Detroit Free Press Marathon

The Detroit Free Press Marathon is a race run every third Sunday in October in Detroit, Michigan, United States and Windsor, Ontario, Canada since 1978. Major General Stan Connelly and Jerry Coyle organized the first international marathon. MaryJane Hatton, recorded the times as the runners crossed the finish line. After each marathon Stan Connelly and his daughter MaryJane Hatton would compile a booklet entitled, “We’re All Winners” of every runner and their times. The marathon course is international and has featured the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel for all but two years of its existence. The current course crosses the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel between Detroit and Windsor. Due to its use of the tunnel, the race is able to boast that it has the only official underwater international mile in the world, as the tunnel runs underneath the Detroit River. The race is a USATF-certified, Boston-qualifier course. The race weekend also features an international half-marathon, a U.S.-Only half-marathon, a relay, a 5K, a 1-mile and a Kids fun run. History The predecessor to this race was the Motor City Marathon which started in 1963 and featured multiple laps on Belle Isle. The marathon was first held in 1978.