Breaking 3:45 at the Twin Cities Marathon
Even splits would be 5:20/km (8:35/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
5:19/km (8:33/mi)
15–25 km
Gentle descent to the Mississippi River — stay patient
5:18/km (8:32/mi)
25–30 km
River crossing and transition to St. Paul — the calm before the climb
5:21/km (8:36/mi)
30–37 km
Summit Avenue climb (+70 m) — the race's decisive test, run by effort not pace
5:27/km (8:46/mi)
37–42.2 km
Gentle downhill into the State Capitol — open your stride and finish strong
5:16/km (8:28/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 26:35 | 26:35 | 5:19/km |
| 10 km | 26:35 | 53:10 | 5:19/km |
| 15 km | 26:35 | 1:19:45 | 5:19/km |
| 20 km | 26:32 | 1:46:16 | 5:18/km |
| Half | 5:49 | 1:52:06 | 5:18/km |
| 25 km | 20:42 | 2:12:48 | 5:18/km |
| 30 km | 26:43 | 2:39:31 | 5:21/km |
| 35 km | 27:15 | 3:06:46 | 5:27/km |
| 40 km | 26:41 | 3:33:27 | 5:16/km |
| Finish | 11:33 | 3:45:00 | 5:16/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.