In addition to the marathon, the MTCM has expanded to a full weekend of events providing opportunities for runners and wheelers of all ages and abilities.

In 2004, nearly 2,500 volunteers, some who said they were motivated by an expression of their values and a love for the sport, aided the management of the race weekend and the runners.

[10] Spectators outnumbered runners that inaugural year as just five participants, all male, began the 26.2 mile trek along Minneapolis' streets and parkways of which only three finished.

[24] In a meeting room at Macalester College in August 1981, Moran proposed a marathon in Minneapolis and Saint Paul with a budget of $250,000 to the Minnesota Distance Running Association board.

[26] Bill Spoor, Chairman of Pillsbury, fired the starter pistol for the inaugural Twin Cities Marathon.

[27] The inaugural Twin Cities Marathon attracted 4,563 entrants, which established an entry record for a first-time race in the United States and was watched by an estimated 100,000 spectators.

[28][29] Garry Bjorklund was registered but decided not to run due to a sore leg; likewise, Inge Simonsen dropped out of the race at mile 12.

In 1987, Saint Paul Mayor George Latimer wore a tam o'shanter and awarded laurels to winners at the finish line.

[36] This included athletes such as Jon Solly from the UK, Kjell-Erik Ståhl from Sweden, and Mario Cuevas from Mexico.

[37][38] Dave Long from the UK and Eddy Hellebuyck from Belgium were also slated to run by dropped out due to injury and fatigue respectively.

Permitina submitted a protest, but was moot—the women's course record for the Twin Cities marathon is held by two female runners.

[43] Tim Pawlenty ran the 2004 Twin Cities Marathon, finishing with a time of 3 hours, 57 minutes, and 52 seconds becoming the first sitting governor to run the race.

[47] In 2015, Black Lives Matter organizers in Saint Paul, Minnesota planned to disrupt the Twin Cities Marathon to protest a Saint Paul Police Department officer who used excessive force when arresting 15-year old Tyree Tucker at a church picnic.

[53] Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman likewise planned to meet with protest organizers while vowing any effort to disrupt the marathon would result in arrests.

[54][55] On October 1, 2015, Black Lives Matter and Mayor Coleman announced the protest would take place but would not disrupt the marathon.

[66] As a result, Twin Cities in Motion commissioned a study to consider the possibility of moving the marathon to a later date in the fall.

The course follows the river for several miles before crossing into Saint Paul, and then proceeds east up Summit Avenue to finish at the Minnesota State Capitol.