The Marathons of Minnesota the Weather Can Be Cold, but Hearts Are Always Warm

The Marathons of Minnesota The weather can be cold, but hearts are always warm. BY DAVID ASP

arathons in Minnesota? When most people think of Minnesota, images of frozen tundra blanketed by snow in subzero temperatures come to mind. MYes, the weather here can be less than ideal. Beginning this article in midfall and having just ﬁnished a training run with the high school cross-country team, I set my shoes out to dry out by the wood stove from 4 inches of wet snow. The electricity has been out for the past two hours as our ﬁrst snowstorm of the season brought down power lines and made today’s run treacherous. Although the weather in the North Star State can be unpredictable, it doesn’t deter thousands of runners from enjoying the many distinctive marathons of Minnesota. And though the weather can be cold, it has been my experience that race organizers and volunteers are warm and friendly. From an indoor marathon to an urban marathon to a rugged wilderness-trail marathon, there is a run for everyone. So, marathons in Minnesota? You betcha! Following is a list of the marathons held annually in Minnesota. This article follows the style of Dan Horvath’s article “The Marathons of Ohio” and Alan Gould’s “The Marathons of Wisconsin,” published in previous issues of Marathon & Beyond. Like the other authors, I have attempted to include personal experi- ences from the races I have completed along with general information about the event.

Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon

Cabin fever in the depths of January? Postholiday blues? Break out of your funk with the Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon, run on the campus of St. Olaf Col- lege in Northﬁeld, Minnesota. St. Olaf is a nationally ranked private liberal arts

108 l MARATHON & BEYOND l Nov/Dec 2010 college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Renowned for its beauty and award-winning architecture, St. Olaf is set on a hilltop overlooking historic Northfield, Minnesota. Northfield is a quaint two-college community just 35 miles from the Twin Cities and is home to the state high school cross-country meet. Having attended four homecoming 5K runs while my son was at St. Olaf, I know the large field house where the marathon is run quite well. The marathon described by race directors as “the world’s most prestigious indoor marathon” is a 150-lap race that takes place on the indoor track. To avoid monotony, runners change di- rections on the track every 30 minutes, and laps are recorded by each runner’s personal timekeeper. Registration is by © Chad Thomas lottery, as space is limited. In 2009, 85 runners registered for the lottery, 43 started, and 39 runners from 12 states and Ontario finished. While there may be subzero temps outside, runners are treated to perfect weather conditions of 60 to 65 degrees with no wind, rain, or snow. In addition, participants are entertained by music the entire 26.2 miles, and 600 aid stations are on the perfectly level course. For out-of-town runners, towels are provided, and race organizers claim they have the best prerace meal anywhere! s Where: Northfield, Minnesota s When: January 9, 2011 s Web site: www.northfieldrunning.com s Phone: 612/702-7421 s E-mail: dick@northfieldrunning.com

Zorbaz on Gull Lake Run for the Lakes

As I was driving north to Brainerd for the inaugural Run for the Lakes Marathon in 2008, a cold rain soon turned to an icy sleet. My wife ran that Friday afternoon’s 5K race in wet, sloppy conditions, and by race morning it was snowing hard with a strong northwest wind. People in northern Minnesota are tough, and there was no pulling the plug on this race. Running through 6 inches of snow and at times

David Asp l THE MARATHONS OF MINNESOTA l 109 having difficulty seeing the course because of the blizzardlike conditions made the race a memorable event. Given the conditions, race organizers and volunteers were outstanding in their support and aid to participants. Although the conditions made it difficult to enjoy (and see) the beauty of the area, Brainerd is one of the prime resort areas in the United States. Formerly known as the Brainerd Jaycees Run for the Lakes Marathon, the loop course starts and finishes in the city of Nisswa, which is in the heart of the Brainerd Lakes area. The majority of the race is on county roads with some parts on the Paul Bunyan Trail, a 100-mile scenic trail that connects Brainerd and my birthplace, Bemidji, Minnesota. Runners enjoy a relatively flat course that passes by 20 lakes and through forests of white and Norway pine. In 2009 the weather was drastically different, with temperatures in the mid-70s by race finish. Average temperatures in Brainerd for April are from the mid-50s to the mid-60s. The race includes a Friday-afternoon 5K, a kids’ fun run, a half-marathon, and a marathon relay. Both the half- and full marathons are on a certified course. I definitely would do this race again but would opt for blue skies and warmer temperatures, unlike 2008. s Where: Nisswa, Minnesota s When: April 30, 2011 s Web site: www.runforthelakes.com s Phone: 218/537-0294 s E-mail: [email protected]

Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon

Garrison Keillor’s mythical town of Lake Wobegon is in the heart of this area of Minnesota. Here, “where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average,” the marathon with the small-town character is set. The marathon, a relatively small race (the 2010 limit was 350 runners) in its third year, is organized by the local running club, the St. Cloud River Runners. This is a point-to-point race put on “by runners, for runners” and offers many of the amenities of large races without the huge costs or hassles. The race is primarily rural and is on the Lake Wobegon Bicycle Trail. The trail is a 10-foot-wide asphalt bike trail, formerly a railroad track, and is smooth, ﬂat, and fast. The course is certiﬁed, and most of the time, runners are surrounded by serene vistas of lakes, wetlands, and woodlands, but they also pass through four idyllic towns complete with grain elevators, water towers, and beautiful churches. Keillor has said about the trail, “I’ve biked the bike trail . . . and love the ordinary beauty of farmland and meadow and the towns along it.”

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David Asp l THE MARATHONS OF MINNESOTA l 111 © Tony © Tony Peroutky The average high temperature for the area in mid May is 67 degrees, and the average low is 42 degrees. As this is a point-to-point race, transportation is provided at the finish area (St. Joseph) to the start line (Holdingford). Techni- cal finisher shirts and finisher medals are awarded to all runners who complete the course within a six-hour time limit. Runners who cannot maintain at least a 14:00-per-mile average pace are discouraged from registering, as the finish line closes in six hours. s Where: St. Joseph, Minnesota s When: May 14, 2011 s Web site: www.lakewobegontrailmarathon.org s Phone: 320/251-4873 s E-mail: [email protected]

Med-City Marathon

Located on the banks of the Zumbro River, Rochester was once a stagecoach stop between St. Paul and Dubuque, Iowa. In 1883 Dr. William Mayo and his two sons worked together to care for hundreds of people injured by a tornado that devastated the community. With help from the Sisters of St. Francis, Dr. Mayo opened St. Mary’s Hospital in 1889. The Mayo Practice grew and today is among the largest and most-respected medical facilities in the world, giving rise to the city’s nickname, “Med-City.” The Med-City Marathon has also evolved in the last few years and is a point-to- point race where runners are shuttled to the start line in the small town of Byron. The

112 l MARATHON & BEYOND l Nov/Dec 2010 scenic certified course is rolling for the first eight miles as runners travel through a golf course on their way to Rochester. The course becomes relatively flat as it winds through downtown Rochester and on bike paths along the Zumbro River. The finish area is in downtown Rochester, near the Rochester Family YMCA. All proceeds of the race benefit the Rochester Area Family Y’s Strong Kids Campaign. Included in the marathon are a half-marathon, a four-person relay, a 20-mile run, a 5K run or walk, and the Med-City Kids’ Marathon (kids ran 25 miles over time by training on their own, with parents, or with teams at school and then ran the last 1.2 miles on event day, crossing the adult marathon finish line). Average temperatures for May are low 50s to highs of 65 degrees. Although there is a limit placed on numbers of teams, there are no field limitations for the marathon. s Where: Rochester, Minnesota s When: May 29, 2011 s Web site: www.medcitymarathon.com s Phone: 507/664-9438 s E-mail: info@finalstretch.com

Stillwater Marathon

The historic city of Stillwater host- ed its ﬁrst marathon race in 2009 with 2,400 runners. Stillwater, the birthplace of Minnesota, is a scenic 15 miles from the Twin Cities and has been a haven for running. The high school cross-country team has held a number one national ranking in recent years and has produced All-American and Olympic Trials runners. Stillwater is nestled in the bluffs of the beautiful St. Croix River Valley, allowing marathon runners to enjoy commanding views of the river, vintage steam- boats, lumber-baron mansions, and steep sandstone bluffs before finishing near the historic lift

bridge in downtown Stillwater. © Cynthia Samuels

David Asp l THE MARATHONS OF MINNESOTA l 113 The marathon loop course begins in downtown Stillwater, heading south along the river. At mile five, the course turns away from the river, eventually returning to town. By mile 13, runners have passed through town on their way through a rural, rolling river valley. At mile 23, runners return to views of the river and the 26.2-mile finish in Stillwater. The 2010 event included a marathon, half-marathon, 20-mile race, and 12K race. All courses are USATF certified. s Where: Stillwater, Minnesota s When: May 29, 2011 s Web site: www.StillwaterMarathon.com s Phone: 651/430-2306 s E-mail: [email protected]

Minneapolis Marathon

Another new event in 2009, the Minneapolis Marathon drew 1,200 participants for the marathon and nearly 2,300 for the half-marathon. Only two weeks after an attempt to run the Grand Canyon rim to rim, the author, motivated by a ﬁnisher’s jacket, struggled to ﬁnish this inaugural event. The course begins in downtown Minneapolis at the Depot Hotel and quickly descends to the Mississippi River on West River Road. Running with my 25- year-old daughter alongside the scenic river made the initial miles go well. After © Team © Team Ortho Foundation

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David Asp l THE MARATHONS OF MINNESOTA l 115 leaving a view of the river, she made the half-marathon turnaround after mile nine while the USATF-certified out-and-back marathon course continued on to historic Fort Snelling, where the Mississippi meets the Minnesota River. After passing several buildings of the Fort Snelling complex, the course takes a steep downhill and becomes a crushed-gravel trail through woods and around a small lake. It was in these river lowlands that my stomach began to act up, and a porta-potty at one of the 20 water stops on the course was a welcome sight. Feeling better, at mile19 before I made what seemed like a long climb out of the river bottoms and back to West River Parkway. I now had to survive the last seven miles and get to the finish in downtown Minneapolis. The inaugural event was well organized, with mile markers, chip timing, six medical stops, and water and rest stops. Even though this was the first year of this marathon, a surprising number of spectators were on the course cheering runners along. The 2010 event included a marathon, a half-marathon, and a 5K race. s Where: Minneapolis, Minnesota s When: June 5, 2011 s Web site: www.teamortho.us/Minneapolis-Marathon s Phone: 612/746-1364 s E-mail: [email protected]

Grandma’s Marathon

The oldest marathon in Minnesota, Grandma’s Marathon began in 1977 when the North Shore Striders running club plotted a road race from Two Harbors to Duluth. The inaugural event had 150 participants, and the foundation was set for an annual running tradition. In five years the race quickly grew to 3,000 finish- ers. By 1991 the success of Grandma’s Marathon led to the addition of the Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon and, in 1994, the William A. Irvin 5K, a year after this author completed his first marathon at Grandma’s. Like most marathoners, my first Grandma’s was memorable. Feeling good at mile 19, I rounded the curve that brought runners into the city limits of Duluth and affords them a great view of downtown, still over six miles away. Falsely thinking that I was almost there and feeling strong, I was surprised when, in one unbelievable minute at mile 20, all my body systems shouted out to shut down, making the last six miles (which I have since learned is like another race in itself) unbelievably difficult. The 2011 entry limit is 10,000 runners, with a tiered entry fee system start- ing at $80. Grandma’s Marathon is a point-to-point course that is primarily flat with gentle, rolling hills. This relatively fast course begins in Two Harbors and travels along scenic Highway 61 along the northwest shore of Lake Superior into

116 l MARATHON & BEYOND l Nov/Dec 2010 © Je ﬀ Frey & Associates, courtesy of MarathonGrandma’s

downtown Duluth and the Canal Park ﬁnish line area. Runners are treated to great vistas of the big lake throughout the entire marathon, and race organizers take pride in presenting not only a marathon but also a weekend-long festival. Canal Park is the scene where live bands perform under a big-top tent during the race afternoon and evening. s Where: Duluth, Minnesota s When: June 18, 2011 s Web site: www.grandmasmarathon.com s Phone: 218/727-0947 s E-mail: [email protected]

Half Voyageur Trail Marathon

The Half Voyageur Trail Marathon has been a support race for the Minnesota Voyageur 50-Mile Trail Ultramarathon and an introduction to the rugged trail for those not ready for a full 50 miles. The Voyageur Web site indicates there are very few frills connected with the 26.2-mile run but promises a rough woodland course that begins at the Lake Superior Zoo in south Duluth with a finish in the town of Carlton. Past runner comments confirm that this is a physically and mentally challenging race with a course promising rocks, roots, water, and mud. A comment from one runner in 2007 said, “The Voyageur is a race that forces runners to dig deep within themselves to finish.

David Asp l THE MARATHONS OF MINNESOTA l 117 “There is only Mother Nature as your viewing crowd, and she can be very unas- suming and treacherous. Thank goodness there are volunteers at their stations, just to remind you that you are not out there alone, giving you a sense of relief that someone cares, even if you have already been out there for 5 1/2 hours.” Marathon organizers provide water and electrolyte replacement approximately every three miles. Minnesota weather can vary, and in northeastern Minnesota near Lake Superior, weather conditions can be extreme. Years ago, the author and his soon- to-be wife experienced light snow while sitting on a Lake Superior beach in July. At the Voyageur in 2001, the weather was wet and cool (mid-50s), and in 2003 the day was hot and humid (mid-90s). So plan for any type of weather condition. Top male and female ﬁnishers in proportion to entries are eligible for awards, which are given at the ﬁnish. s Where: Carlton, Minnesota s When: July 16, 2011 s Web site: www.northlandrunner.com s Phone: 218/729-5949

Moose Mountain Marathon

As with the Half Voyageur Trail Marathon, the Moose Mountain Marathon held in mid-September is a point-to-point trail run. The course is primarily on the rugged Superior Hiking Trail. Two years ago I ran a challenging 25K on this segment of the trail, and it’s a very technical trail that requires constant focus through the duration of the race. The course has rocks, roots, steep uphills, and descents where distraction can lead to a fall, which happened to me twice during the race. Set in the aspen and ﬁr wilderness mountains adjacent to Lake Superior, the course offers spectacular views of Gitche Gumee (the Ojibwa name for Lake Superior). The course starts at the Cramer Road (Cook County Road 1) trailhead on the Superior Hiking Trail and ﬁnishes near the Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen. Marathon runners have access to three aid stations between the start and

118 l MARATHON & BEYOND l Nov/Dec 2010 the ﬁnish and never go more than eight miles without an opportunity for aid. Aid stations in the past have included chicken soup over mashed potatoes. s Where: Lutsen, Minnesota s When: September 10, 2011 s Web site: www.superiortrailrace.com s Phone: 507/753-2240 s E-mail: [email protected]

Walker North Country Marathon

With only 500 runners, the Walker North Country Marathon is one of the smaller marathons in Minnesota. Although the ﬁeld is small, the marathon course has a little of everything, including paved bike paths, city streets, rural roads, and close to 13 miles of rugged trail through the Chippewa National Forest. At this time of the year, the hardwood trees of birch, oak, maple, and aspen are changing, pro- viding vibrant fall colors. Against a backdrop of dark-green white pine and the sweet smell of wildﬂowers, runners are treated to unspoiled beauty. The varied terrain includes rolling hills and a course that for a few miles hugs the borders of Lake May and Leech Lake (the third-largest lake in Minnesota). The second half of the race is more challenging because of the trail conditions, but the course has an ample number of aid stations, even out in the middle of the

David Asp l THE MARATHONS OF MINNESOTA l 119 woods. If you’re looking for a race with a lot of spectators, this is not your race. But race organizers, along with about 200 volunteers, are friendly, helpful, and committed to accommodating the participants. s Where: Walker, Minnesota s When: September 17, 2011 s Web site: www.walkernorthcountrymarathon.com s Phone: 218/547-1853 s E-mail: [email protected]

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon

Billing itself as “the most beautiful urban marathon in America,” the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon has been a fall icon in the Minneapolis/St. Paul communities since its inception in 1982. The marathon is the ninth largest (based on ﬁnisher numbers) in the United States and hosts national championships, including the USA Women’s Marathon and Masters Marathon championships in 2009. The point-to-point marathon course begins in downtown Minneapolis, passes by a number of scenic city lakes, and ﬁnishes at the state capitol in St. Paul. Along the way, runners are treated to beautiful fall leaves, scenic views of the Mississippi River, tremendous spectator support (more than 300,000 people line the course), © Competitive Image 2009

120 l MARATHON & BEYOND l Nov/Dec 2010 and running the final six miles on Summit Avenue, where numerous mansions line the street, and finally to the capitol. Having run this marathon in 2001, I particularly liked the diversity of the course, with its frequent turns and changing scenery. That and the huge fan support seemed to help distract my attention away from any pain I was experiencing. As in many other runs, it is common to run a number of miles with strangers who are keeping the same pace. It was in this marathon that I became acutely aware for the first time of runners printing their names on their bibs. Running along and slightly behind a female runner at mile 10, I was astounded at how many enthusiastic friends she had on the course. On every block, Susan had cheering friends! Hearing her name so often and moving up to pass her, I felt like we were old acquaintances. Then, as I turned back to greet her, I spied “Susan” boldly printed on her bib. I was grateful that my face was already flushed from the heat to cover my inner embarrassment. The 2010 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon took place Sunday, October 3. Through the 2009 race, 161,761 runners and wheelers have finished the course over the 28 marathons of this event’s history. s Where: Minneapolis to St. Paul, Minnesota s When: October 2, 2011 s Web site: www.mtcmarathon.org s Phone: 763/287-3888 s E-mail: [email protected]

Mankato Marathon

The 2010 inaugural Mankato Marathon is Minnesota’s newest and was held on October 23. Described by race organizers as a last-chance event for runners to qualify for Boston, the course is a fast one, using trails that wind through the community of Mankato. The home of Minnesota State University, where the marathon begins, Mankato is nestled in the bluffs of the Minnesota River. The course winds its way from the campus start through town, into Sibley Park, and to a ﬁnish at the City Center in downtown Mankato. Along with the marathon, a half-marathon and a 10K are also available. s Where: Mankato, Minnesota s When: October 22, 2011 s Web site: www.mankatomarathon.com s Phone: 507/385-6660 s E-mail: [email protected]

David Asp l THE MARATHONS OF MINNESOTA l 121 Where will your next marathon be?

I hope that after you read about the variety of marathons in Minnesota, one or two might spark your interest. I hope I have done justice to describing each marathon, and I encourage you to contact race organizers for more information. And though the weather can be unpredictable in this northern land, in my experience the people are consistently warm and friendly.

Moose Mountain Marathon Walker North Country Lutsen Marathon Walker Duluth Zorbaz on Gull Grandma’s Marathon Lake Run for Half Voyageur Trail Marathon the Lakes Nisswa Carlton St. Joseph

Lake Wobegon Stillwater Stillwater Marathon Trail Marathon Minneapolis Marathon Minneapolis Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Northﬁeld Mankato Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon Marathon Mankato Med-City Marathon Rochester

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