Minneapolis, United States of America · Sunday 4 October 2026
The Twin Cities Marathon is an annual 26.2-mile (42.195 km) race held in early October that runs through the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The course begins near U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis and finishes at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. Participants follow a point-to-point route that winds through urban neighborhoods, along city parkways, and around four prominent lakes: Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, and Lake Nokomis. The route
Adjusted Time
4:03:12
Time difference: +3.2 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Twin Cities Marathon is a full marathon held in Minneapolis, United States of America, scheduled for Sunday 4 October 2026. The course is run on road surface with 176m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 290m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Twin Cities Marathon website.
With 176m of elevation gain, this is a moderately undulating course. The route ranges from 240m to 290m above sea level (50m total range). While not completely flat, the elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't significantly impact pacing strategy.
Based on historical weather data for October, the expected race day conditions are as follows. Moderate temperatures between 11°C and 26°C are expected. While comfortable for most runners, those targeting fast times should pay attention to hydration, as these temperatures can impact performance over the full distance. There is a moderate chance of rain (28%). Runners may want to prepare for wet conditions but shouldn't expect persistent rainfall.
Twin Cities Marathon is run on road surfaces, which provide the fastest and most predictable conditions for marathon running. Road courses allow for consistent pacing and are typically the best choice for runners targeting a personal best time.
Our difficulty rating for Twin Cities Marathon is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Twin Cities Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
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