Breaking 3:00 at the Twin Cities Marathon
Even splits would be 4:16/km (6:52/mi). But Twin Cities Marathon isn't flat-even — the plan below redistributes the same finish time across the course the way experienced runners actually race it.
How to pace this course
0–15 km
Flat Chain of Lakes section — settle in and bank your energy
4:15/km (6:51/mi)
15–25 km
Gentle descent to the Mississippi River — stay patient
4:15/km (6:50/mi)
25–30 km
River crossing and transition to St. Paul — the calm before the climb
4:16/km (6:53/mi)
30–37 km
Summit Avenue climb (+70 m) — the race's decisive test, run by effort not pace
4:22/km (7:01/mi)
37–42.2 km
Gentle downhill into the State Capitol — open your stride and finish strong
4:13/km (6:47/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 21:16 | 21:16 | 4:15/km |
| 10 km | 21:16 | 42:32 | 4:15/km |
| 15 km | 21:16 | 1:03:48 | 4:15/km |
| 20 km | 21:13 | 1:25:01 | 4:15/km |
| Half | 4:40 | 1:29:41 | 4:15/km |
| 25 km | 16:34 | 1:46:14 | 4:15/km |
| 30 km | 21:22 | 2:07:37 | 4:16/km |
| 35 km | 21:48 | 2:29:24 | 4:22/km |
| 40 km | 21:21 | 2:50:45 | 4:13/km |
| Finish | 9:15 | 3:00:00 | 4:13/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.