Twin Cities Marathon Race Prep

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon: a rolling point-to-point course in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Pacing by section, fueling, and race-day tips.

Use TrainPace to plan a simple, repeatable strategy for Twin Cities Marathon: pacing targets, fueling basics, and course/elevation awareness.

Pace calculator: training zones + race pace
Fuel planner: carbs/hour + gel timing
Elevation analysis: hills, grades, and difficulty

How to prepare for Twin Cities Marathon

Plan pacing, fueling, and course strategy for Twin Cities Marathon using free calculators and GPX elevation analysis.

Pick a realistic goal time: Use a recent race result or time trial to set a starting point.
Set training paces: Calculate easy, tempo, threshold, and interval paces for your training block.
Build a fueling plan: Estimate carbs/hour and gel timing that you can practice in long runs.
Review course elevation: Upload a GPX to spot key climbs and decide where to adjust effort.

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon course guide

The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon runs point to point from near U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. It passes the Minneapolis lakes, follows the Mississippi River and climbs Summit Avenue. The start and finish are at about the same height.

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon at a glance
Fact	Value
Location	Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Distance	42.195 km (marathon)
Usually held	October
Course	rolling, point-to-point
Typical weather	Starts are typically 7–12 °C
Official site	https://www.tcmevents.org/

Course highlights

Start near U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis
Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet and Lake Nokomis
Mississippi River crossing on Franklin Avenue
Summit Avenue climb, miles 19–23
Finish at the Minnesota State Capitol

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon pacing strategy

The early miles are downhill or flat and feel easy, so do not go out too fast. The hardest part is the climb on Summit Avenue around miles 19 to 23. The final half-mile is downhill to the Capitol.

Pacing by course section
Section	Terrain	Advice
mile 1–9	Minneapolis lakes with a climb near mile 3 and a downhill near mile 9	Run slightly slower than goal pace; do not bank time on the downhills.
mile 10–18	Minnehaha Parkway, the river parkway and the Mississippi crossing	Hold steady effort.
mile 19–23	Summit Avenue, steady climb	Run by effort and expect to slow slightly.
mile 24–26.2	Toward the Capitol, with a drop near mile 26	Let the downhill carry you to the finish.

Fueling notes

RunnersConnect says aid stations are about every 2 miles. Take a gel before Summit Avenue, around mile 18, so you have energy for the climb.

Race-day tips

Do not get greedy on the early downhill miles, a coach warns
Start temperatures are typically in the mid-40s to low 50s °F
The 2023 race was cancelled because of heat, so watch the forecast
Check the official site for the race date, as it can change

Frequently asked questions

Is the Twin Cities Marathon hilly?

It is rolling. The biggest test is the long climb on Summit Avenue around miles 19 to 23, late in the race. Published figures for the total climb vary a lot between sources, so train for a long, steady hill in the last 10 km rather than for a single number.

Is the Twin Cities Marathon net downhill?

No. The start and finish are at about the same height, so the net change is close to zero. The last half-mile into the finish is downhill.

When is the Twin Cities Marathon held?

It is held in October.

Facts checked 2026-10 against the sources below. Race details change from year to year — confirm with the official site before race day.

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