Breaking 4:30 at the Twin Cities Marathon
Even splits would be 6:24/km (10:18/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
6:23/km (10:16/mi)
15–25 km
Gentle descent to the Mississippi River — stay patient
6:22/km (10:15/mi)
25–30 km
River crossing and transition to St. Paul — the calm before the climb
6:25/km (10:19/mi)
30–37 km
Summit Avenue climb (+70 m) — the race's decisive test, run by effort not pace
6:32/km (10:31/mi)
37–42.2 km
Gentle downhill into the State Capitol — open your stride and finish strong
6:19/km (10:10/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 31:54 | 31:54 | 6:23/km |
| 10 km | 31:54 | 1:03:48 | 6:23/km |
| 15 km | 31:54 | 1:35:42 | 6:23/km |
| 20 km | 31:50 | 2:07:32 | 6:22/km |
| Half | 6:59 | 2:14:31 | 6:22/km |
| 25 km | 24:51 | 2:39:22 | 6:22/km |
| 30 km | 32:03 | 3:11:25 | 6:25/km |
| 35 km | 32:42 | 3:44:07 | 6:32/km |
| 40 km | 32:02 | 4:16:08 | 6:19/km |
| Finish | 13:52 | 4:30:00 | 6:19/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.