City of Lakes Half Marathon
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Event overview
The City of Lakes Half marathon is a USATF Minnesota Half Marathon Championship held in South Minneapolis. The course circles Lake Harriet and Bde Maka Ska and has staged the event for more than 60 years. The 2026 edition is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Beard’s Plaisance in Minneapolis. The field is limited to 1,800 participants.
Race details
The course is USATF certified and described as flat. Aid stations are provided about every 5k. Packet pick-up is located near the tennis courts at Beard’s Plaisance, near 44th and Lake Parkway West. Pacers are available for a range of goal finishing times: 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, 2:45, and 3:00. Registered participants receive free race photos for download and a finisher pint glass. Cash prizes are awarded to the top three overall finishers in the men’s, women’s, and non-binary categories; awards are based on gun time and follow USATF rules. A charity partner, Mile in My Shoes, offers complementary race entries to fund-racers. Limited elite entries are offered to runners meeting the listed time standards (Men – sub 72; Women – sub 82; Non-Binary – sub 82). Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
