Manitoba Marathon
Winnipeg, Canada · June · Independent
Why people love it
- Maximum elevation change of 3 m (10 ft) per the organiser.
- Finish inside Princess Auto Stadium, the only Canadian marathon finish on a CFL field.
- Aid every 2 to 3 km (1.2 to 1.9 mi) with ice sponges and cooling tents.
- Open entry; 1,431 marathon finishers in 2026.
Watch out for
- The 2022 race was halted mid-race in 37 °C (99 °F) heat.
- The climb up the stadium stands after the finish was called brutal by one reviewer.
- Parking and traffic congestion near the stadium; use shuttle lots.
- Modest scenery: RaceRaves rates it 2.4 of 5.
- The cutoff is a hard 1:00 pm finish, 6 h for a 7:00 start.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
RaceRaves rates it 4.0 from 5 runners. Flat course, volunteers and stadium finish are praised; scenery is modest. The 2022 heat call-off hurts. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Volunteers are praised and half and full runners are kept apart. In 2022 the mid-race stoppage left runners confused; communication was revised for 2023. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.0
Flat, shaded, with a 6 h cutoff, waves and marathon-only toilets. Heat is the risk; in 2022 organisers urged first-timers to drop to the half. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.2
Reviewers call it one of the flattest and fastest courses, with 3 m (10 ft) maximum change per the organiser. Heat years slow it. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant2.6
RaceRaves scenery 2.4 of 5; route is mostly residential and shaded streets. Finish in a stadium adds interest. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.8
No 180-degree turns, waves of start, and half and full separated at key points per reviewers. Stadium finish stairs create a bottleneck after the line. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.9
Paved city roads; no surface complaints in reviews. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.3
Running Magazine (2017) says the course is closed to traffic and has no 180-degree turns; traffic congestion only around the stadium. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.9
The organiser gives 3 m (10 ft) maximum change; another source says about 8 m (26 ft). Either is well under 60 m (200 ft). · High confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop from the University of Manitoba back to Princess Auto Stadium on a near-flat route. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.6
Waves from 7:00 to 7:10 and marathoner-only toilets, but a reviewer reported traffic near the stadium and advised shuttle lots. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.8
Pacers for 3:00 to 5:00 and kilometre markers were reported in 2017. Recent years are not documented. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
A 2017 preview said it draws more roadside spectators than any other road race in the province; a half runner called the crowd staggering. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.3
Aid every 2 to 3 km (1.2 to 1.9 mi) with sports drink and water, fruit bars, ice sponges in 2025 and finish-line cooling tents. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.3
No wind complaints found, but flat prairie exposure is likely. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.0
June starts ranged 8 to 21 °C (46 to 70 °F), highs 20 to 29 °C (68 to 84 °F). Reviewers flagged hot years. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
2022 was cancelled mid-race with a forecast of 37 °C (99 °F); 2024 had overnight thunderstorms; others were crisp at 15 °C (59 °F). · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.8
Stadium finish and a loop through neighbourhoods; limited detail on viewing. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.4
Winnipeg is about 239 m (784 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
Mid-sized city with ample hotels; 10,000 plus participants. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood4.0
Prairie city, moderate prices; no race-week prices fetched. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Start is at the university and finish at the stadium in south Winnipeg, away from downtown; shuttle lots used. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.6
Airport about 12 km (7.5 mi) from the stadium; few direct flights from far afield. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.7
Waves, own toilets and shuttle lots; one reviewer found congestion near the stadium on arrival. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Winnipeg offers the Forks and varied restaurants; not extensively reviewed. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.4
Open entry through Race Roster; no sell-out reports found. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
RaceRaves swag 3.2 of 5 with medal and shirt; stadium finish and cooling tents. 2017 fee CAD 100 (about USD 75); current fee not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 21 June 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,431 athletes
- First held
- 1979
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Start time
- 07:00
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved city roads
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 14–26 °C (57–79 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate; humid in heat waves
- Altitude
- 239 m (785 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Winnipeg Richardson International (YWG), 12 km (7 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Pembina Highway, Downtown Winnipeg, The Forks
- Booking
- Start and finish at the stadium and university in south Winnipeg; hotels near Pembina Highway are close. Reviewers recommend arriving early or using shuttle lots.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves Manitoba Marathon page (5 ratings)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Five runners (2 marathon, 3 half) average 4.0 of 5: difficulty 1.8, scenery 2.4, production 4.0, swag 3.2. They agree it is flat, fast, well run and well staffed, with modest residential scenery, a stadium finish and a brutal climb to the top of the stands afterward.
“well organized and one of the flattest and fastest.”
- Running Magazine: Why run the Manitoba MarathonRaced 2017 · article · Positive
Preview of the 2017 race: very flat with a maximum 3 m (10 ft) change, reversed route with more shade and no 180-degree turns, closed roads, pacers for 3:00 to 5:00 and a first-ever stadium finish.
- CBC News: Manitoba Marathon in scorching heat, advised to take it slowRaced 2022 · article · Mixed
Previewed the 2022 race with a 37 °C (99 °F) forecast and a 22 °C (72 °F) overnight low; the director promised ice, sponges and cooling tents and told first-timers to consider the half. The race was later stopped about 75 minutes after the start.
- Global News and Running Magazine: Manitoba Marathon cancelled mid-race due to heatRaced 2022 · article · Mixed
Organisers called the race about 75 minutes after the start; two people went to hospital with heat exhaustion. Runners were unsure whether to turn back, and complaints focused on police not allowing an earlier start.
- CTV Winnipeg: Thousands of participants run with enthusiasm in 2024Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Reports more than 10,000 runners for the 46th edition on Father's Day despite overnight thunderstorms.
Show 1 more
- Manitoba Marathon full marathon page (organiser)Raced 2026 · article · neutral
Organiser lists waves from 7:00, a 1:00 pm finish deadline, aid about every 2 to 3 km (1.2 to 1.9 mi), a stadium finish and official BQ status. Promotional.
Raced Manitoba Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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