Detroit, MI

Detroit Free Press Marathon returns Oct. 17-19: Parking, road closures, tracking, more

Published

3 months ago

October 16, 2025

Press Room

Detroit Free Press Marathon returns Oct. 17-19: Parking, road closures, tracking, more

More than 26,000 runners are registered for the 48th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon weekend, Oct. 17-19.
The event features eight sold-out races —including two international border crossings— parties, live music, food and tens of thousands of spectators.

The largest international race in North America returns to Detroit this weekend — and crosses into Windsor.

The 48th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon, presented by MSU Federal Credit Union, will send runners over the Ambassador Bridge into Canada and back through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, rain or shine.

The marathon weekend runs Oct. 17-19 and features eight sold-out races, two international border crossings, live music, food and tens of thousands of spectators. More than 26,000 participants are registered this year.

Sunday’s races — the Marathon, International Half, Motor City Half and Marathon Relay — sold out faster than ever before, organizers said. The event also includes Saturday’s 5K, 1-Mile Presented by Precision Garage Door, Kids Marathon Presented by Priority Health, and Meijer Little Detroit Dash.

Marathon weekend schedule and events

The weekend begins with the free Health and Fitness Expo at Huntington Place, open from 1-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. The event features Detroit Free Press Marathon apparel and vendors offering the latest in running shoes, clothing, nutrition, technology and more.

Other weekend highlights include the official warm-up party Friday at Chalet 313 in Campus Martius, from 7–9 p.m., and the Blessing of the Sneakers service Saturday at 5 p.m. at Ss. Peter & Paul Jesuit Church.

Race start times:

Saturday, Oct. 18:
- 1-mile: 8:25 a.m.
- 5K: 8:50 a.m.
- Meijer Little Detroit Dash: 10:05 a.m.
- Kids marathon: 10:15 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 19:
- Gear check: opens at 5:30 a.m. at Monroe Street and Woodward Avenue.
- International marathon: 7 a.m. (Adaptive athletes start at 6:58 a.m.)
- International half-marathon: 7 a.m.
- Marathon relay: 7 a.m.
- Motor City half-marathon: 10:30 a.m.
- Awards ceremony: 11 a.m.
- After party “Conquered” at Campus Martius: 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Where do the races kick off?

All Saturday races are held on the Detroit Riverfront and start at Atwater and Rivard streets. All Sunday races begin on Fort Street between the Lodge Service Drive and Third Avenue, with the finish line at the intersection of Woodward Ave. and Congress Street at the foot of the Michigan Soldiers’ and Sailors’ monument in Campus Martius Park.

For maps of the marathon, half-marathons, relay and 5K courses, see our previous coverage: Detroit Free Press Marathon 2025: Route, maps, parking, road closures to know.

Weather during marathon weekend

Runners and spectators at this year’s Detroit Free Press Marathon should brace for a warm but wet weekend, with showers, possible thunderstorms and gusty winds expected to hit the Detroit-Windsor area, according to forecasters.

Friday: Starts dry with highs in the mid-60s before a 30%–40% chance of evening showers.
Saturday: Highs in the mid to upper 70s, with a brief dry stretch expected late morning into early afternoon. Rain chances then increase to 70% to 80% by the evening.
Sunday: Marathon day brings an 80% chance of showers, possible thunderstorms and winds gusting 25–40 mph, with highs near 66 degrees.

“It’s not really looking to be a pleasant Sunday at all, especially for anyone who’s walking or running in the marathon,” said Alex Mannion, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in White Lake Township.

Experts recommend runners wear light, moisture-wicking layers, shoes with traction and a hat to keep rain off the face.

Detroit marathon 2025 road closures and restrictions

Roads along the course will begin closing as early as 4 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, when the full marathon and international crossings take place. Drivers are encouraged to park outside the course perimeter and plan extra travel time.

Sunday road closures include:

Monroe Street: Closed from Randolph Street to the I-375 Service Drive.
Northbound streets off Jefferson Avenue: Limited access north of St. Aubin Street.
Grand River (southbound): Closed at Cass Avenue.
Woodward Avenue (southbound): Closed south of Adelaide Street.
Lafayette Street (westbound): Closed at Iroquois Avenue.
Fort Street (eastbound) in Corktown: Closed at Grand Boulevard.
Lodge Freeway (southbound): Closed after Howard Street.
M-10 South: Closed at Howard Street.

The Ambassador Bridge will have restricted traffic, and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel will be closed from 6:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Detroit Free Press Marathon parking

Marathon organizers recommend booking your parking in advance via SpotHero. Reserve your parking spot using the Detroit Free Press Marathon SpotHero Parking Page.

Race packets

International race packets must be picked up in person at the Health and Fitness Expo on Friday or Saturday. Packets for the Motor City Half Marathon, 5K, 1-Mile, Kids Marathon and Meijer Little Detroit Dash can be collected at the expo by the runner or someone with a printed confirmation email. Runners in the 5K, 1-Mile, Kids Marathon and Meijer Little Detroit Dash may also pick up packets Saturday morning near the start/finish line.

All international race participants must bring valid travel documents to pick up their race packets.

Tracking runners and results

Live runner tracking is available on the Detroit Free Press Marathon app, which lets users search runners by name or bib number in the “start tracking” feature. The app can be downloaded on Apple or Android devices. Unofficial results will be posted on the marathon’s website immediately after the races.

Awards will be presented during the on-stage ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday at Campus Martius as part of the Conquered after party, featuring food trucks, photo ops and live music.

For any other details, download the 2025 Marathon Guide here or visit freepmarathon.com.

Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.

Source link

Click to comment

Detroit, MI

Studs and Duds: Lions’ Stars Deliver Strong Effort

Published

3 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Studs and Duds: Lions’ Stars Deliver Strong Effort

On Sunday, the Detroit Lions suited up for the final time during the 2025 NFL season. It was a much shorter season than Lions fans expected, while Ben Johnson and the upstart Chicago Bears had already secured the NFC North divisional crown and were looking to capture the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

In what looked like a microcosm of Detroit’s season, the Lions surged early, before struggling in the final half. However, on this occasion, the Lions were able to finish, forcing a Chicago punt before Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jake Bates iced it.

With nothing but pride to play for, here are the studs and duds from the Lions’ final contest of the ‘25 campaign.

STUD: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

Amon-Ra St. Brown did not have much to play for, with the receiver suffering multiple injuries as the season wound down. However, he was a shining example of leading the Lions, with the star surpassing 100 yards, with his longest catch of the evening going for 30 yards.

The USC product was the go-to guy on third down, with the receiver besting former Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson multiple times in coverage.

St. Brown also called ballgame, with a huge catch and run after a Gardner-Johnson injury forced a Chicago timeout. The pass-catcher’s 11th reception of the game gave him 139 yards, with that final one setting Jake Bates up for a game-winning field goal.

DUD: IOL Christian Mahogany

Yet again, Mahogany suffered through growing pains as he worked his way back into the lineup for the Lions. The aggressive Chicago Bears front got the best of the second-year player, with the guard surrendering a sack early in the game after being completely blown off the line of scrimmage.

Mahogany was also responsible for a few missed blocks in the run game when Detroit stalled in the third quarter. Every time Goff dropped back, there seemed to be a Bears defender ready to drop him for a loss. Mahogany, along with all the other Lions linemen, appeared ready for the offseason at multiple times on Sunday.

STUD: WR Kalif Raymond

In what might be his last game in Honolulu Blue, Kalif Raymond shined. The returner and receiver was able to flip the field with his catches, along with setting Detroit up with good field position on its final drive.

Raymond came alive in the second half, when most of Detroit seemed content to settle after going up by two scores. Raymond pushed the ball up for Detroit, and was one of the shining examples of players competing for pride.

DUD: OT Chris Hubbard

Hubbard was the replacement for Penei Sewell, who was missing his first career game. Unfortunately, Sewell’s presence was sorely missed. Hubbard was the right tackle on a line that let Jared Goff run for his life, particularly in the first and third quarters.

Hubbard was responsible for part of a sack on Goff, where the quarterback got met by Montez Sweat and Grady Jarrett. Overall, the line surrendered two sacks to Chicago, along with quite a few pressures.

STUD: K Jake Bates

Bates kept Detroit in contention on Sunday, nailing four of his five field goals, including the walk-off winner as time expired. With his lone miss being a 53-yard field goal to end the first half, it is easy to overlook that when the Lions kicker accounted for all the points besides Jahmyr Gibbs’ final touchdown of the season.

Bates, despite the fans turning against him at points, showed resilience and consistency on a night when the Lions sorely needed it.

DUD: OG Tate Ratledge

Ratledge was another Lions lineman who struggled in the final contest of the year. Detroit finally had a push against the Bears’ front, but Ratledge was part of a unit that allowed multiple Goff pressures. Additionally, he added a penalty in the middle of the game to hamper Detroit’s field position, getting busted for a hold.

Ratledge offered promise in his first season, and there is reason to believe in him for next year. This year, however, it was “baptism by fire” in multiple games: Sunday included.

STUD: LB Jack Campbell

Campbell was another one of the Lions stars who played for pride, leading Detroit’s defense by example. To the surprise of none, he led the Lions in tackles, and set the tone by nearly intercepting Caleb Williams as Detroit shut out Chicago in the first half.

Campbell made plays and shifted momentum just enough in the first half for Chicago’s second-half rally to come up short.

STUD: DB Avonte Maddox

Maddox filled in admirably with Detroit down three of its top four safeties on Sunday, and added his own Kerby Joseph-esque centerfield interception, picking off Caleb Williams on a deep shot to the end zone. Maddox bodied out the receiver, then had enough awareness to run the ball out of the end zone, instead of trying to tiptoe up the sideline.

Without this crucial takeaway, it is likely that Detroit either goes to overtime or outright loses to the Bears and falls to 1-5 in the division. Maddox played for pride, and certainly gave the staff much to think about with the offseason looming.

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: How to watch today’s NFL game, kickoff time, TV channel and more

Published

16 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: How to watch today’s NFL game, kickoff time, TV channel and more

The Chicago Bears have already made it into the NFC playoffs, but a Week 18 win against the Detroit Lions will determine their seed in the postseason and what happens next in the wild card round. The Lions are out of playoff contention, but they face a tricky situation themselves; while a win would be great for morale in the short term, a loss ultimately gives them a better draft position.

The Lions vs. Bears game will kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET this Sunday on Fox. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch this Sunday’s game and get the full Week 18 schedule for the rest of the league.

How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears:

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

TV channel: FOX

Streaming: DirecTV, FOX One, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo + more

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears game time:

The Lions vs. Bears game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT this Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears game channel:

The game between the Lions and the Bears will air on FOX.

How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears game without cable:

You can stream FOX on platforms like DirecTV and Fubo, and the game will also be available on FOX’s streaming platform FOX One. You can also tune in on NFL+ for mobile viewing.

DirecTV is currently offering its Entertainment tier package for just $49.99 for your first month – a $40 savings over the regular rate.

DirecTV’s Entertainment tier gets you access to loads of channels where you can tune in to college and pro sports, including ESPN, TNT, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, and, depending on where you live, local affiliates for ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

Whichever package you choose, you’ll get unlimited Cloud DVR storage and access to ESPN+’s new streaming tier, ESPN Unlimited.

The best part is that you can currently try all this out for free for 5 days. If you’re interested in trying out a live-TV streaming service for football season but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV.

Try free at DirecTV

FOX One is a streaming service from FOX that launched in August. With a subscription to FOX One, you can tune in to all your favorite FOX channels like FOX News, FOX Sports, FOX Weather, FS1, FS2, FOX Business, FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network (B1G), and local FOX stations all in one place.

FOX One offers live programming, as well as on-demand shows and movies. At launch, the base price for FOX One will cost $19.99 a month, or you can save with an annual subscription for $199.99. FOX Nation fans can even bundle it with FOX One for $24.99 a month, or opt for an annual subscription, which nets out to $19.99/month.

You can also bundle FOX One with ESPN’s newly revamped streaming service for $39.99/month.

$19.99/month at FOX

NFL Week 18 schedule:

All times Eastern.

Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026

Panthers vs. Buccaneers: 4:30 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
Seahawks vs. 49ers: 8:00 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026

Colts vs. Texans: 1:00 p.m.(CBS)
Chargers vs. Broncos: 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Browns vs. Bengals: 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Packers vs. Vikings: 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Jets vs. Bills: 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Commanders vs. Eagles: 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Saints vs. Falcons: 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Titans vs. Jaguars: 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Cowboys vs. Giants: 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Lions vs. Bears: 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Cardinals vs. Rams: 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Dolphins vs. Patriots: 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Ravens vs. Steelers: 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

How to watch NFL games in 2025:

Many NFL games are broadcast on local channels, so if you’re looking to catch an in-market game, it may be as simple as turning on your TV (or setting up a digital TV antenna) or finding a live TV streaming service that carries the correct RSN (Regional Sports Network). If you want to watch out-of-market games, a $7 monthly subscription to NFL+ will let you watch every out-of-market-game local and primetime game in the season on your phone — but only a select few regular season games on your TV. You could also spring for the uber-expensive NFL Sunday Ticket package to get every out-of-market Sunday game of the season.

When it comes to nationally broadcast games, NFL games typically air across ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC and NFL Network. Thursday Night Football games stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, select football games will stream exclusively on Peacock, games on CBS will stream live on Paramount+, and Monday Night Football games will air on ESPN or ABC and stream on the newly revamped ESPN+ this season. That’s six channels and four streaming platforms to keep up with this season — and that’s not counting your local RSN’s for in-market games and an NFL+ or NFL Sunday Ticket subscription for out-of-market games. Plus, Netflix is once again hosting at least two Christmas Day matches, so add that subscription into the mix. And we can’t forget about Fox One, Fox’s first streaming service, a place where you can also stream games airing on FOX (if you don’t already have access to it).

Confused? You’re not alone. Here’s a breakdown of the platforms we recommend checking out ahead of the 2025 NFL season, so that come game time, tuning into your favorite team’s games will be as easy as simply turning on the TV.

DirecTV is currently offering its Choice tier (typically $108+/month with fees) for just $79.98 (after fees) for your first month.

DirecTV’s Choice tier gets you access to all the usual football suspects: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, plus ACC Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network and plenty more local Regional Sports Networks. (If you want to avoid paying the RSN fees, the Entertainment Tier has plenty of channels you can catch NFL games on, too.)

Whichever package you choose, you’ll get unlimited Cloud DVR storage and access to ESPN’s new streaming tier, ESPN Unlimited.

The best part is, currently, you can try all this out free for 5 days. So if you’re interested in trying out a live TV streaming service for football season, but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV.

Pros

Full package free trial available
Many local RSNs included
Free ESPN unlimited
Unlimited Cloud DVR

Cons

Cost
Regional Sports Network fee

$79.98 for your first month at DirecTV

Fubo’s new skinny sports bundle, Fubo Sports, includes local broadcast stations owned-and-operated by ABC, CBS and FOX, plus additional affiliates in select markets, as well as ACC Network, Big 10 Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox News, FS1, FS2, Fubo Sports Network, ION, NFL Network, SEC Network and Tennis Channel. It also includes free access to ESPN’s new ESPN+ unlimited plan. Fubo subscribers also get unlimited cloud DVR storage.

You can get $10 off your first month of the Fubo Sports package, which brings the cost to $45.99. After your first month it goes up to $55.99/month.

This new Fubo package has you covered for most nationally broadcast or in-market NFL games, and still leaves you with major savings compared to a traditional cable package.

The platform offers a free trial period, so you can check it out for a few days of the 2025 NFL season and decide if it’s right for you this year.

Pros

Free trial available
Unlimited cloud DVR storage
Free ESPN unlimited

Cons

Entirely sports-focused
Doesn’t include NBC

$45.99 for your first month at Fubo

Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football games. On top of Amazon Prime Video, an Amazon Prime subscription includes free shipping, exclusive deals, access to the Prime Day 2025 sale event, Amazon Music, a year of free GrubHub+ and more. A standard Amazon Prime subscription is $15 monthly or $139 annually, but discounts are available for students and those on qualified government assistance. You can try Amazon Prime free for 30 days.

Pros

You probably already have access to Prime Video

Cons

Only Thursday Night Football games

$15 at Amazon

A basic $6.99 per month (or $40 annually) NFL+ subscription will get you live local and primetime regular and preseason NFL games exclusively on your phone or tablet, plus live audio for every game of the season across supported devices and access to NFL Network. NFL+ Premium, while a little pricier at $14.99 per month (or $80 annually) also includes access to NFL RedZone, plus full and condensed replays of every game across supported devices.

Cons

Can only watch MOST live games on your phone

$6.99/month at NFL

ESPN’s revamped streaming platform offers thousands of exclusive live events, original studio shows and acclaimed series that air across ESPN’s suite of 7 linear channels, as well as exclusive content on ESPN+, ABC on ESPN, SEC+, ACCNX and some content from NFL Network and NFL RedZone. The new tier costs $29.99/month or $299.99/year.

Also of note, for its first year in existence, ESPN unlimited includes “bundle” access to Disney+ and Hulu at no extra cost!

And starting September 3, for an extra $10/month, you can bundle ESPN unlimited with NFL+ Premium, which includes full access to NFL Network and NFL Redzone, plus out-of-market NFL games on mobile.

Pros

All ESPN content in one place
Content from NFL Network and NFL RedZone
Bundle option with NFL+

Cons

Only ESPN games available with the base service

$29.99/month at ESPN

FOX One offers live programming, as well as shows and movies on demand. At launch, the base price for FOX One will cost $19.99 a month, or you can save with an annual subscription for $199.99. FOX Nation fans can even bundle it with FOX One for $24.99 a month, or opt for an annual subscription which nets out to $19.99/month – that’s like getting a year of FOX Nation free.

$19.99/month at FOX

Paramount+ offers subscribers access to loads of sports, including loads of weekly NFL games all season long, plus great shows like Survivor, The Challenge and more.

Unlike a lot of other streaming services these days, Paramount+ still offers a free trial — so new subscribers can sign up to watch Week 1 of the NFL season and all the other great programming on the platform. Once the trial ends, you can choose the ad-supported Essential plan or their ad-free Premium plan with Showtime for access which also gives you ad-free streaming of on-demand content, live access to your local CBS station, and full streaming access to Showtime. Paramount+ Essential plan costs $7.99/month, while Paramount+ Premium plans cost $12.99/month.

Try it free at Paramount+