Detroit Free Press Marathon Recap: My 4th Year as a 6-Hour Pacer (and 60th Marathon!)

Two weeks later, and I’m still processing my 60th full marathon — the 2025 Detroit Free Press Marathon. It marked my fourth year pacing the 6-hour group and my second year pacing alongside my incredible co-pacer, Rhonda Dunn.

Despite the unpredictable Michigan weather (think wind gusts and rain), we stayed strong, stayed steady, and crossed the finish line with smiles!

The 6-Hour Marathon Pacing Plan

One of the most common questions I get is: What pace do you run for a 6-hour marathon?

Here’s our exact pacing strategy from race day:

🏃‍♀️ Run: 90 seconds at a 12:40/mile pace 🚶‍♀️ Walk: 90 seconds at a 15:00/mile pace ⏱️ Average pace: 13:44/mile (for a 6:00 finish)

👉 Download your free 6-hour marathon pace band (available in both miles and kilometers!)

If you want to experiment with different intervals, check out the Run-Walk Interval Calculator at raceplanner.com. I even created a short YouTube tutorial that walks you through how to use it to find the best interval combo for your pace and fitness level.

Detroit Free Press Marathon: More Than Miles

The Detroit Free Press Marathon is unlike any other race I’ve paced. It’s international — yes, you literally run into Canada and back!

The course takes runners:

🌉 Over the Ambassador Bridge at sunrise
🌊 Through the Underwater Mile beneath the Detroit River
🎶 Past energetic neighborhoods filled with DJs, bands, and spectators cheering despite the weather

There’s something incredibly special about Detroit (I wrote more about this in my 2022 Detroit Free Press Race Recap) — the crowd, the community, the energy. Rain or shine, the people of Detroit show up, and that’s what makes this race one of my absolute favorites.

“Steph, Run Strong Run, Can I Get a Picture With You?”

This year brought something extra special — connection.

On Expo Day, I was blown away by how many people came up and said,

“Steph, Run Strong Run — can I get a picture with you?”

Some followed me from Instagram, some from TikTok, and others from Facebook or YouTube. Each interaction touched my heart.

One runner, Kassidy, even made me a custom Run Strong Run bracelet, which she gifted me at the expo. I’ll cherish it forever. ❤️

During the race, Rhonda joked that she was going to start keeping tally marks for every time someone recognized me mid-race. It became a fun little game for our pacing group — and a beautiful reminder that what I do online matters.

All those late nights creating content after my girls are asleep?

Totally worth it.

Because if one video, one post, or one pace band helps a runner believe they can do it — it’s all worth it.

Post-Marathon Reflections

After every marathon, there’s the high of race weekend — the laughter, adrenaline, and celebration. And then there’s the quiet.

Transitioning back into my weekday life as an elementary school vice principal and mom of two little girls (ages 4 and 6) can feel like switching worlds. I go from “Run Strong Run” to “Mom Strong Mom” — and while it’s exhausting, it’s also the greatest blessing.

Each role fills my heart in different ways, and I’m constantly reminded how fortunate I am to live both lives fully.

Looking Ahead: Detroit 2026, Here We Come

I’m already counting down to October 2026, when I’ll be back pacing with On Pace Race at the Detroit Free Press Marathon.

✅ Pro tip: Register early! Because it’s an international marathon, you’ll need to upload your passport information during registration — and yes, runners are encouraged to carry their passport on race day just in case.

Whether you’re running the full or half marathon, I’d love to share miles with you. The half marathon starts at the same time as the full, and we share the first 11 miles — so even if 26.2 isn’t on your radar, you can still join me for a memorable 13.1 through two countries!

📅 Mark your calendar: October 2026.

💙 Let’s run Detroit together.