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Twin Cities Marathon

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Twin Cities Marathon
Twin Cities Marathon logo
Datefirst Sunday in October
LocationMinneapolis, Minnesota to St. Paul, Minnesota
Distance26.219 miles (42.195 km)
Primary sponsorMedtronic
Established1982
Course recordsMen: 2:08:51 (2016)
Dominic Ondoro
Women: 2:26:51 (2001 and 2004)
Zinaida Semenova and Irina Permitina (respectively)
Official sitehttps://www.tcmevents.org/alleventsandraces/medtronictwincitiesmarathonweekend/medtronictwincitiesmarathon
Participants8,800
2006 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon

The Twin Cities Marathon is a marathon in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area which normally takes place the first weekend in October. The race is often called "The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America" due to a course that winds through downtown districts, then along parkways that hug lakes and waterways all throughout dense urban forests in the neighborhoods of both cities.[1]

The first Twin Cities marathon took place on October 3, 1982 after both Minneapolis and St. Paul combined their separate marathon events. Its earliest predecessor, the Land of Lakes Marathon, began in 1963.[2][3]

It is one of the top 10 largest marathons in the US. In 2006 the race agreed to its first corporate sponsorship, with Medtronic, Inc. The official name of the marathon changed in 2006 to Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon (MTCM).

In addition to the marathon, the MTCM has expanded to a full weekend of events providing opportunities for runners and wheelers of all ages and abilities. Sunday events for adults include the Medtronic TC 10 Mile, or "Shortcut to the Capitol". Medtronic TC Family Events take place on Saturday for children and adults of all ages. Saturday's races include the TC 10K, TC 5K, Diana Pierce Family Mile, Toddler Trot, Diaper Dash, and Mascot Invitational. In addition, Medtronic and the marathon's organizers sponsor a one-mile road race, for anyone from novices to professionals.

In 2006 the Twin Cities Marathon was ranked as the third most competitive marathon for American runners by Running Times magazine.[4]

In the years since inauguration, the marathon has grown to a full weekend of events including the addition of the Medtronic TC 10 Mile race as a Sunday companion event to the marathon. On the Saturday before the marathon and 10 miles (16.093 km), runners can compete in 5K and 10K runs and a variety of family events including the popular Diaper Dash and Toddler Trot events.[5]

The event is put on by thousands of volunteers, many of whom return each year. In 2004, nearly 2,500 volunteers, some who said they were motivated by an expression of their values and a love for the sport, aided the management of the race weekend and the runners.[6]

History

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The 2007 women's winner, Svetlana Ponomarenko, leading the race.

The Minnesota Distance Running Association (MDRA) created the event's earliest ancestor, originally called the Land of Lakes Marathon in 1963.[7] Spectators outnumbered runners that inaugural year as just five participants, all male, began the 26.2 mile trek along Minneapolis' streets and parkways of which only three finished.[8] The Land of Lakes Marathon had a 3 hour 30 minute time cut-off.[9] The 1975 Land of Lakes Marathon was free to enter and run on a course involving four laps around Bald Eagle Lake and was run by 75 to 100 runners.[10] Tom Heinonen set the Land of Lakes Marathon course record in 1968 with a time of 2:18:29.[11] Until 1972, the Land of Lakes Marathon had no set location. In 1972, Jeff Winters and John Christian took over the event and Winters became sole race director in 1973.

In 1976, the race was renamed the City of Lakes Marathon and moved to a four-lap course around Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet and was sponsored by the Minneapolis Park Board and Minnesota Distance Running Association.[12] The City of Lakes Marathon was considered a fast course despite a course record of only 2:19:26 set by Barney Klecker in 1979.[13] By 1981, with the running boom echoing across the country, the race took just a month to fill its limit of 1,700 runners. In the same year, Minneapolis' counterpart established its own marathon, the St. Paul Marathon, which followed a course around Minnesota's capital city.[14] The race launched successfully, drawing approximately 2,000 runners in its first and only running. George Latimer, the mayor of Saint Paul, started the race after having been approached by Garry Bjorklund and Saint Paul Marathon race director Steve Hoag.[15]

In 1982, organizers from the St. Paul and City of Lakes marathons combined efforts to establish the Twin Cities Marathon.[16] Jack Moran, president of the Minnesota Distance Running Association in 1981, realized that a marathon which connected Minneapolis to St. Paul, combining the spectacular autumn beauty of both cities, would be greater attraction than two competing marathons on either side of the Mississippi River.[17] In a meeting room at Macalester College in August 1981, Moran proposed a marathon in Minneapolis and Saint Paul with a budget of $250,000 to the Minnesota Distance Running Association board. The board initially balked, prompting Moran to tender his letter of resignation to the MDRA. The MDRA board reconsidered and provided Moran the go-ahead to put on the 1982 marathon with a budget of $100,000. Dain Bosworth provided by $5,000 of seed funding, which allowed entry forms to be printed. WCCO provided publicity, which Moran credited with bringing on Pillsbury as a corporate sponsor.[18] The race originally started at the last "r" on the Pillsbury Center building (now US Bank Plaza).[19] Bill Spoor, Chairman of Pillsbury, fired the starter pistol for the inaugural Twin Cities Marathon.[20]

The inaugural Twin Cities Marathon attracted 4,563 entrants, which established an entry record for a first-time race in the United States and was watched by an estimated 100,000 spectators.[21][22] Garry Bjorklund was registered but decided not to run due to a sore leg; likewise, Inge Simonsen dropped out of the race at mile 12.[23] It originally finished at Town Square in Saint Paul.[24]

In 1998, the Twin Cities Marathon used ChampionChip timing chips for the first time after seeing them being successfully used at the St. Patrick's Day Human Race in March of that year.[25]

A slight kerfuffle occurred in 2004 when Irina Permitina finished first for the women, but unofficial results showed her finishing with a time of 2:26:53. Permitina, who was back in Minnesota after having been trampled at the start of Grandma's Marathon in June, was sure that the time was incorrect. Officials corroborated the four official timing devices to find that her time was indeed incorrect—she had actually run a 2:26:50.7—which was three-tenths of a second faster than the previous record set by fellow Russian Zinaida Semenova in 2001. However, marathon race officials round the tenth of a second up to the nearest second, so the time was ruled a tie with the previous record. Permitina submitted a protest, but was moot—the women's course record for the Twin Cities marathon is held by two female runners.[26]

2007 marked the first year that one of the events hosted a USATF championship. Both the 10 mile race as well as the marathon have been US championships. The years that the races serve as championships, prize money is increased and the field is much deeper.[27][28] USATF picked the 2009 Twin Cities Marathon to serve as its women's national marathon championship race.[29]

In 2015, Black Lives Matter organizers in Saint Paul, Minnesota planned to disrupt the Twin Cities Marathon to protest a Saint Paul Police Department officer who used excessive force when arresting 15-year old Tyree Tucker at a church picnic.[30] The plan to disrupt the marathon proved polarizing.[31][32][33], and Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton offered protesters a gubernatorial meeting instead of disrupting the marathon.[34] Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman likewise planned to meet with protest organizers while vowing any effort to disrupt the marathon would result in arrests.[35][36] On October 1, 2015, Black Lives Matter and Mayor Coleman announced the protest would take place but would not disrupt the marathon.[37][38]

2017 marked the first time that the 10 mile race (TC10) had more entrants (12,484) than the marathon (9,851).[39]

The 2020 edition of the race was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants receiving a partial credit for 2021 or 2022.[a][40]

The 2023 edition of the race was canceled due to high heat and humidity.[41] As a result, Twin Cities in Motion commissioned a study to consider the possibility of moving the marathon to a later date in the fall.[42][43] As of 2024, the decision was made to keep the date as-is because moving the date wouldn't lead to significantly better weather outcomes.

Course

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Mile 24 mile marker at the 2024 Twin Cities Marathon

The course begins near U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis, and winds around several of the city's well-known lakes (including Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, and Lake Nokomis) before turning north along the banks of the Mississippi River. The course follows the river for several miles before crossing into Saint Paul, and then proceeds east up Summit Avenue to finish at the Minnesota State Capitol. Miles 21–23 of the course proceed on a steady uphill from the river, and are considered among the more challenging finishes among American marathons, although the downhill last half-mile allows for relatively strong finishes.[44]

Winners

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Marathon

[edit]

  Course record

TC 10 Mile

[edit]

Key:   Course record   USATF 10 Mile Championship

Edition Year Men's winner Time (m:s) Women's winner Time (m:s)
1 1999  Charlie Mahler (USA) 52:01  Kelly Keeler (USA) 57:13
2 2000  Mark Elworthy (USA) 52:02  Bonnie Sons (USA) 1:00:17
3 2001  Dan Simmons (USA) 52:53  Katie McGregor (USA) 57:20
4 2002  Eric Johnson (USA) 51:40 55:48
5 2003  Chris Lundstrom (USA) 50:46 54:28
6 2004  Chad Johnson (USA) 48:42  Sara Wells (USA) 57:10
7 2005  Moses Waweru (USA) 50:48  Katie McGregor (USA) 55:09
8 2006  Matthew Gabrielson (USA) 48:54 53:51
9 2007†  Abdihakim Abdirahman (USA) 47:34  Kristen Nicolini (USA) 56:26
10 2008‡  Josh Glaab (USA) 50:27  Kara Goucher (USA) 53:16
11 2009†  Abdihakim Abdirahman (USA) 46:35  Rachel Booth (USA) 57:32
12 2010‡  Matt Downin (USA) 50:43  Katie McGregor (USA) 54:21
13 2011  Mohamed Trafeh (USA) 46:46  Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (USA) 54:15
14 2012  Benjamin True (USA) 47:19 53:43
15 2013  Jonathan Peterson (USA) 49:03  Laura Paulsen (USA) 58:47
16 2014 48:12  Allison Mendez (USA) 56:27
17 2015  Samuel Chelanga (USA) 46:47  Molly Huddle (USA) 51:44
18 2016 47:25  Jordan Hasay (USA) 52:49
19 2017  Shadrack Kipchirchir (USA) 47:33  Sara Hall (USA) 53:43
20 2018 46:32 52:47
21 2019  Futsum Zienasellassie (USA) 46:55 53:11
- 2020 Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic[51]
22 2021  Daniel Docherty (USA) 49:19  Rachel Drake (USA) 56:40
23 2022  Connor Reck (USA) 49:35  Heather Kampf (USA) 54:17
- 2023 Canceled due to heat and humidity[52]
24 2024  Conner Mantz (USA) 45:13  Natosha Rogers (USA) 52:29

† Men's championship only. ‡ Women's championship only

[53][54]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The partial credit was 40 USD for runners signed up for the marathon. A virtual run took its place.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Brothers, Bruce (11 October 1981). "Twin Cities marathon in 1982? It could be nation's most scenic". Minneapolis Tribune.
  2. ^ Winter, Jeff (October 2003). "City of Lakes Marathon 1975-1981: A Retrospective". Minneapolis: City of Lakes Half Marathon. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  3. ^ "All about the Twin Cities Marathon: Records, traffic and the route". MPRNews. St. Paul: Minnesota Public Radio. October 3, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "2006 Marathoners of the Year". Running Times. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  5. ^ "Registration starts for T.C. Marathon". Minnesota Star Tribune. 7 April 2022.
  6. ^ Bang, Hyejin; Ross, Stephen (2009). "Volunteer Motivation and Satisfaction". Journal of Venue and Event Management. 1 (2). Columbia, South Carolina: The University of South Carolina Department of Sport and Entertainment Management.
  7. ^ Wong, Gregg (30 September 1993). "MORAN BROUGHT TWIN CITIES TOGETHER `MOST BEAUTIFULLY'". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  8. ^ Levy, Paul (7 October 1990). "Long races, great pumpkins and Minneapples". Minnesota Star Tribune.
  9. ^ Hobbs, Maurice (25 April 1993). "True marathoner? It's a matter of time". Minnesota Star Tribune.
  10. ^ Strickler, Jeff (10 October 1975). "Success has spoiled woman long-distance runner from St. Paul". Minneapolis Tribune.
  11. ^ Brothers, Bruce (3 October 1982). "With marathon, state moves from dark ages". Minneapolis Star and Tribune.
  12. ^ "Runners are invited to take part in marathon". Minneapolis Tribune. 23 September 1976.
  13. ^ Brothers, Bruce (3 October 1982). "With marathon, state moves from dark ages". Minneapolis Star and Tribune.
  14. ^ "Munro, Seaman win St. Paul Marathon". Minneapolis Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 5 October 1981. pp. 29, 34.
  15. ^ Brothers, Bruce (8 November 1981). "Can St. Paul, Minneapolis get together on marathon?". Minneapolis Tribune.
  16. ^ Barker, Sarah (6 October 2016). "Twists and turns and the evolution of the Twin Cities Marathon route - St. Paul was adamant that it get equal the mileage of Minneapolis". Minnesota Star Tribune.
  17. ^ Brothers, Bruce (2 October 1982). "'Moran's Marathon' Makes Its Debut Sunday". Minneapolis Tribune.
  18. ^ Brothers, Bruce (31 May 1998). "TCM'S AIR APPARENT IS NO LONGER 'CCO". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  19. ^ Thornton, Ralph (26 September 1982). "Marathon watching: here's how to get running start". Minneapolis Tribune.
  20. ^ Brothers, Bruce (3 October 1982). "With marathon, state moves from dark ages". Minneapolis Star and Tribune.
  21. ^ "25 Years and Running... A Twin Cities Tradition Evolves". Medtronic. Archived from the original on 2007-12-10. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  22. ^ Brothers, Bruce (4 October 1982). "100,000 watch first Twin Cities Marathon". Minneapolis Star and Tribune.
  23. ^ Brothers, Bruce (4 October 1982). "Dane wins by almost 5 minutes". Minneapolis Star and Tribune.
  24. ^ Thornton, Ralph (26 September 1982). "Marathon watching: here's how to get running start". Minneapolis Tribune.
  25. ^ Brothers, Bruce (31 May 1998). "TCM'S AIR APPARENT IS NO LONGER 'CCO". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  26. ^ Zgoda, Jerry (October 4, 2004). "2004 Twin Cities Marathon: Time for Protest After Win; Augustus Mbusya and Irina Permitina Won the Races, but Permitina Wants Credit - and Money - for a Course Record". Metro Section: Star Tribune.
  27. ^ "TC 10 to be rerouted because of bridge". Saint Paul Pioneer Press. 5 August 2007.
  28. ^ Brothers, Bruce (5 October 2008). "Fernando Cabada wins rain-soaked Twin Cities Marathon". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  29. ^ "TCM to host women's nationals". Saint Paul Pioneer Press. 12 December 2008.
  30. ^ Kather, Katie (24 September 2015). "Black Lives Matter plans to disrupt Twin Cities Marathon". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  31. ^ "As marathon nears, divisions deep over Black Lives Matter plans". Minnesota Public Radio News. 29 September 2015.
  32. ^ Du, Susan (29 September 2015). "Black Lives Matter St. Paul's Marathon protest plans are really pissing people off". The City Pages.
  33. ^ Smith, Mary Lynn (30 September 2015). "Marathon protest plan fuels fears for runners - Potential clashes stir Black Lives Matter backlash". Minnesota Star Tribune.
  34. ^ Stassen-Berger, Rachel (29 September 2015). "Dayton says Black Lives Matter activists need goal, offers meeting". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  35. ^ Vezner, Tad (29 September 2015). "Black Lives Matter could be arrested if marathon blocked, Chris Coleman says". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  36. ^ "St. Paul vows arrests if Twin Cities Marathon disrupted". Minnsota Public Radio News. 30 September 2015.
  37. ^ "Black Lives Matter won't interfere with Twin Cities Marathon". Saint Paul Pioneer Press. 1 October 2015.
  38. ^ Norfleet, Nicole (2 October 2015). "'Marathon will go off as planned' - Black Lives Matter assures St. Paul that the group will not disrupt runners at finish of Sunday's race". Minnesota Star Tribune.
  39. ^ Barker, Sarah (4 October 2019). "State of the marathon - Fewer runners everywhere – including the Twin Cities – are taking on the marathon. While still popular, has the defining distance of the running boom hit the wall?". Minnesota Star Tribune.
  40. ^ "Twin Cities Marathon canceled over COVID-19". Minnesota Public Radio News. 23 June 2020.
  41. ^ Krueger, Andrew; Roth, Ellie; Hovland, Ben (1 October 2023), "Twin Cities Marathon, TC 10 Mile canceled amid forecast for record-setting heat", Minnesota Public Radio News, retrieved 22 November 2024
  42. ^ Timmons, Bob (30 September 2024). "What Twin Cities Marathon organizers have learned after 2023′s heat cancellation". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  43. ^ Timar-Wilcox, Estelle (4 October 2024). "What to know for this year's Twin Cities Marathon weekend". Minnesota Public Radio News. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  44. ^ Razman, Amirah (3 October 2024). "What's new at 2024 Twin Cities Marathon?". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  45. ^ "Ondoro Wins Twins Cities Marathon Again, In Record Time". CBS Minnesota. October 9, 2016.
  46. ^ a b Blount, Rachel (6 October 2019). "Twin Cities Marathon has fourth-time winner for men, first-time for women". Minneapolis, Minnesota: Star Tribune. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  47. ^ "Twin Cities Marathon canceled over COVID-19". Minnesota Public Radio News. 23 June 2020.
  48. ^ Timmons, Bob; Albertson-Grove, Josie (2 October 2023). "Twin Cities Marathon canceled due to heat; some runners hit streets, trails anyway". Outdoors. Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  49. ^ "Twin Cities Marathon canceled over COVID-19". Minnesota Public Radio News. 23 June 2020.
  50. ^ Timmons, Bob; Albertson-Grove, Josie (2 October 2023). "TWIN CITIES MARATHON - Soaring mercury cancels a tradition". Minnesota Star Tribune.
  51. ^ "Twin Cities Marathon canceled over COVID-19". Minnesota Public Radio News. 23 June 2020.
  52. ^ Timmons, Bob; Albertson-Grove, Josie (2 October 2023). "TWIN CITIES MARATHON - Soaring mercury cancels a tradition". Minnesota Star Tribune.
  53. ^ "ARRS - Race series: Twin Cities". more.arrs.run. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  54. ^ "Twin Cities In Motion - Race Results". www.mtecresults.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
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