Twin Cities Marathon organizer backtracks after offering discounts to ‘underrepresented’ people

Twin Cities in Motion (TCM), the organizer of the Twin Cities Marathon and other races, has reversed course after offering discounts to anyone from an “underrepresented community.”

In April, Alpha News reported that TCM was offering 50% discounts to people from various ethnic and sexual minorities who wanted to participate in Twin Cities Marathon Weekend. The discounts were a part of TCM’s “Equity in Motion” program and were available to 300 applicants.

“Equity in Motion exists to welcome and support those who have historically faced systemic disadvantages,” wrote TCM. “By discounting the cost of Marathon Weekend registration, our hope is to promote social justice, equity, and inclusivity within our running community.”

The organization encouraged people who “identify as Black, Indigenous, Person Of Color (BIPOC), an athlete with a disability, transgender, a non-binary runner or are from another historically underrepresented community” to apply for the program.

After Alpha News’ initial coverage of this program, the Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) sought to challenge the policy in court. Describing the discount policy as “racist and illegal,” the UMLC pledged to represent any runners who were rejected by the program.

On Friday, the UMLC announced that TCM had updated the Equity in Motion program which is now available to “Anyone who feels that financial or other life circumstances have made it difficult to participate in our events.”

References to ethnicity and gender have since been scrubbed from TCM’s Equity in Motion webpage. Alpha News reached out TCM for this story but did not hear back.

“Programs that offer special benefits to select races, gender identities, or interest groups while excluding others are discriminatory,” said Douglas P. Seaton, president and founder of UMLC. “We are encouraged by TCM’s update, but we remain vigilant to ensure future events are open and fair to all participants.”

Twin Cities Marathon Weekend events began on Friday and continue through Sunday. The Twin Cities Marathon itself takes place on Sunday.

Luke Sprinkel

Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.