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Organizers of the Minneapolis Marathon have canceled this year's plans, saying they couldn't lock down run routes in time for the June 5 event.

The Team Ortho Foundation, the nonprofit that organizes the marathon, initially proposed a route that crossed the Franklin Avenue Bridge and West River Parkway — both of which are currently closed. 


So, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board 

"Despite our attempts to work with them to get a route and other details confirmed, we never received that information and we never issued them a permit," Park Board spokesperson Dawn Sommers told MPR News last week.


Local distance runners still have a nearby marathon option in the Twin Cities Marathon, which is scheduled for Oct. 9 with a different group organizing. 

Minneapolis Marathon organizers apologized for falling short.


"We understand that you have worked very hard to prepare for your race," they wrote on the marathon's 

. "We know this cancellation is a disappointment to you and disrupts your plans and your running life."


Some runners, though, weren't in a forgiving mood and quickly took to social media to criticize organizers and express their frustration.

"Really sad that 6 months notice about construction is not enough time to figure out an alternate route. This means that you were probably still accepting registration without a confirmed route. Failure on many fronts for your company," wrote one Facebook user on the post announcing the run had been canceled. 

Another post read: "Are you going to refund my $400 plane ticket????????"

Organizers are offering full refunds to runners who already registered, plus discounts on upcoming Team Ortho races.

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Cody Nelson

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The Team Ortho Foundation, the nonprofit that organizes the marathon, didn't lock down routes in time for the June 5 event. Organizers are offering full refunds to runners who already registered.

With no route to run, the Minneapolis Marathon is canceled

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