The Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union is proud to host an Elite Field in 2025. The second year of hosting an Elite Field is part of a long-term plan to expand the race’s size, stature and influence in the Metro Detroit, Michigan, Canadian and American distance running.
The 2025 Elite Field Application Window is now OPEN
Thank you for your interest in competing in the elite field at the Detroit Free Press Marathon and International Half-Marathon. Our 2025 Elite field is now open and we are accepting applications for this year’s race. Below is an overview of the elite field program and the qualifying standards.
If you are interested in applying for our 2025 Elite field, the application window will open on January 1st, 2025. Contact us at elite@freep.com with any questions.
- The Detroit Free Press Marathon and International Half-Marathon are international races and require a valid travel document. For more information or if you have questions about your entrance admissibility to Canada visit our page here.
- All applications are subject to approval by the Detroit Free Press Marathon; submitting an application does not guarantee entry.
- All athletes must acknowledge, accept and adhere to our Anti-Doping Policy.
- Standards are as of January 1st, 2025, and are subject to change at the sole discretion of the Detroit Free Press Marathon.
- All athletes must have a verifiable run on a certified course, on or after January 1, 2023. Downhill races, such as the Revel Series and similar, may not be considered.
- Meeting or exceeding the entry standards does not guarantee Elite Athlete Program entry.
- You will receive an email indicating if your application has been accepted or declined.
- You are not officially accepted into the elite field until you receive a confirmation email.
- When the Field hits capacity, any other applicants will be put on a waiting list.
Benefit |
Waived Entry Elite |
Seeded Elite |
Sub-Elite |
Registration Fee |
Complimentary Upon Application Approval |
Early Bird Pricing, subject to availability |
Prevailing Registration Price at the time of registration |
Start Line |
Start on Gun Time withFront Start Line Position |
Start on Gun Time with Start Line Positionbehind Waived Entry Elite Field |
Start on Gun Time with Start Line Positionbehind Seeded Elite Field |
Warm-up Area on Race Morning |
Guaranteed Access |
Guaranteed Access |
Space Permitting Access |
Elite Gear Check |
Guaranteed Access |
Guaranteed Access |
Space Permitting Access |
On Course Aid Stations: Personal Bottles |
Guaranteed Access – Marathon Participants ONLY |
Space Permitting Access – Marathon Participants ONLY |
NA |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Master’s Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men’s Waived Elite |
Women’s Waived Elite |
Men’s Seeded Elite |
Women’s Seeded Elite |
Marathon |
2:30:00 |
3:00:00 |
2:36:00 |
3:05:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:12:00 |
1:22:00 |
1:15:00 |
1:25:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Waived Entry Elite Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men |
Women |
Marathon |
2:25:00 |
2:50:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:09:00 |
1:20:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Seeded Elite Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men |
Women |
Marathon |
2:30:00 |
3:00:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:12:00 |
1:25:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Sub-Elite Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men |
Women |
Marathon |
2:36:00 |
3:10:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:15:00 |
1:30:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
If you have any questions regarding our elite athlete program, contact us at elite@freep.com
2025 Prize Money & Awards
All individual cash prizes are based on gun time (not chip time).
To be eligible for prize money, participants must agree and adhere to our Anti-Doping Policy.
Marathon Prize Money & Awards
| Place | Open Male/Female | Masters Male/Female | Top Michigan Male/Female | Top Ontario Male/Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $3,000 | $1,500 | $150 | $150 |
| 2nd | $1,500 | $750 | ||
| 3rd | $1,000 | $500 | ||
| 4th | $500 | |||
| 5th | $250 |
International Half-Marathon Prize Money & Awards
| Place | Open Male/Female | Masters Male/Female |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $1,500 | $750 |
| 2nd | $750 | $500 |
| 3rd | $500 | $250 |
| 4th | $250 | |
| 5th | $100 |
The Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union is proud to host an Elite Field in 2025. The second year of hosting an Elite Field is part of a long-term plan to expand the race’s size, stature and influence in the Metro Detroit, Michigan, Canadian and American distance running.
The 2025 Elite Field Application Window is now OPEN
Thank you for your interest in competing in the elite field at the Detroit Free Press Marathon and International Half-Marathon. Our 2025 Elite field is now open and we are accepting applications for this year’s race. Below is an overview of the elite field program and the qualifying standards.
If you are interested in applying for our 2025 Elite field, the application window will open on January 1st, 2025. Contact us at elite@freep.com with any questions.
- The Detroit Free Press Marathon and International Half-Marathon are international races and require a valid travel document. For more information or if you have questions about your entrance admissibility to Canada visit our page here.
- All applications are subject to approval by the Detroit Free Press Marathon; submitting an application does not guarantee entry.
- All athletes must acknowledge, accept and adhere to our Anti-Doping Policy.
- Standards are as of January 1st, 2025, and are subject to change at the sole discretion of the Detroit Free Press Marathon.
- All athletes must have a verifiable run on a certified course, on or after January 1, 2023. Downhill races, such as the Revel Series and similar, may not be considered.
- Meeting or exceeding the entry standards does not guarantee Elite Athlete Program entry.
- You will receive an email indicating if your application has been accepted or declined.
- You are not officially accepted into the elite field until you receive a confirmation email.
- When the Field hits capacity, any other applicants will be put on a waiting list.
Benefit |
Waived Entry Elite |
Seeded Elite |
Sub-Elite |
Registration Fee |
Complimentary Upon Application Approval |
Early Bird Pricing, subject to availability |
Prevailing Registration Price at the time of registration |
Start Line |
Start on Gun Time withFront Start Line Position |
Start on Gun Time with Start Line Positionbehind Waived Entry Elite Field |
Start on Gun Time with Start Line Positionbehind Seeded Elite Field |
Warm-up Area on Race Morning |
Guaranteed Access |
Guaranteed Access |
Space Permitting Access |
Elite Gear Check |
Guaranteed Access |
Guaranteed Access |
Space Permitting Access |
On Course Aid Stations: Personal Bottles |
Guaranteed Access – Marathon Participants ONLY |
Space Permitting Access – Marathon Participants ONLY |
NA |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Master’s Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men’s Waived Elite |
Women’s Waived Elite |
Men’s Seeded Elite |
Women’s Seeded Elite |
Marathon |
2:30:00 |
3:00:00 |
2:36:00 |
3:05:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:12:00 |
1:22:00 |
1:15:00 |
1:25:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Waived Entry Elite Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men |
Women |
Marathon |
2:25:00 |
2:50:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:09:00 |
1:20:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Seeded Elite Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men |
Women |
Marathon |
2:30:00 |
3:00:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:12:00 |
1:25:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Sub-Elite Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men |
Women |
Marathon |
2:36:00 |
3:10:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:15:00 |
1:30:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
If you have any questions regarding our elite athlete program, contact us at elite@freep.com
2025 Prize Money & Awards
All individual cash prizes are based on gun time (not chip time).
To be eligible for prize money, participants must agree and adhere to our Anti-Doping Policy.
Marathon Prize Money & Awards
| Place | Open Male/Female | Masters Male/Female | Top Michigan Male/Female | Top Ontario Male/Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $3,000 | $1,500 | $150 | $150 |
| 2nd | $1,500 | $750 | ||
| 3rd | $1,000 | $500 | ||
| 4th | $500 | |||
| 5th | $250 |
International Half-Marathon Prize Money & Awards
| Place | Open Male/Female | Masters Male/Female |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $1,500 | $750 |
| 2nd | $750 | $500 |
| 3rd | $500 | $250 |
| 4th | $250 | |
| 5th | $100 |
The Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union is proud to host an Elite Field in 2025. The second year of hosting an Elite Field is part of a long-term plan to expand the race’s size, stature and influence in the Metro Detroit, Michigan, Canadian and American distance running.
The 2025 Elite Field Application Window is now OPEN
Thank you for your interest in competing in the elite field at the Detroit Free Press Marathon and International Half-Marathon. Our 2025 Elite field is now open and we are accepting applications for this year’s race. Below is an overview of the elite field program and the qualifying standards.
If you are interested in applying for our 2025 Elite field, the application window will open on January 1st, 2025. Contact us at elite@freep.com with any questions.
- The Detroit Free Press Marathon and International Half-Marathon are international races and require a valid travel document. For more information or if you have questions about your entrance admissibility to Canada visit our page here.
- All applications are subject to approval by the Detroit Free Press Marathon; submitting an application does not guarantee entry.
- All athletes must acknowledge, accept and adhere to our Anti-Doping Policy.
- Standards are as of January 1st, 2025, and are subject to change at the sole discretion of the Detroit Free Press Marathon.
- All athletes must have a verifiable run on a certified course, on or after January 1, 2023. Downhill races, such as the Revel Series and similar, may not be considered.
- Meeting or exceeding the entry standards does not guarantee Elite Athlete Program entry.
- You will receive an email indicating if your application has been accepted or declined.
- You are not officially accepted into the elite field until you receive a confirmation email.
- When the Field hits capacity, any other applicants will be put on a waiting list.
Benefit |
Waived Entry Elite |
Seeded Elite |
Sub-Elite |
Registration Fee |
Complimentary Upon Application Approval |
Early Bird Pricing, subject to availability |
Prevailing Registration Price at the time of registration |
Start Line |
Start on Gun Time withFront Start Line Position |
Start on Gun Time with Start Line Positionbehind Waived Entry Elite Field |
Start on Gun Time with Start Line Positionbehind Seeded Elite Field |
Warm-up Area on Race Morning |
Guaranteed Access |
Guaranteed Access |
Space Permitting Access |
Elite Gear Check |
Guaranteed Access |
Guaranteed Access |
Space Permitting Access |
On Course Aid Stations: Personal Bottles |
Guaranteed Access – Marathon Participants ONLY |
Space Permitting Access – Marathon Participants ONLY |
NA |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Master’s Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men’s Waived Elite |
Women’s Waived Elite |
Men’s Seeded Elite |
Women’s Seeded Elite |
Marathon |
2:30:00 |
3:00:00 |
2:36:00 |
3:05:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:12:00 |
1:22:00 |
1:15:00 |
1:25:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Waived Entry Elite Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men |
Women |
Marathon |
2:25:00 |
2:50:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:09:00 |
1:20:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Seeded Elite Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men |
Women |
Marathon |
2:30:00 |
3:00:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:12:00 |
1:25:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
2025 Sub-Elite Standards
QualifyingDistance |
Men |
Women |
Marathon |
2:36:00 |
3:10:00 |
Half Marathon |
1:15:00 |
1:30:00 |
SCROLL ON MOBILE >>>
If you have any questions regarding our elite athlete program, contact us at elite@freep.com
2025 Prize Money & Awards
All individual cash prizes are based on gun time (not chip time).
To be eligible for prize money, participants must agree and adhere to our Anti-Doping Policy.
Marathon Prize Money & Awards
| Place | Open Male/Female | Masters Male/Female | Top Michigan Male/Female | Top Ontario Male/Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $3,000 | $1,500 | $150 | $150 |
| 2nd | $1,500 | $750 | ||
| 3rd | $1,000 | $500 | ||
| 4th | $500 | |||
| 5th | $250 |
International Half-Marathon Prize Money & Awards
| Place | Open Male/Female | Masters Male/Female |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $1,500 | $750 |
| 2nd | $750 | $500 |
| 3rd | $500 | $250 |
| 4th | $250 | |
| 5th | $100 |
