The 44th annual Twin Cities Marathon kicks off Friday with an expanded field of racers from all over the world and all 50 states.
The TC Marathon also will allow all mobility devices on the course for the first time this year. Joe Dailey, who regularly ran marathons before a spinal cord injury in 2002, is planning to compete with a hand cycle Sunday while raising money for Unite to Fight Paralysis.
Dailey, of Prior Lake, said he is excited to be back out on the course. His main goal is to finish, and when he does, he looks forward to that feeling of accomplishment again.
“The feeling you get when you cross the finish line, where there’s not a part of your body that you are not aware of,” Dailey said. “It’s such an overall encompassing feeling, and I’m looking forward to getting that feeling again.”
Dailey has already surpassed his fundraising goal of $2,000 for Unite to Fight Paralysis, reaching $2,500 as of Wednesday.
The TC Marathon also will give participants an additional 30 minutes to complete the course, extending the time to finish the marathon from 6 hours to 6:30. As of Monday, the TC Marathon had raised $1.1 million for 56 charities, with a goal of raising $2.62 million for more than 80 nonprofits.
Where can I watch?
Here are a few of the best spots in St. Paul to watch the marathon.
Summit Avenue is lined with historic homes, and the first place you will spot runners is at the intersection of Cretin Avenue and Summit Avenue South. This part of the course features a steady incline, so spectators can offer support to marathoners as they tackle miles 21 through 25.
Cathedral Hill is where the racers make the final push to the finish line. The stretch covers the final full mile of the course as they approach the finish line at the Capitol.
What’s the etiquette for spectators?
Spectators shouldn’t take fuel from rehydration stations or walk across the course with runners present and should refrain from encouraging racers who might be walking to run. They know their bodies best.
What’s the purse?
The total purse is more than $80,000 and includes wheelchair athletes and $20,000 Best of the Midwest competition within the marathon. These racers must be accepted into the program.
Who is favored?
One of the favorites in the “Best of the Midwest is Tesfu Tewelde, who will be defending his title after finishing second overall in the 2024 TC Marathon. His competition includes Kenyans Elisha Barno, the 2018 champion; Will Norris, who took sixth place in 2024; and Nicolas Rotich, a six-time winner of Grandma’s Marathon.
The top contender for the women’s title in Best of the Midwest is Jane Bareikis. Courtney Dauwalter, an ultramarathon runner, joins the field this year and adds a unique skillset to the mix.
Who won last year?
Shadrack Kimining had the fastest time on Oct. 6, 2024, completing the race in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 17 seconds, beating Twelde by 4 seconds. Molly Bookmyer won the women’s race, finishing the course in 2:28.52, 5 minutes and 50 seconds faster than Jessica Watychowicz.
Streaming and results
Those who cannot make it to the race can stream it live Sunday on KARE11+ beginning at 6:30 a.m. with “More Than A Marathon Live.” Results from all of this weekend’s races can be found at RaceRecord.com.
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