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The course, in 3D

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon

Minneapolis, MN · Sunday, October 4, 2026

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon official site →registration and course details
Race day
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Climb
1010 fttotal ascent
Race-week weather
49°F to 66°Ften-year normals, 35% of days wet

Fly the course

All 26.2 miles through a model of Minneapolis built from OpenStreetMap: real building footprints, heights and roof shapes, the water, and the course line itself. Scrub it, switch cameras, or let it play.

Route statusa community trace of the current course; the official certified course is on the race's site. Public route 'Twin Cities Marathon' (created 2026-02-22). GET https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54052881.json loads without login: 1,181 track points, 42,657 m (26.5 mi), +179 m gain. Start 44.9744,-93.2633 (S 6th St downtown Minneapolis, matches official 615 S 6th St start), end 44.9518,-93.1049 (MN State Capitol, St. Paul). Start coords match actual 2025-10-05 race recordings (multiple RWGPS trips titled 'Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon', 42.5-42.9 km, same start point), so this is the current course.

Course line a community trace of the current course; the official certified course is on the race's site. Public route 'Twin Cities Marathon' (created 2026-02-22). GET https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54052881.json loads without login: 1,181 track points, 42,657 m (26.5 mi), +179 m gain. Start 44.9744,-93.2633 (S 6th St downtown Minneapolis, matches official 615 S 6th St start), end 44.9518,-93.1049 (MN State Capitol, St. Paul). Start coords match actual 2025-10-05 race recordings (multiple RWGPS trips titled 'Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon', 42.5-42.9 km, same start point), so this is the current course. Buildings, roads, parks and shorelines are OpenStreetMap, ODbL, so building coverage varies block to block. Public-domain USGS/USDA aerial imagery and USGS 3DEP terrain are served as static site assets; no paid map API runs in the browser. This is photographic terrain with modeled architecture, not photogrammetry. Bridge approaches, elevations and facade details remain approximate. The organizer's published route is the reference.

Accuracy check: drawn line is within 0.7% of the certified 26.2 miles; 1 sample still crosses a mapped building and is unresolved; 100% of it sits on a mapped road; closest it ever comes to a building wall is 0.0 m.

Note on bridge grades: Where a course crosses a bridge, the elevation now follows the deck rather than the ground underneath it. A terrain model contains no bridges, so it used to sample the riverbed and report a gorge the runner never descends. Decks are held level between their abutments and never allowed to sag below them; a genuine climb across a long span, like the Golden Gate approach, is left exactly as measured. The camber of a long suspension deck is not modelled, so a bridge that really does rise toward mid-span may read slightly flatter here than it feels.

The elevation profile

720 770 820 870 920 970 Mile 0.0 to 0.2: +0.2% Mile 0.2 to 0.4: +0.5% Mile 0.4 to 0.6: -0.2% Mile 0.6 to 0.8: -0.1% Mile 0.8 to 1.0: +0.0% Mile 1.0 to 1.2: -0.0% Mile 1.2 to 1.4: -1.5% Mile 1.4 to 1.6: -0.0% Mile 1.6 to 1.8: +2.8% Mile 1.8 to 2.0: +3.0% Mile 2.0 to 2.2: +0.7% Mile 2.2 to 2.4: -0.2% Mile 2.4 to 2.6: -2.0% Mile 2.6 to 2.8: +0.2% Mile 2.8 to 3.0: -1.3% Mile 3.0 to 3.2: -0.8% Mile 3.2 to 3.4: -0.1% Mile 3.4 to 3.6: +0.2% Mile 3.6 to 3.8: +0.1% Mile 3.8 to 4.0: +0.5% Mile 4.0 to 4.2: -0.3% Mile 4.2 to 4.4: -0.2% Mile 4.4 to 4.6: -0.4% Mile 4.6 to 4.8: +1.5% Mile 4.8 to 5.0: -0.6% Mile 5.0 to 5.2: -1.0% Mile 5.2 to 5.4: +0.2% Mile 5.4 to 5.6: +0.2% Mile 5.6 to 5.8: +0.2% Mile 5.8 to 6.0: +1.1% Mile 6.0 to 6.2: -0.9% Mile 6.2 to 6.4: -0.3% Mile 6.4 to 6.6: -0.2% Mile 6.6 to 6.8: +0.4% Mile 6.8 to 7.0: +1.3% Mile 7.0 to 7.2: +1.5% Mile 7.2 to 7.4: -2.5% Mile 7.4 to 7.6: +0.4% Mile 7.6 to 7.8: -0.1% Mile 7.8 to 8.0: -0.1% Mile 8.0 to 8.2: +0.6% Mile 8.2 to 8.4: -0.3% Mile 8.4 to 8.6: -1.7% Mile 8.6 to 8.8: -0.3% Mile 8.8 to 9.0: -1.0% Mile 9.0 to 9.2: -0.3% Mile 9.2 to 9.4: +0.0% Mile 9.4 to 9.6: -0.7% Mile 9.6 to 9.8: -0.1% Mile 9.8 to 10.0: +0.4% Mile 10.0 to 10.2: -0.2% Mile 10.2 to 10.4: -0.1% Mile 10.4 to 10.6: -0.2% Mile 10.6 to 10.8: -0.1% Mile 10.8 to 11.0: +0.0% Mile 11.0 to 11.2: +1.9% Mile 11.2 to 11.4: -1.4% Mile 11.4 to 11.6: -0.1% Mile 11.6 to 11.8: -0.1% Mile 11.8 to 12.0: -0.0% Mile 12.0 to 12.2: +0.4% Mile 12.2 to 12.4: -0.4% Mile 12.4 to 12.6: +0.1% Mile 12.6 to 12.8: +0.3% Mile 12.8 to 13.0: +0.3% Mile 13.0 to 13.2: -0.1% Mile 13.2 to 13.4: -0.0% Mile 13.4 to 13.6: -0.4% Mile 13.6 to 13.8: +0.7% Mile 13.8 to 14.0: +0.5% Mile 14.0 to 14.2: +0.3% Mile 14.2 to 14.4: -0.5% Mile 14.4 to 14.6: -0.3% Mile 14.6 to 14.8: -1.0% Mile 14.8 to 15.0: -0.1% Mile 15.0 to 15.2: -0.3% Mile 15.2 to 15.4: -0.6% Mile 15.4 to 15.6: -1.2% Mile 15.6 to 15.8: +2.1% Mile 15.8 to 16.0: -0.4% Mile 16.0 to 16.2: +0.5% Mile 16.2 to 16.4: -0.4% Mile 16.4 to 16.6: +0.3% Mile 16.6 to 16.8: +0.3% Mile 16.8 to 17.0: -1.4% Mile 17.0 to 17.2: -0.5% Mile 17.2 to 17.4: -0.5% Mile 17.4 to 17.6: +0.6% Mile 17.6 to 17.8: +1.5% Mile 17.8 to 18.0: -0.6% Mile 18.0 to 18.2: +0.0% Mile 18.2 to 18.4: +0.4% Mile 18.4 to 18.6: -0.1% Mile 18.6 to 18.8: -0.1% Mile 18.8 to 19.0: +0.7% Mile 19.0 to 19.2: -3.6% Mile 19.2 to 19.4: -0.9% Mile 19.4 to 19.6: -1.1% Mile 19.6 to 19.8: -0.5% Mile 19.8 to 20.0: -0.6% Mile 20.0 to 20.2: -0.2% Mile 20.2 to 20.4: +1.9% Mile 20.4 to 20.6: -0.7% Mile 20.6 to 20.8: +1.1% Mile 20.8 to 21.0: +1.9% Mile 21.0 to 21.2: -0.3% Mile 21.2 to 21.4: +5.1% Mile 21.4 to 21.6: +0.5% Mile 21.6 to 21.8: +0.8% Mile 21.8 to 22.0: +1.0% Mile 22.0 to 22.2: +0.7% Mile 22.2 to 22.4: +0.4% Mile 22.4 to 22.6: +0.8% Mile 22.6 to 22.8: +0.8% Mile 22.8 to 23.0: +1.3% Mile 23.0 to 23.2: -0.4% Mile 23.2 to 23.4: +0.3% Mile 23.4 to 23.6: -2.1% Mile 23.6 to 23.8: -0.5% Mile 23.8 to 24.0: +0.1% Mile 24.0 to 24.2: -0.2% Mile 24.2 to 24.4: +0.8% Mile 24.4 to 24.6: -0.3% Mile 24.6 to 24.8: -0.1% Mile 24.8 to 25.0: -0.4% Mile 25.0 to 25.2: +0.1% Mile 25.2 to 25.4: -0.2% Mile 25.4 to 25.6: +0.5% Mile 25.6 to 25.8: -0.8% Mile 25.8 to 26.0: -2.1% Mile 26.0 to 26.2: -2.3% 5 10 15 20 25 mile +167 ft +856 ft
steep up up flat down steep down

1010 feet of total climb across the 26.2, between 794 and 949 feet of elevation. Summit Avenue climbs from mile 21.18 to 22.92, 167 feet up, a long, steady false-flat grind from roughly mile 20 to mile 23, never steep but continuous. Click the profile to jump the flythrough to that mile.

Mile by mile

Every mile of the course on the same vertical scale, so they compare at a glance. Net is what the mile does to your elevation; steepest fifth is the sharpest continuous fifth of a mile inside it, the same unit the colour strip above uses.

MileShapeNetElevation Steepest fifthStreetsTurns
1+6 ft851 ft+0.5%South 6th Street, Hennepin Avenueleft onto Hennepin Avenue
2+57 ft908 ft+3.6%Hennepin Avenue, West Lyndale Avenue South, Douglas Avenueonto Dunwoody Blvd; left onto Lyndale Ave S; right onto Hennepin Avenue South; r
3-35 ft874 ft-2.5%Douglas Avenue, Oliver Avenue South, Penn Avenue Southleft onto Oliver Avenue South; onto Penn Avenue South
4-7 ft865 ft-1.1%West Lake of the Isles Parkway, Dean Parkway, Penn Avenue Southright onto West Lake of the Isles Parkway; left onto West Lake of the Isles Park
5-1 ft865 ft+1.4%West Bde Maka Ska Parkway, Dean Parkway
6+7 ft873 ft+1.1%West Bde Maka Ska Parkway, William Berry Parkway
7-1 ft870 ft-1.4%William Berry Parkway, East Lake Harriet Parkwayleft onto William Berry Parkway; onto East Lake Harriet Parkway
8-17 ft852 ft-2.5%West Minnehaha Parkway, East Lake Harriet Parkwayleft onto West Minnehaha Parkway
9-14 ft838 ft-1.2%West Minnehaha Parkway
10-4 ft831 ft-0.7%East Minnehaha Parkway, West Minnehaha Parkwayslight right onto West Minnehaha Parkway; right onto Stevens Avenue South; left
11-5 ft823 ft-0.3%East Minnehaha Parkway, Cedar Avenue Southonto East Minnehaha Parkway; right onto Cedar Avenue South, CR 152
12-1 ft819 ft+1.8%West Lake Nokomis Parkway, Cedar Avenue Southright onto West Lake Nokomis Parkway
13+2 ft822 ft-0.5%East Lake Nokomis Parkway, West Lake Nokomis Parkwayslight left onto East Lake Nokomis Parkway
14+24 ft845 ft+1.1%East Lake Nokomis Parkway, East Minnehaha Parkway, 22nd Avenue Southleft onto East Lake Nokomis Parkway; right onto 22nd Avenue South; right onto Ea
15-24 ft820 ft-1.0%East Minnehaha Parkway, Godfrey ParkwayAt roundabout, take exit 2 onto Godfrey Parkway; slight right onto Godfrey Parkw
16-21 ft799 ft+2.1%West River Parkway, Godfrey Parkway
17+0 ft797 ft-1.3%West River Parkway
18+9 ft805 ft+1.5%West River Parkway
19+5 ft810 ft+0.6%West River Parkwayleft
20-44 ft777 ft-3.6%East River Parkway, Southeast Franklin Avenueright onto East River Parkway
21+23 ft811 ft+1.3%North Mississippi River Boulevard, East River Parkway
22+86 ft893 ft+4.4%North Mississippi River Boulevard, Summit Avenue, Cretin Avenue Southright onto Cretin Avenue South; left onto Summit Avenue
23+58 ft951 ft+1.3%Summit Avenue
24-29 ft921 ft-2.1%Summit Avenue
25-2 ft920 ft+0.8%Summit Avenue
26-51 ft871 ft-3.4%Summit Avenue, John Ireland Boulevard

The course on a map

1 5 10 13 15 20 25 26

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Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon planning

Open the complete race guide: course, hotels, expo, spectators and the city.

Course geometry a community trace of the current course; the official certified course is on the race's site. City geometry is OpenStreetMap, ODbL. Weather normals are ten years of Open-Meteo reanalysis around race day at the start line. Confirm dates and registration on the official site. Spot an error? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.