Oct 22, 2007 The Marathnon Course - A History of Changes By Doug Kurtis

The Free Press marathon course has played a huge role in the success of the marathon and it has been through many significant changes.

In 1978, the original plans called for the race to begin in Detroit, cross the Ambassador Bridge and return through the Detroit Windsor Tunnel. But final approvals fell through and the race started along Riverside Drive in Windsor under the shadows of the bridge and crossed into the U.S. solely through the tunnel.

The following year, Windsor’s beautiful Jackson Park became home to nervous runners anticipating the starter’s pistol. Until 1999 it would remain the starting area with the exception of 1993 when tunnel repairs forced the race to be run entirely in the U.S. This meant that most runners would be bused from Detroit. Note: In the early eighties marathon participation was at its peak and hit 4,953 in 1981.

The course also featured the Grosse Pointes during the first eight years. There was something exhilarating about running along beautiful homes and seeing the Lake Saint Clair before turning onto Kercheval.

The course moved to the Westside of Detroit in 1986. Miles 11 through 21 went out and back along Michigan Avenue with a turnaround at Wyoming. It wasn’t one of the prettiest courses in America but it satisfied the eastside ministers who were putting pressure on the event for disrupting their services.

Until 1992 the race finished in front of the Belle Isle casino. The Island’s panorama view of Detroit lent itself to a calm and pleasant atmosphere after the race. Many runners still recall the mental agony of looping past the finish line one year when some distance had to be added.

After six years on the Michigan Avenue, a more appealing course was developed and a new finish line at Hart Plaza was born. This brought the race closer to the hotels and center of downtown Detroit.
1999 marked a number of significant changes.

After months of negotiations, the Ambassador Bridge finally came on board, thus eliminating the need to bus runners to Windsor. Since that time the number one comment received by the marathon organization from the runners about the course is the view of the sunrise from the top of the bridge. Another one time only addition was finishing on the field at Tiger Stadium after the last professional game was played. This promoted a fifty percent jump in participation.

From 2000 the course has seen changes every year. Runners have crossed the finish line in Chene Park, at the old Free Press plant on west Jefferson, Ford Field and now Campus Martius. Ford Field was fabulous for spectators and lent an air excitement but it also meant a steep downhill finish and a walk up the steps to the concourse. Finish line crews were also limited on set up time due to Saturday night high school football games.

The 9/11 disaster played a role in the marathon course. For security reasons, the 2001 race would mark the second time the course stayed solely in the America. Mayor Archer approved a design that put more of the race on Belle Isle but also featured the stately and tree lined homes of Indian Village.

Runner’s critiques helped change the course after 2002. They called for shortening the long quiet loop around Belle Isle and adding more distance in the theatre district. The addition of the Ambassador Bridge created the opportunity to run through Mexican Village, while the new half marathon put more of Corktown on the route.

With more participation coming from the relays and half marathon the starting line was busting at the seams in front of Comerica Park. In 2006 a dual start on Washington Avenue made a big dent in reducing the time for runners to cross the starting mat and a little less worry on the part of the walkers concerned about getting to the Detroit Windsor Tunnel before it needed to reopen.

The Detroit Windsor course can boast the it is the only marathon to cross an international boarder twice and also record the underwater mile times of it athletes. Few courses have its diversity, complexity and history of changes.