DETROIT (WWJ) — Runners are gearing up for the 47th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon this weekend, but there could be a bit of a delay in getting their race packets due to a presidential campaign visit.
Race participants are required to pick up their race packets in person at the Health & Fitness Expo because it’s an international run and they’ll be required to show their international travel documents in order to get their race bibs.
As has been the case for years, that process will happen at Huntington Place, formerly Cobo Hall, in Downtown Detroit. But marathon officials have announced some tweaks to the schedule because former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump will also be holding an event at the convention center on Friday night.
While Trump is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. Friday, doors will open at 3 p.m. and Trump rallies are known to bring long lines of supporters, though campaign officials haven't said how many they're expecting.
Free Press Marathon officials expect 50,000 runners to attend the Health & Fitness Expo between Friday and Saturday.
The Health & Fitness Expo will keep its 1-7 p.m. time on Friday, but officials are expanding Saturday’s hours to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. — an added hour in each direction — to accommodate runners hoping to avoid the Friday crowd.
The expo has been moved from Hall B to Hall A, at the north end of Huntington Place, closer to Congress Street and further away from the Trump event’s security zone.
The expo also features marathon apparel vendors selling running gear, clothing, nutritional items, technology and more.
The marathon, scheduled for 7 a.m. Sunday, is sold out, along with the Motor City Half Marathon and International Half Marathon. Saturday’s events include a 5K, a one-mile run, a kids’ run and more festivities.
More information on the schedule of events can be found on the Free Press Marathon website.
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