The Marathon and International-Half are both sold out, but there are still opportunities to participate in the race weekend
(DETROIT – July 25, 2024) The Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union has sold out several of its most popular races for the first time in its 47-year history, organizers announced this week.
In recent days, the Marathon and the International-Half Marathon – its two most popular events – both reached maximum capacity. Also sold out are the Supreme and Wonder International Challenge Series, which bundle multiple races. The sellouts arrived almost two months before the registration deadline.
The sellouts mean that the race weekend will set course capacity records. Last year, the full weekend drew about 24,000 participants, and more than 26,000 are expected this year. The 2023 Sunday total, which includes the Marathon and International-Half, will jump from about 15,000 to about 20,000.
“This incredible milestone is a testament to the growing interest and enthusiasm for our race weekend, and it validates the hard work and dedication of our team. The sellouts have arrived even earlier than our most optimistic predictions, highlighting the strong demand and passion within the running community,” said Aaron Velthoven, the marathon’s vice president and race director. “For those who couldn’t secure a spot this year, we encourage you to explore our other races, including the 5K and 1-Mile events on Saturday. We want to thank all our participants, staff, and volunteers for making this achievement possible. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Detroit for an unforgettable race experience.”
Several opportunities remain to participate in the race weekend, which includes eight individual events over Oct. 18-20.
- A waitlist is now open for the International Half-Marathon. It can be accessed here.
- Registration is open for the Motor City Half-Marathon, which happens on Sunday, Oct. 20, but does not cross international borders.
- Limited openings are available for the Marathon Relay on Oct. 20. A sellout is expected soon.
- All races happening on Saturday, Oct. 19, are open. This includes the 5K, 1-Mile Presented by Precision Garage, Kids Marathon Presented by Priority Health, and Meijer Little Detroit Dash.
Organizers also note that thousands of volunteers are needed to help make the race weekend happen smoothly. Volunteers are the “heart and soul” of the event, said Velthoven.
“For any runners who’ve considered taking a year off to volunteer, this might be the year,” he said. “We consistently hear from our community that some of the greatest marathon memories are created by volunteering — helping others achieve their goals.”
Volunteer registration is open now here.
What caused the surge in interest in the Detroit Free Press Marathon this year? There are multiple reasons.
Velthoven pointed to the growth of the sport of running in the pandemic years, and how many athletes are just starting to make their way to organized races. Some of the marathon’s peer races around the country are also experiencing registration increases, he said.
He additionally credited an improved Detroit Free Press Marathon course introduced in 2022, which better showcases some of Detroit’s best attributes.
Additionally, buzz around Detroit’s race has grown thanks to this year’s addition of an Elite Field, which is drawing Olympic Trials-qualifying-level runners across several categories. While it’s a relatively small number of athletes (about 100), the Elite Field generated new attention for the Detroit Free Press Marathon in running ranks across the country.
The race weekend, which drew nearly 24,000 runners in 2023, generating over $28 million of economic impact to the city of Detroit, is already a standout thanks to its positions as the largest international marathon in North America and the only marathon worldwide to cross international borders twice.
Registration for all remaining races can be accessed here.
About the Detroit Free Press Marathon: The Detroit Free Press Marathon, presented by MSUFCU, is Michigan’s largest road race, North America’s largest international road race and a beloved tradition among runners across the world. Featuring a unique cross-border course between the United States and Canada, the event showcases the spirit of Detroit and its vibrant communities. Detroit’s race weekend will be held October 18-20, 2024. Races include the Marathon, International Half-Marathon, Motor City Half-Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K, 1-Mile Presented by Precision Garage, Kids Marathon Presented by Priority Health, and Meijer Little Detroit Dash.
