The Twin Cities Marathon will shift its schedule, moving the annual event from its traditional first weekend in October to mid-October starting in 2027. Organizers announced the date change to address heat-related risks and improve the likelihood of ideal race day conditions.
Climate Concerns Drive the Shift
The race has been held the first Sunday in October for 45 years, but the 2027 event is now scheduled for October 17, pending permit approval. Officials cited the cancellation of the 2023 marathon, half marathon, and 10-miler as a catalyst for this decision.
A multi-year review showed that mid-October offers a more stable and safer weather profile. Long-term climate data indicates that even modest shifts in average highs and lows can meaningfully reduce heat-related risk, a factor that has become increasingly difficult to ignore.
Local medical and public safety resources face a massive strain when race day gets hot. About 40-45 percent of the Twin Cities field each year is made up of first-time marathoners, making the weather profile a critical safety variable for the event.
Aligning With the Season
The new date will also place the race closer to peak foliage season in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Dean Orton, president of Twin Cities in Motion, noted that while safety is the priority, the experience of the event remains important.
We made this move with our runners and local resources in mind,” said race director Ed Whetham. “Safety comes first, but experience matters, too,” Orton added.
Related: New Speed Workout Tweak Boosts Finish Strength
This decision marks a significant adjustment for the event, which was the 12th-largest marathon in the country in 2025 with 7,026 finishers. Twin Cities is considered the largest marathon to adjust its traditional date due to climate-related concerns, though other races have made one-time adjustments.
While the Chicago Marathon, also held in October, is projected to have less than a 25 percent chance of ideal weather by 2045, the New York City Marathon—which runs in early November—faces a similar challenge with less than a 30 percent chance of ideal weather by that year.
Climate scientists project that rising temperatures will eventually affect most marathons globally. A 2026 report from these experts highlighted specific vulnerabilities for other major events, noting that the Los Angeles Marathon in March, where temperatures frequently reach into the 80s, forces organizers to make difficult calls regarding course conditions.
In March, temperatures at the Los Angeles Marathon climbed into the 80s, prompting officials to implement a unique protocol allowing runners to exit the course at mile 18 and still collect a medal. Nearly 1,000 participants chose to end their races eight miles early under these circumstances.
The 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando further demonstrated the urgency of start-time adjustments. Athletes were alarmed by a proposed 12 p.m. start time and successfully lobbied USA Track & Field to move the start back to 10 a.m., illustrating how elite runners are actively advocating for safer conditions.
