Free tool
Compare marathons
Side-by-side comparison of elevation, PB potential, beginner friendliness, terrain, weather, and entry details. Pick two races and see how they stack up.
Race A
vs
Race B
Race A
Detroit Free Press International Marathon
Best for
Flat-course PBsQualifying pathway
Race B
Marine Corps Marathon
Best for
Newer marathoners
Race A
Detroit Free Press International Marathon
Detroit, USA
Race B
Marine Corps Marathon
Washington DC, USA
Date
Oct 18, 2026
Oct 25, 2026
Month
Oct
Oct
Location
🇺🇸 Detroit, USA
🇺🇸 Washington DC, USA
Terrain
Road
Road
Elevation gain
▲
85 m
195 m
PB potential
▲
Beginner friendly
▲
World Major
No
No
Entry type
Open
Lottery
Entry status
Open
Lottery opens Jan
Season
Autumn · Americas
Autumn · Americas
Race-day temp.
7–16°C
10–17°C
Conditions
Great Lakes October — cool and variable, possible rain
Crisp autumn — one of the most reliable race-day climates on the US calendar
Humidity
55–70%
55–70%
Wind
10–20 km/h Lake Erie breeze
10–20 km/h
Qualifies for
Boston Marathon
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Want to know how these scores are calculated? See methodology →