Breaking 3:05 at the Twin Cities Marathon
Even splits would be 4:23/km (7:03/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
4:22/km (7:02/mi)
15–25 km
Gentle descent to the Mississippi River — stay patient
4:22/km (7:01/mi)
25–30 km
River crossing and transition to St. Paul — the calm before the climb
4:24/km (7:04/mi)
30–37 km
Summit Avenue climb (+70 m) — the race's decisive test, run by effort not pace
4:29/km (7:13/mi)
37–42.2 km
Gentle downhill into the State Capitol — open your stride and finish strong
4:20/km (6:58/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 21:51 | 21:51 | 4:22/km |
| 10 km | 21:51 | 43:43 | 4:22/km |
| 15 km | 21:51 | 1:05:34 | 4:22/km |
| 20 km | 21:49 | 1:27:23 | 4:22/km |
| Half | 4:47 | 1:32:10 | 4:22/km |
| 25 km | 17:01 | 1:49:11 | 4:22/km |
| 30 km | 21:58 | 2:11:09 | 4:24/km |
| 35 km | 22:24 | 2:33:33 | 4:29/km |
| 40 km | 21:57 | 2:55:30 | 4:20/km |
| Finish | 9:30 | 3:05:00 | 4:20/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.