More than 9,000 runners wound their way through the streets of downtown Minneapolis, through the chain of lakes on the south side, then across the Lake Street Bridge on their way to the state capitol building for the 2022 Twin Cities Marathon.
It was the first full field in three years for what many consider the most beautiful urban marathon in America.
Because of the pandemic, the event was virtual in 2020 and had only half the runners in 2021.
The event was virtual in 2020 and had only half the runners in 2021.
"We are so excited to be back at full capacity, a full field," said Virginia Brophy Achman, executive director of Twin Cities in Motion.
About a dozen of the runners have taken part in every Twin Cities Marathon since competing marathons in Minneapolis and St. Paul merged for the inaugural event in 1982.
"It's a great run, it's a beautiful run," said Scott Knight of Cologne, who began running marathons on a bet back in the 1970's. "The best part is when you make that corner and for the last mile you see the capitol."
Appearing in the Twin Cities Marathon for the first time is Alex Heinbaugh of Ft. Myers, Fla., who was denied entry in several other races before snatching an invite here, and he wasn't going to miss it.
"I rode out the hurricane in Ft. Myers, and I had my flight canceled," he said. "I traveled to Ft. Lauderdale just to get out to come up here and make sure I made the race."