The Twin Cities Marathon is moving to later in the season, as the warming climate has caused problems for the early-October race in recent years.
Starting in 2027, the race will move to mid-October, with marathon dates falling between Oct. 10 and 17. Other races in the event, including the 10-mile, will move with it. It’s a change from the 45-year tradition of holding the race the first Sunday in October.
In a statement, organizers with Twin Cities in Motion said the move follows a years-long review of weather patterns, runner safety and race logistics.
“We made this move with our runners and local resources in mind,” race director Ed Whetham said. “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."
The marathon was canceled in 2023 amid humidity and high temperatures near 90 degrees. Race officials said it was too risky to run in that weather, with the potential for runners to overwhelm medical facilities. Temperatures have been above-normal in years since then, too, though not high enough to cancel the race.
Organizers said in recent years that they were considering moving the race. But it took some time. The race is a hard event to shift quickly, with 30,000 runners across the weekend’s races and more than 4,000 volunteers. Organizers wanted to avoid conflicting with other major marathons, too.
Organizers said the data pointing to better weather outweighed those logistical complications. They cited the difference in average overnight temperatures between early and mid-October over the last decade. According to their research, the average high temperature is about 10 degrees lower in mid-October; the average overnight lows drop even more, making for a cooler race morning.
As a bonus to runners and spectators, organizers said the new dates will also line up better with average peak fall colors. That’s moved later in recent years, as temperatures drop later in the season.
“Safety comes first, but experience matters too,” Twin Cities in Motion president Dean Orton said. “Cooler conditions and peak fall color are part of what makes marathon weekend special.”
This year’s marathon is still set for the first weekend in October. In 2027, it’ll be on Oct. 17.
