Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon

Held in Duluth, a city perched along the western shore of Lake Superior, this marathon takes advantage of one of the Great Lakes region's most compelling landscapes. The area combines the industrial heritage of a working port city with access to natural spaces that draw outdoor enthusiasts year-round. July weather in northern Minnesota tends toward warm days with relatively low humidity compared to more southern parts of the country, making it a reasonable time to race in this corner of the upper Midwest. The Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon follows a course that sits between flat and gently rolling terrain, with no significant climbing to contend with despite elevation changes across the route. Runners will experience swings between 215 and 385 meters above sea level, but these transitions are gradual rather than dramatic, creating a course that feels steady underfoot without demanding the kind of effort genuine hills require. The road surface keeps things predictable, and the gentle ups and downs mean you can settle into a rhythm early and maintain it throughout the race. This is the kind of course where fitness matters more than technical footwork, so runners should expect to rely on aerobic capacity and pacing discipline rather than careful footing or steep descents.