Breaking 3:30 at the Twin Cities Marathon
Even splits would be 4:59/km (8:01/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
4:58/km (7:59/mi)
15–25 km
Gentle descent to the Mississippi River — stay patient
4:57/km (7:58/mi)
25–30 km
River crossing and transition to St. Paul — the calm before the climb
4:59/km (8:02/mi)
30–37 km
Summit Avenue climb (+70 m) — the race's decisive test, run by effort not pace
5:05/km (8:11/mi)
37–42.2 km
Gentle downhill into the State Capitol — open your stride and finish strong
4:55/km (7:54/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 24:49 | 24:49 | 4:58/km |
| 10 km | 24:49 | 49:37 | 4:58/km |
| 15 km | 24:49 | 1:14:26 | 4:58/km |
| 20 km | 24:46 | 1:39:11 | 4:57/km |
| Half | 5:26 | 1:44:37 | 4:57/km |
| 25 km | 19:19 | 2:03:57 | 4:57/km |
| 30 km | 24:56 | 2:28:53 | 4:59/km |
| 35 km | 25:26 | 2:54:19 | 5:05/km |
| 40 km | 24:55 | 3:19:13 | 4:55/km |
| Finish | 10:47 | 3:30:00 | 4:55/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.