Editor’s note: Story has been edited to correct the marathons that Michael Neumann has run in. We apologize for the error.
Thousands of runners crossed into Windsor and back to Detroit on Sunday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic during the 45th annual Free Press Marathon lineup of races.
This year’s runners and handcyclists also experienced a dramatically different race course, with a new downtown finish line, added routes through more Detroit neighborhoods and no more windy loop on Belle Isle.
More than 19,000 people registered for the Saturday and Sunday events, which though down from the roughly 25,000 registrants of pre-pandemic years, was more than last year’s total of just under 13,000.
The 2020 events were in a virtual-only format. Last year’s races were restricted to the U.S. only.
A NICE ENDING:Young runner completes half marathon after nearly dying at 2021 race
UNWELCOMED GUESTS:Runners fight brief congestion as rental car strays across finish
Conditions were overcast, dry and slightly chilly when the races set off in the morning, what some called “PR weather.” The sun emerged by late in the morning and temperatures warmed to the mid-50s.
This year, the course regained its renowned trek across the Ambassador Bridge. And once back on U.S. soil via the Detroit-Windsor tunnel, runners maneuvered through areas of the city that the course didn’t explore in the past, including the Woodbridge neighborhood, Eastern Market and the Dequindre Cut.
The new course bypassed Belle Isle, notorious for being cold and windy and coming at a late time in the race when people are exhausted. The race stopped at a new finish line near Campus Martius, a change from the old finish on Fort Street near the start.
Aaron Velthoven, Free Press Marathon vice president and executive race producer, said organizers were pleased to see participation rebound this year after dipping in the wake of the pandemic.
[ Check out the results of every participant! ]
There also were no reports of any major medical incidents. There was however a couple of vehicles that came seemed to accidentally get on the course and crossed the finish line along with the thousands of participants.
Overall, the course changes seemed well received — especially the return to Windsor. Organizers said the new course was designed based on feedback by participants over the years, including frequent grumbles about the Belle Isle stretch being a bit unpleasant and lonely.
“I love the new course,” Sarah Lindsay of Farmington said after finishing the marathon Sunday. “I loved running on Belle Isle, but Belle Isle is just a wind tunnel!”
Laura Lubahn, 39, of New Hudson, had similar feelings.
“Belle Isle just sucks all the energy out of you,” she said. “It’s windy, it’s uphill. Usually it’s very pretty, but when you run there, it’s seems empty and just desolate.”
DISABILITIES DIVISION:Last year’s winners roll to repeat
MEN’S WINNER:Novi’s Ryan Corby repeats as champion
WOMEN’S WINNER:Californian Mary Beasley braves ‘cold,’ wins
Another repeat marathoner, Penn Greene, 34, of Detroit, said he enjoyed passing through the different neighborhoods and also didn’t miss the old Belle Isle loop.
“It always comes at the point in the race where you’re the coldest and most miserable,” he said.
Opinions were more split about the new finish line.
Some runners in finish chute interviews said that they prefer the new quicker-to-arrive finish over the former long straightaway along Fort Street, while others, including Greene, said they kind of missed having a target in the distance to aim for.
“I think I prefer the long straightaway. It lets you strategize a little bit more the last few steps,” said Greene, who finished in 3:22:43. “The (new finish) was a surprise. Like, ‘Oh, we’re right there.’ “
Some who favored the new finish said it was more psychologically comforting to turn a corner and see a finish line in the near distance, in contrast to the far distance.
“I turned the corner and there it was — it’s very motivating,” said Tanya Koons, 54, of Royal Oak. “I saw it and I just tore right across the line.”
The Free Press Marathon continues to attract participants from the across the U.S. and Canada, and even overseas.
Michael Neumann, 45, who lives in Berlin, said the event marathon was his fourth marathon in two months.
He ran the Berlin marathon three weeks ago, the London marathon two weeks ago and the Chicago marathon last weekend.
He finished Sunday’s race in 2:58:02, a time he was pleased with.
“No injuries, feeling fine. I could go on forever,” Neumann said. “This is the most marathons I’ve run back-to-back. Usually I give myself at least one weekend to recover. But I was like, ‘Just go for it and lets do it.’ And it was worth it.”
He once anticipated Detroit being his last marathon of 2022. But depending on how sore he feels Monday morning, plans may change.
“There is a Frankfurt marathon in two weeks,” he said. “I haven’t signed up yet. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow.”
Contact JC Reindl: 313-378-5460 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @jcreindl.
