DETROIT – Thousands of runners flooded the streets of Detroit and Windsor Sunday for the Detroit Free Press Marathon, undeterred by rain and gusty winds that challenged them throughout the race.
The event marked the 48th annual running and featured nearly 26,000 registered participants across multiple races.
The day began with an air horn signaling the start near Fort and Third streets in downtown Detroit.
Despite soggy conditions, the energy remained high as spectators lined the course, cheering on runners.
Laura Setter brought her young children along to share a personal message of support for her husband, inspired by her son’s love of Lightning McQueen from Disney Cars.
The marathon’s signature feature is its international course, crossing the U.S.-Canadian border twice.
Runners entered Canada via the Ambassador Bridge and returned to the U.S. through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, which closes only twice a year for this event.
The route showcased Detroit’s landmarks, including Downtown, District Detroit, Midtown, and Eastern Market.
The marathon is one of two times the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel temporarily closes to drivers.
“Just looking – just watching the first runners arriving it’s like, ‘Oh, this is amazing.’ I’m glad they’re doing it and I’m thinking, what a feeling it must be to conquer the weather and running the race,” said Regine Beauboeuf, CEO of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
Erin McDonald, female winner of the International Half Marathon and an Olympic hopeful, said she wasn’t sure how the race would go based on the inclement weather.
“It felt really good to come in really strong and pull off a race that I’m proud of,” she said.
Andy Bowman, the male winner and back-to-back Detroit Free Press Marathon champion, reflected on his mindset during the race.
“Coming down the final stretch – it’s just like you’re running through the mud. It might be a cross wind but it’s just so strong that it starts to feel like a head wind,” he said. “All I could think about was my wife and son and just knowing if I can hold on this is the moment.”