marathon and I signed up mostly because it was supposed to have such good scenery and on the more affordable side. The lakes are gorgeous and … MORE
This was my second marathon and I signed up mostly because it was supposed to have such good scenery and on the more affordable side. The lakes are gorgeous and I enjoyed running through the parks.
Do not sleep on this race! It was SO much fun. The participation is just bonkers – everybody was outside cheering. It felt like the whole of both cities were out spectating. Lots of fun snacks and good aid stations. Lots of portapotties.
The course itself is really flat imo but there are some unexpected hills that will pop up at the end. They are probably pretty flat but at the end of the run you really are feeling them. The people here are so friendly btw you will almost certainly make friends with folks running your pace. I ran over half the race with somebody from TC and had a blast with them (thank you alex!).
Excellent Expo which had a lot to offer but was easy in and out. The shuttles to and from the race itself ran promptly and were easy to take.
Every marathon I have run since this one I wonder why I don’t just go back to Twin Cities!
Very well organized
Bib pickup was a very easy process. They even have volunteers to verify your bib chip is working and properly assigned to you. Plenty of vendors and giveaways at the … MORE
Bib pickup was a very easy process. They even have volunteers to verify your bib chip is working and properly assigned to you. Plenty of vendors and giveaways at the expo. I just don’t like that you have to pay for parking 😡. Race morning went very smoothly, boarded buses at the finish area out to Minneapolis after a short wait. Music, entertainment, and plenty of porta John’s all around the start area. Bag check was done by corral assignment= a very good idea. Plenty of refreshments at the finish line, and I went right to the beer garden. Hotels downtown are pretty expensive. My group stayed in Eagan. Much cheaper hotel prices. Drove to State Capital finish area, plenty of free parking on race morning.
Beautiful course
This fall race brings about the best. The course has its challenges like rolling hills, beautiful fall scenery, and visual appeals including rounding up three lakes heading into the state’s … MORE
This fall race brings about the best. The course has its challenges like rolling hills, beautiful fall scenery, and visual appeals including rounding up three lakes heading into the state’s capital. The spectators lining the entire route means boredom is out of the question. Soak in the usual “Minnesota Nice” atmosphere.
Marathon #10
Overall the expo was ok. No issues getting to start with the transportation provided. Silly complaint on my part, start was at the Minnesota Vikings Arena, would have been nice … MORE
Overall the expo was ok. No issues getting to start with the transportation provided. Silly complaint on my part, start was at the Minnesota Vikings Arena, would have been nice if that was open to wait in there, as it was a chilly morning and would have been very welcoming!
Course was difficult, hilly and towards the end challenging.
Highly recommend!
Very well organized, incredible crowd support, frequent aid/hydration stations. Absolutely beautiful course. Race shirt and medal look great. If I'm being picky, the course felt crowded for most of the … MORE
Very well organized, incredible crowd support, frequent aid/hydration stations. Absolutely beautiful course. Race shirt and medal look great. If I’m being picky, the course felt crowded for most of the 26.2 miles (narrow roads in several places). There were several times, late in the race, where it was very difficult to pass. The expo was great and had plenty of stands/vendors, but was crazy crowded… Post race, the shuttle back to Minneapolis from St. Paul was super convenient and easy. This was my third marathon and overall, the smoothest experience. I would highly recommend this race!
Incredible support makes this race
Pros: amazing spectators, interesting course, lots of toilets in the start area, good aid stations, mild weather (this year), great race shirt, fun shakeout runs Cons: it's not the fastest … MORE
Pros: amazing spectators, interesting course, lots of toilets in the start area, good aid stations, mild weather (this year), great race shirt, fun shakeout runs
Cons: it’s not the fastest course out there, disappointing expo, scenery not as great as people suggest.
Overall: highly recommend
Great Crowd Support
The course was a down and back and was mostly flat. The start line was a little crowded and took a minute or two to space out. The scenery was … MORE
The course was a down and back and was mostly flat. The start line was a little crowded and took a minute or two to space out. The scenery was mostly through a neighborhood. The crowd support was top notch.
PR Race
The course was a down and back and was mostly flat. The start line was a little crowded and took a minute or two to space out. The scenery was … MORE
The course was a down and back and was mostly flat. The start line was a little crowded and took a minute or two to space out. The scenery was mostly through a neighborhood. The crowd support was top notch.
Great Course Support
The best thing about this race was the course support. The water stops were frequent, and the course was filled with spectators and cheering sections. Great swag for the Looney … MORE
The best thing about this race was the course support. The water stops were frequent, and the course was filled with spectators and cheering sections. Great swag for the Looney Challenge. Shirts, medals, backpack, and socks. Would definitely recommend.
Run like the wind
Expo was at the St Paul River centre, next to the Minnesota Wild arena. The shirt is a black long sleeve which few people wore. Lots of smoothie and syrup … MORE
Expo was at the St Paul River centre, next to the Minnesota Wild arena. The shirt is a black long sleeve which few people wore. Lots of smoothie and syrup samples at the expo, as well as a company testing your hydration levels and one that promised to improve your vertical leap by shocking your muscles (I added 1.5 inches to my leap)
The race starts next to the Vikings stadium in Minneapolis and runs counterclockwise for 15 miles, straddles the Mississippi for 4 miles, then heads east to the finish in St Paul. The only real shortcoming of this race was that the gear check table was so slow. I got in line at 7:30 for an 8am start time. 20 minutes later, with no end in sight, 25 of us panicked and set down our bags in a big pile, and the volunteers processed it just fine. Why couldn’t we just do this in the first place? Another minor gripe: there are no clocks on the course except for the finish line.
But the course itself was great. We straddle four lakes in the first 15 miles, although this means high winds. There are few extended straight roads in this course, everything gently curves so you can never see more than 1/3 mile ahead. Fantastic crowd support, with some spectators bringing dogs to pet. One guy even brought his 50 inch flatscreen down to the curb and played the Vikings game on TV for the spectators! Water stops were almost every mile, which I loved because high winds dehydrate me quickly. Mimosas at mile 3, some beer at 23, and whoever gave out free White Castle burgers at mile 22, you saved me.
You reach St Paul in the last mile and there is a nice downhill to the finish. Post-race party is on the lawn next to the State Capitol. Plenty of free local beers to use your beer ticket on.
This race boasts it’s the “best big city marathon”. I got similar Midwest hospitality vibes from Des Moines and Fargo, two of the highest rated small marathons. To scale the production up to one of the largest marathons in America makes this race a great pick.
Best Race Hands Down
Spectators at every inch of this course! I ran alone but with the city coming out to support, I ran with everyone! I believe at mile 24 or 25, a … MORE
Spectators at every inch of this course! I ran alone but with the city coming out to support, I ran with everyone! I believe at mile 24 or 25, a group of volunteers hang with you while you go up the last hill, and all I can say is THANK YOU! Production, course, course support, nutrition, merch…everything 10/10! Highly recommend!
Never Coming Back
I've ran TC multiple times and have had a great race there, however, after the sh*t show they had last year (thankfully was not running), I will never advise this … MORE
I’ve ran TC multiple times and have had a great race there, however, after the sh*t show they had last year (thankfully was not running), I will never advise this race to anyone.
The fact that they took away people’s opportunity to race, last minute while knowing the temps were going to be where they were, while also doing it after people got on busses, rented hotels, got family there, is absolute crap.
I highly recommend staying far away from this race, as the operators seem to think they’re more knowledgable of making decisions for people’s health than the actual people in the race.
Races have been done in warmer temps, and TC really sh*t the bed here.
Like I said, never coming back.