Twin Cities Marathon Spectator Guide

A guide to cheering at TCM

If you have friends or family who are planning to come out and cheer for you, or would like to do so on behalf of your fellow club members, here are a few general suggestions as to where to go.

The start is a favorite, of course, but parking can be tight, and you honestly don't get to see much of your running friends, as they will be buried in a sea of humanity. The same can be said of the early miles in general.

The key is to find spots that are easy to get into and out of. Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun are tough to get out of, while Lake Harriet is very crowded. Possible spots in the early miles are on Minnehaha Pkwy. past 50th St., which is near mile 8, and Nicollet Ave. and Minnehaha (park on the south side of the creek and walk down the access road to the Parkway), at about 9.5 miles. You can then take Lyndale Ave. north or I-35W to 46th St., and continue on your way. A personal favorite is at Cedar Ave. and Minnehaha, which is just past 11 miles (Cedar Ave. provides easy access, and the crowds aren't bad).

The Minneapolis side of the River Road is also good, but you may have to park a fair ways away and walk (or run) to the course. Stopping near the 46th St./Ford Pkwy. bridge has the advantage of allowing relatively quick access to the St. Paul side of the river.

The Lake St. bridge, while crowded, allows you to watch your runner(s) at 17.5 miles, then cross the bridge and see them again at 20.5 miles.

Summit Ave. is a great place to watch, but be aware that you'll have to park several blocks away and find your way to it.

We’ll even have our race official TCRC Cheer Zone near Summit Avenue and east of Hamline Ave (next to the point where Summit Ave crosses over the top of Ayd Mill Road). We usually have a big turnout of our spectators there. Depending on your arrival and the duration of your stay, you’ll be able to see both the 10 Mile and Marathon racers here. So please plan to drop by. Here are a couple links to help you find it: Google Maps | Apple Maps

The finish is, of course, the best seat in town, but once again, be aware that you'll have trouble finding nearby parking. Expect to spend a lot of time finding a parking space and getting to the finish, so plan accordingly—you don't want to arrive five minutes after your runner has crossed the finish line!

In general, pick a few good spots (don't try to catch someone at 6 locations, as you'll never make it from one to the other in time), and do your best. Wear something bright and noticeable, as it's hard to find people in the crowd. If possible, let your runner know the spots you at which you plan to cheer. It can be exhausting for a runner to have to scan a quarter million faces along the route looking for their supporters. And cheer loudly!

Getting Around

Remember that a lot of streets will be closed, making it tough to get around. Often, access roads will be closed several blocks from the marathon course, meaning that you will have to park and then walk a couple of blocks to get to the course. The few roads that cross the course will likely be be heavily trafficked, so expect delays.

If you're at the start, and want to head to other cheering spots, make sure that you're parked south of 6th St. That allows you to get onto Hwy. 35W (accessible via 4th Ave.) or surface streets with a minimum of trouble.

Don't even try to cross the course between the lakes. It's pretty much impossible.

If you're planning to cross the Minnehaha Pkwy. portion of the course, 35W is a good option. Lyndale and Hiawatha Aves. also allow you to get across.

Crossing the River Blvd. portion of the course is limited to 46thSt./Ford Pkwy., Lake St./Marshall Ave., and Hwy. 94. They will be crowded and slow, meaning that you will crawl along for a long time. If you're going to take one of them, keep to the side streets as much as you can (even with regular stop signs, they'll be faster, getting onto the main routes at the last second and getting off as soon as you can. What I do nowadays, to get from Minneapolis to the finish, is to take Hwy. 62 east to Hwy. 5 (just past the airport), then along Shepard Rd. to downtown St. Paul. It takes you a little out of the way, but traffic is light, making it faster on the whole.

Crossing the Summit Ave. portion is also difficult. Ayd Mill Rd. is pretty much the only option. You can catch it from Selby Ave., just east of Snelling Ave., and exit on Grand Ave. or St. Clair Ave. It crosses the marathon course at about 23.5 miles.

Another option is to ride your bike. You'll still have to deal with traffic, but it might be faster than many of the automotive possibilities, and would allow you to stop and cheer more often.

Parking

Parking can be difficult on race morning. At the start, there's plenty of street parking, but don't expect to leave your car there until you've finished the race—it will get towed. Two options are better:

1. Have a friend or family member drop you off at the start and pick you up at the finish.

2. Drive to the finish area early (I usually do it before the first bus to the start), and park there. Then just walk to the Kelly Inn and take the bus to the start. Buses also pick up in front of the Intercontinental Riverfront Hotel on Kellogg Blvd. in downtown St. Paul. That allows you to have your car near at hand when you finish. There are some lots near the Transportation Building and the State Office Building (refer to the finish area map in your Spectator's Guide) feature free parking if you get there early enough, and allow you an easy getaway after the race.

On the course, street parking will be the norm. Plan your spots for a quick get-away after your runners have passed. Thus, try to stay close to major roads and available crossings, and park on the side of the race course that will give you the easiest continuation. Avoid spots where there is a water stop. People tend to congregate there, plus you have all those volunteers, meaning that the nearest available parking space will probably be far away.