Chicago Athlete on the Road: Detroit, 2024

Marathon weekend in Detroit brings thousands of runners from across the country to compete in the events Saturday and Sunday. The Detroit Free Press Marathon is one of my favorite races of the fall and happens the weekend after the Chicago Marathon each year. Registration opens on January 1st, so make sure to add this to your list of New Year to do’s and get registered to experience this for yourself.

My family and I arrived on Friday evening just an hour before the expo closed. There were several campaign events happening, including one at the convention center which housed packet pick up, so the area was buzzing. The was full of fun to explore including a Tracksmith bus pop up! I was thrilled to see Tracksmith at the expo and had a fun time sorting through all of the pieces you could have pressed to commemorate the event. Another favorite stop at the expo was the Detroit Dog Rescue, Detroit’s first no kill shelter. More to come on Detroit Dog Expo when I cover the 5K and one miler!

The events in this race series include a competitive 1 mile and 5K race on Saturday and an international full and half marathon, domestic half marathon, and marathon relay on Sunday. There are several challenge events, which I know many of our Chicago runners enjoy. The challenge events combine a number of the races over the weekend. I participated in the Supreme Challenge which had me running the 1 mile, 5K, and International full marathon. Challenge participants receive an extra piece of swag each year. This year, it was eye-catching windbreaker to sport after the races.

I spent about an hour at the expo, taking my time to speak with some of the local charities and running groups. I really enjoyed learning more about We Run 313, who I see at the expo each year. This running group has a strong presence in Detroit and supports runners along the course in two different locations. The energy they bring around miles 15 and 16 is always amazing!

My family and I always stay at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Detroit Downtown – Fort Shelby and I would highly recommend this hotel as a place to stay if you are running this marathon. All of the rooms are suites, and allow a bit extra space than some of the other hotels.

There is no pool, but this is quite common in city hotels, so just prepare your kids for a no swimming weekend in Detroit. This hotel offers one of the best fitness centers I have seen in a city hotel. There are lines of cardio equipment and stretching equipment that runners can use before and after their race experiences. The hotel is clean and all of the facilities are taken care of.

The staff is incredibly helpful and kind. There is a small café in the lobby where runners can enjoy some healthy snacks like Greek yogurt, fruit, and even Starbucks coffee. The hotel made all of the runners feel extra special, with special goody bags filled with water and hydration packets, provided at check-in.  As with most city hotels, parking is extra and is offsite, so prepare for a bit of extra work when loading and unloading your car. Especially if you have a family like mine that travels with a ton of extra luggage and snacks.

The hotel is just a block from the start line, so you can hang out in the lobby until just minutes before the race start. This is especially helpful if the weather doesn’t coordinate. This year, however, you couldn’t have asked for better running weather. Both Saturday and Sunday had temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s with clear skies. The wind had a few powerful gusts on Sunday, but nothing that we couldn’t power through.

We checked into the hotel on Friday evening after the expo and I went straight to bed. Remember that Detroit is in Eastern Time Zone, so your internal clock may be a bit off with the sleep and wake cycles.

The Saturday races have a later start time of 8:30 am for the 1-miler and 8:50 am for the 5K. This was the first year that my son ran the events with me, so it was extra exciting for me. I remember the first I experienced the Saturday races and how incredible it is to race along the streets of downtown Detroit and the riverfront. I couldn’t wait for him to enjoy the course.

These races are a little over a mile walk from the hotel, so we headed out around 7:45 to make sure we weren’t rushing. The start/finish line for both events is located near The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. The area is charming, with views across the river into Canada. There is even a carousal that looks straight out of novel.

The 1 mile is highly competitive and pulls out some of the best local, and nonlocal, runners around. There is a cash prize and entry is between $35-$45, depending on when you register. All runners received a long-sleeve, athletic shirt with the race logo. There is a small park next to the start/finish line and Detroit Dog Rescue had a pen set up with four pit bull puppies to visit with runners. These pups had been rescued from the recent hurricane-hit areas and were looking for homes in Detroit. It was hard to leave those cute little faces, but leave we did as the DJ called us to the start line.

The event started right at 8:30 am with Journey playing “Don’t Stop Believing” and all runners belting out the portion “born and raised in South Detroit.” It gave me goosebumps to hear the group’s voices ring out through the streets. We took off and rounded the corner to face a large incline right away. The rest of the course was a square and net downhill to the start.

Immediately following the 1 mile is the 5K which started at 8:50 am. Also highly competitive, runners went out fast as the course began the same but took runners further into the business and residential district before looping back on the riverfront path.

When we ended the fog had set in and you could no longer make out the Canadian side. We each grabbed a water and pack of Goldfish crackers before heading back to the expo to do one final visit with the race volunteers, runners, and vendors.

As the marathon occurs during the fall season, it coincides with one of my favorite holiday events for the family. The Henry Ford’s Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village is Michigan’s premier outdoor October celebration and a must see for anyone who is in the area during the Halloween season. This remarkable event is open during 16 evenings throughout the month of October. The event is a 44-year-old Halloween tradition that families return to again and again.

A national historic landmark, Greenfield Village is part of the entire Henry Ford estate which also includes the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Giant Screen Theater and the Benson Ford Research Center. This massive property is open for visitors to relish in the historical collection of the Ford namesake.

During the Halloween season, Greenfield Village is transformed into a spooky, family-friendly immersion experience that is fun for everyone. And it keeps everyone moving! The property is massive and families travel on foot throughout, enjoying different Halloween scenes with real life actors who pull you into their spooky setting. There’s even a carousel that is free for everyone to ride which has been transformed into a skeleton filled spooky ride. Park goers can enjoy a hot cider, flavored popcorn, chocolates, and even adult beverages.

My kids had a blast and I am so happy we were able to fit this into our marathon weekend trip. If you sign up for the Detroit Marathon next year, I highly encourage you to get tickets for this Halloween event as soon as they become available. They sell out quickly, so make sure to put this on your radar for next October.

After the visit to Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village, it was time for a quick dinner and sleep for me. The marathon begins at 7:00 am which I knew would come quickly, especially since this would feel like 6:00 am to my centrally time zoned body. At 6:00 am I began my normal marathon prep of coffee, water, Squirrel’s nut butter and sunscreen. I then headed down the elevator, out the side door, walked half a block and entered my corral.

This is one of many things I love about the Detroit Marathon. It’s got big marathon feel, with none of the annoying parts. I think I’m going to coin that phrase – Big Marathon Energy – BME. Well, maybe not, but Detroit certainly has it. There were no security checkpoints, the porta potty lines weren’t out of control, and I could easily walk into my corral about 10 minutes prior to race start. I entered just in time to hear the Canadian National Anthem, followed by the American National Anthem.

We hit the streets right at 7:00 am, while it was still dark. Leaving the downtown area, we headed for the Ambassador Bridge, which we hit just after mile 2. We crossed over the bridge as the sun started to peak out making for majestic views.

It is a breathtaking experience that I would not be able to give justice to with words. This is the reason that most people sign up for Detroit. Running across a massive bridge as the sun is rising and entering another country is an experience that you just don’t get every day. It’s a challenge to your legs for sure, as the bridge feels unending, but you barely feel the pain that early in the race, surrounded by the beautiful scenery.

As we came down the Ambassador Bridge, we were greeted by border patrol from Canada and Canadian residents that welcomed us into their country. This was the first time since before the pandemic that the race had been allowed to cross the border and everyone was glad to see a return.

Canadians lined the streets as we spent a few miles running along the river front on the Canadian side. We then circled back into the Windsor tunnel to re-enter America. The tunnel was warm, and on a very chilly morning it was welcome. It’s a strange sensation to be running underground and underwater, through a mile long tunnel. As we felt the incline begin, we knew we were coming back out of the tunnel and into the states. Daylight was breaking through as we re-entered the states. We were welcomed back into the US by customs and began the rest of the race throughout the city of Detroit.

The course then wove through several neighborhoods where we were greeted with cheers and support. The Detroit community was incredible offering orange slices, water, and smiles to keep us moving. We were able to experience so many areas like the historic Woodbridge, the District Detroit, Eastern Market, and the Dequindre Cut. One of my favorite neighborhoods to run through is Indian Village. There are so many residents outside with fire pits, bounce houses, and grills. They are just what I need to see at miles 21 and 22.

The finish line is located in Cadillac Square, along with a city-wide party. This area is blocked in area with restaurants and shops lining the area. There is a stage and live music greeted runners as they accepted their medals and bag of goodies.

It’s a short .5 mile walk back to the Fort Shelby hotel, where they graciously allowed me to have a late checkout. Otherwise, it would have been a very stinky ride home for my family! I love this trip and hope you will have the chance to replicate this in the coming years. Watch for registration to open, as the races do sell out. Tickets for Hallowe’en at Greenfield Village also sell out, so make sure to get this early as well. See you in Detroit in 2025!