Chris Greig runs down Riverside Drive during the 2024 Detroit Free Press International Half-Marathon (photo: care of Chris Greig, Detroit Free Press Marathon)
By Kate Hargreaves
Over 20,000 runners will hit the streets Oct. 19 for the Detroit Free Press Marathon and Half-Marathon.
Among them will be around 2,600 Canadians, including University of Windsor faculty and staff.
“I really enjoy the racecourse,” says Chris Greig, associate professor in the Faculty of Education.
“Detroit is a well-organized race, and the atmosphere is wonderful on race day.”
Dr. Greig is gearing up for his 11th Detroit international half-marathon since 2013, starting his weekend with Saturday’s five-kilometre race.
Upwards of 26,000 runners will participate in sold-out events throughout the weekend, ranging from the 400-metre Little Detroit Dash for kids eight and under to the full 42.2-km marathon.
Voted the best marathon in the U.S. for 2025, the Detroit Free Press Marathon is notable for its two border crossings, taking runners from downtown Detroit, along Windsor’s riverfront, and back again.
“The international, cross-border running experience is unique, including running across the Ambassador Bridge in the early morning,” explains Greig.
After traversing the Ambassador Bridge at sunrise, runners arrive in Canada, passing the UWindsor campus along Huron Church Road as they head toward Riverside Drive.
“I really enjoy running past our university campus and through Windsor as our local community is always very enthusiastic and supportive of the runners,” Greig says.
Anne Mullen, academic initiatives officer in the Office of the Provost, agrees.
“Running past the UWindsor campus is always one of my favourite parts of the race,” says Mullen, who will be running the international half-marathon for the sixth time in 12 years.
“The energy from the cheering section is incredible. I can’t help but tell other runners, ‘this is my campus, these are my people!’”
For Darryl Danelon, interim associate dean, professional programs, in the Faculty of Engineering, running past campus is an opportunity to spot friends and colleagues in the crowd.
“It’s super energizing to get a high five or words of encouragement from a familiar friendly face,” he says.
Running the full marathon for the eighth time this year, Danelon sees racing as a fun way to get motivated and push beyond his comfort zone, crediting the spectators and volunteers for their support when the race gets tough.
“It really means a lot to see so many folks cheering you along as you are facing your personal battle of surviving the long road ahead,” he says.
“The crowds and volunteers around UWindsor are amazing, and it makes me proud to see the campus community support this amazing event.”
For Mullen, who has also run the full marathon and the marathon relay in past years, the social experience of running is a major motivator.
“Training with others makes the experience so rewarding,” she says.
Preferring to run solo, Danelon cites the physical as well as mental health benefits of his early morning training: “It gives me time alone in my head which can be relaxing or time to sort out life’s anxiety and stresses,” he explains.
For Greig’s part, running has become a family hobby, and he will be running the international half-marathon alongside one of his daughters this year.
David Yott, archival assistant in Leddy Library, will also be running with family this year. "My family have been runners for about 20 years now," he explains, noting that they have been taking on local five-kilometre races together since his son was only five.
This year, Yott, along with his wife and son, will take on what he describes as their biggest challenge yet, running the marathon relay. Having run the half-marathon four times before, Yott describes the course as amazing, "especially because you get to run through our University neighbourhood."
For anyone who finds themselves curious about running amidst all the marathon excitement, Mullen suggests that they check out a local running clinic or club.
“Windsor has a number of excellent running clubs,” she says. “You’ll meet wonderful people and get some exercise along the way.”
For those who prefer to spectate, five cheer zones will be set up along Riverside Drive and south into City Hall Square to support runners as they make their way through Windsor toward the tunnel for the world’s only underwater mile in a marathon.
Windsor-Essex residents are encouraged to bring their signs and noisemakers to ‘Line the Drive’ and cheer the runners along the way from 7 to 11 a.m.
Information about the Windsor cheer zones is available on the Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island website. Art Windsor-Essex will also be hosting a free sign-making event, Saturday, Oct. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m., to help spectators ready their posters for Sunday’s races.
Are you a faculty or staff member running in the Detroit Free Press Marathon weekend? We would love to celebrate your finish! Send your #MedalMonday photos to pac@uwindsor.ca.