The Detroit Free Press Marathon has always been a "bucket list" race for me, but it nearly always falls on the same day as my "home" race in Columbus. Fortunately for me, the race in Columbus was completely cancelled and opened up the opportunity to participate in the Free Press Marathon - even if it was virtually!

I decided to go all in and sign up for THE SUPREME challenge. This challenge series consisted of a 1-mile run, 5k run, and a full marathon and these three events would have taken place over two days. Since it was virtual, I spread them out of three days instead - making it a Friday, Saturday, Sunday affair. In fact, I was able to utilize a hybrid version of my "home" course in Columbus to run the virtual full marathon!

The race organizers were very good with keeping participants excited and informed with timely communication, via email as well as via social media. I did have to dig occasionally in my spam emails for race messages, but that's no fault of the organizers.

The swag - specifically, medals and shirts - arrived on the Saturday of race weekend...right about the same time I was wondering if they would show up at all that weekend! The timing could not have been better - just after I finished my 5k on Saturday. The 1-mile and 5k medals were practically the same, which was a little disappointing, but the marathon and challenge series medals more than made up for that.

I won't lie - I still want to run this race in person and fully intend to do so within the next year or two. I want that experience of running over a river into Canada and then back into the U.S.A. via a tunnel going UNDER the same river. I want the crowd experience.

Detroit is a great city (as is Windsor, Ontario, Canada) so why not give the Free Press Marathon a look if you're looking for a fall 2021 marathon - I know I am!