Organizers of the Twin Cities Marathon said on Tuesday that its annual popular group of races held during a single weekend in Minneapolis will be pushed to mid-October because of concerns over rising temperatures and to “reduce heat-related risk.”
The events, which are usually staged in the first weekend of October will now take place two weeks later in conditions that are better suited for racing during the peak of the fall marathon season.
“A multi-year review — prompted by the extreme heat that forced the cancellation of Sunday events in 2023 and reinforced by elevated Event Alert System readings in subsequent years — showed that mid-October offers a more stable and safer weather profile,” organizers said in a statement. “Long-term climate data and recent race-day trends indicate that even modest shifts in average highs, lows, and overnight cooling can meaningfully reduce heat-related risk.”
Organizers published an extensive breakdown of the event’s historical weather data since Minneapolis and St. Paul combined their separate marathons into a single race in 1982. Temperatures were largely consistent in the through the 1990s with highs in the mid 60s but saw unusually warm instances in 2002 (83 degrees), 2006 (81) and 2007 (82).
After the 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, temperatures rose to the mid 70s in the following two years and the event was canceled in 2023 in the wake of brutal heat and a record-breaking 92 degree day on October. It was the highest temperature ever recorded in the area in the fall and a tipping point, or sorts, for organizers to consider adjusting the schedule.
“We made this move with our runners and local resources in mind,” race director Ed Whetham said. “Our participants collectively put in millions of training miles over months of preparation just to get to our start line. We have a large field of first-timers every year, with about 40-45 percent of our marathoners taking on the distance for the very first time. Shifting the date gives us a much better shot at ideal weather, which keeps participants safe and helps them accomplish the finish line experience they worked for.”
This year’s event will still be held on October 3 and 4, with organizers expecting around 30,000 participants during a busy weekend of racing. But 2027 will mark the official change and October 15 to 17 is likely to be next year’s date once city agencies approve the proposed schedule.
“Protecting the health of every runner, from first-timers to elites, is our top priority. Even modest cooling temperature changes can significantly reduce physiological strain, improve hydration balance, and lower the risk of serious medical events,” TCM medical directors Dr. Jacob Kastner and Dr. David Supik said in a statement. “This means more people finishing safely and breaking personal records. Moving to mid-October meaningfully improves those outcomes.”
The time frame for the new date also give participants the chance to see the changes in foliage during the season, which organizers say now peaks later in October.
