Every runner has a story, as the saying goes. And nearly 28,000 registered to take to the streets of Detroit and Windsor to chase their dreams, where 3,000 volunteers and countless spectators will serve as witnesses.
The event is scheduled to start at 6:58 a.m. – nearly an hour before sunrise – with the handcyclists and wheelchair racers. For the next half-hour, 15 waves of runners – sent off two minutes apart – were slated to begin the marathon, international half marathon and five-person marathon relay.
The runners were to start under downright brisk conditions. But at least there was no sign of rain.
Most runners refer temperatures on the cool side, but the National Weather Service's forecast goes far colder than cool. Try around 33 degrees at the start – with a windchill in the upper 20s.
A slight warm-up will follow, but the temperature shouldn't reach 40 degrees until around noon. Winds should be 5-10 m.p.h. from the northwest.
All told, today's field will set another record. The first Free Press Marathon in 1978 drew 1,942 runners. At the turn of the century, the Free Press Marathon had yet to double in size, attracting 3,588 participants. But last year, the 37th edition drew a record field of 27,396 registered runners.
That's a 764% increase since the turn of the century.
Detroit has the only marathon in North America that includes two international border crossings (thanks to the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel) and Detroit has the only Underwater Mile in distance racing (thanks to the tunnel). The view on the course includes the Detroit River for about half the 26.2 miles.
The start-finish line is two-tenths of a mile closer to the heart of downtown. Since 2009, race organizers have used the same start-finish line - at Fort and Second, next to the Free Press building. But a week after last fall's event, the Free Press moved its offices four blocks east on Fort to the historic Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago building.
The new start-finish line splits the difference between the locales. It is at Fort and Cass, two blocks east of the Free Press' former offices and two blocks west of its new offices. On one side of the street is the old Detroit Club, a four-story brick and stone building; on the other is the Fort Washington Plaza, a 16-story glass and concrete building.
The new line is for the start and finish of the marathon, the international half marathon and the five-person marathon relay, plus the finish of the U.S. only half-marathon.
The change to the start-finish line leads to a series of other relatively minor course changes. The course follows its traditional western path on Fort to the Ambassador Bridge. The distance to the bridge is two-tenths of a mile farther than past years. In fact, all the points on the course are two-tenths farther than last year (except the finish line, of course).
The marathon course makes its final turn north from Larned to Fort on Griswold Street instead of Washington Boulevard. The marathon and half-marathon courses still separate at Griswold and Fort.
The starting line for the U.S.-only half marathon moves 1 1/2 blocks west and closer to downtown. It moves from Congress and Randolph to Congress near Bates.
The finish-line chute has been shortened from two blocks to one. After finishing, runners will walk for a block and then turn north on First Street, where the postrace amenities await. The Conquered: Afterparty is another block away, on Lafayette between Cass and Washington. (Beer sales start at 9 a.m.!)
The gear check area can be found on the Conquered footprint. (Drifter Coffee opens at 6 a.m.!)
With thousands of runners, volunteers and spectators rushing downtown in the dark, life can turn into a mad dash to the start. And today will be another perfect storm for parking issues: The Lions play the Bears at 1 p.m. at Ford Field. That means parking lots that would have welcomed runners (and for only a couple bucks) have been guaranteed to Lions tailgaters or will raise rates.
Runners should try to get downtown by 5:30 a.m., or 90 minutes before the starting gun. Many streets start to close by 6 a.m. Most lots open by 5 a.m., which also is when the People Mover will start operating. Its closest open stations to the start area are Michigan Avenue, Cobo Center and Financial District; the Fort/Cass station, right next to the start-finish area, will be closed because, well, it's right in the middle of the congested start-finish area.
The Lodge again will be closed south of I-75 starting in the wee hours. That means exits for Bagley and Howard - once traditional traffic magnets - and Jefferson will be closed.
Race organizers recommend parking outside the course route to ease congestion before the races and to provide an easier exit afterward. Detailed maps can be found under the Parking tab at the race website (freepmarathon.com).
For the fifth consecutive year, Marathon & Beyond magazine has selected the finisher medal from the Free Press/Talmer Bank Marathon as one of the top 25 for North American marathons. That's but one of the many accolades that has come recently for Detroit's marathon. Last year, it won the Governor's Fitness Award, in the category of Extraordinary Event/Organization. Competitor magazine has listed the Underwater Mile among its Top 26 Most Memorable Miles. Rodale Publishing (parent of Runner's World magazine) has selected Detroit as one of the its 10 best events for first-time marathoners.
Because of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, races across the country continue to operate under heightened security. In Detroit, for instance, runners must use clear plastic bags - which were provided - for gear they wanted to check. Backpacks and duffel bags will be subject to search by security and police. Backpacks cannot be stuffed in the plastic bags.
Detroit's marathon has exploded in popularity for many reasons. One highlight - if the Running Gods cooperate, which they have this century - is the breathtaking view on the Ambassador Bridge of the sun rising over the Windsor skyline. Sunrise comes at 7:48 a.m.
Track your runner
Want to keep tabs on your favorite runner today?
Well, it's easy if you've downloaded the Detroit Free Press app. You will see the Track Your Runner link there. The app is free and available for Apple and Android devices.
Be smart: If you intend to do your tracking from along the racecourse in Detroit, download the app before the event. Because of the large volume of cellular usage in downtown, you might experience delays in using this service.
Going the distance
What: 38th Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank Marathon.
When: 6:58 a.m. today.
Where: Streets of Detroit and Windsor. Marathon starts and ends downtown on Fort near Cass.
Races and sponsors: Marathon, Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Half Marathons (international and U.S.-only) and five-person marathon relay. The American Home
Schedule:6:58 a.m. — MPVA Disabilities Division. 7 a.m. — Marathon, international half marathon, five-person relay (wave start in which 15 groups go off in 2-minute intervals). 10:30 a.m. — U.S.-only half marathon (start on Congress near Bates).
Afterparty: Conquered, on Lafayette between Cass and Washington (one block north from finish), 8 a.m.-2 p.m. No charge. Open to all entrants and the general public. Music, food trucks, games and massage tent. Official race merchandise tent. Beer sales start at 9 a.m. The food trucks include Chicken Coupe, Hero or Villain and Saucy Joe's Italian.
Gear check: Same location as Conquered. It opens at 5:30 a.m.
Field: It will surpass last year's record of 27,396 registered runners, walkers, wheelers and handcyclists. In 2000, the event drew 3,588.
Source : http://www.freep.com/story/sports/2015/10/18/army-runner-heads-downtown-free-presstalmer-bank-marathon/74162576/
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