Lake_Wobegon_Trail_Marathon

Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon

Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon

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The Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon is a 26.2 mile foot race from Holdingford, Minnesota, to St. Joseph, Minnesota, on a paved trail called the Lake Wobegon Trail. The course is USATF-certified, making it a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon. The race is sponsored and organized by the St. Cloud River Runners, a running group active since 1983 with about 150 members.[1][2]

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Course

The flat, straight course is run on a blacktop trail converted from freight rail lines. After starting at the high school in Holdingford, the route quickly links to the Lake Wobegon Trail and goes southwest to the small town of Albany. On the outskirts of the town, the trail turns directly east and passes over the South Branch of Two Rivers, past two smaller lakes and a state-designated science and nature area. The path continues through farm land and then over the small gap of land between Middle Spunk Lake and Lower Spunk Lake on the east side of Avon. The course passes two more lakes before finishing in St. Joseph.[3]

The Lake Wobegon Trail is maintained by the Stearns County Parks, local trail groups, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the seven cities through which it passes.[4]

The trail is named after a fictional region in Minnesota that appears in author and radio personality Garrison Keillor's stories. He has called the trail one of "ordinary beauty," a landscape of farms, woodland patches and small town-Americana.[5]

Records and history

Two St. Cloud River Runners initially launched the event: Sartell teacher Joe Perske and St. Cloud lawyer Sharon Hobbs. They gained the support of local community members and mayors, and in the 2008 inaugural race, 80 runners finished. By 2010, the number of participants had grown to 200.[6][7]

The course record for the marathon was set in 2015 by Chad Lutz, who ran it in 2:33:59.[8] The race was first run in 2008, when 80 people from 12 states and Canada registered. The first race was sponsored by the St. Cloud-based law firm Rinke-Noonan.[9] More recently, the race has seen a steady registration in the 400 runner range. The race is capped at 450 runners, according to 2018 race director George Bienusa.[10][11]

A tragedy took place during the race in 2011, when a 35-year-old man from Byron, Minnesota, collapsed after finishing and suffered a cardiac arrest. Medical personnel attended to him, but he passed away.[12][13]

In May 2016, the 216-foot wooden-planked bridge at Schwinghammer Lake was set aflame by an arsonist, but a quick response by a bicyclist and fire fighters kept the bridge structurally sound, and the marathon did not have to be rerouted.[14]

Seven runners have a streak of participating in the race every year (as of 2018).[15]

On April 2, 2020, more than a month before the May 9 race date, the race officials canceled the 12th running of the marathon due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a press release, the marathon organizers said they would "join numerous other events in an attempt to protect runners, volunteers and emergency medical personnel by putting [participants'] health and safety first."[16]

As the 2021 race approached, Minnesotans reached nearly 50 percent vaccination rate for adults. The race directors decided to run the race with a staggered start and a 250-participant cap, per the Minnesota Department of Health recommendations. It would be the first road marathon back in the state since the Mankato Marathon on Oct. 12, 2019. The week of the Lake Wobegon race, Governor Tim Waltz issued new guidelines that stated wearing masks wasn't necessary while with groups of less than 500 people outdoors. The guidelines also dropped limits on the number of people allowed in outdoor gatherings.[17][18] The race, which was labeled a Road Runners Club state championship, saw faster than average times, with the top three marking the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-all-time fastest runs on the course since its inception in 2008.[19]

Marathon race results

Key:   Course record

All cities in Minnesota unless indicated otherwise

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References

  1. [1]
    "Membership Information—St. Cloud River Runners". St. Cloud River Runners. St. Cloud River Runners. January 1, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  2. [2]
    Zach, Dwyer (3 July 2020). "St. Cloud River Runners Take on Unique Summer Amid Pandemic". Life. The American News. Aberdeen, South Dakota: Gannett. p. 14.
  3. [3]
    "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon — Course Map". lakewobegontrailmarathon.org. St. Cloud River Runners. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Lake Wobegon Trail, Stearns County". www.americantrails.org. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  5. [5]
    Tormoen, Erik ERIK TORMOENand VAL TURGEO; Turgeo, Val (January 2018). "The Ultimate 2018 To-Do List: 100+ Can't Miss Events". Minnesota Monthly. Bloomington, Minnesota: Greenspring Media. p. 38.
  6. [6]
    Timp, Michael (4 May 2010). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon becomes Central Minnesota tradition". News. Stearns-Morrison Enterprise. Albany, Minnesota.
  7. [7]
    "First Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". News. Stearns-Morrison Enterprise. Albany, Minnesota. 20 May 2008.
  8. [8]
    Hatten, Mike (9 May 2015). "Records set at Lake Wobegon marathon". St. Cloud, Minnesota: Gannett. St. Cloud Times. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  9. [9]
    "1st Lake Wobegon Trail marathon". Albany, Minnesota: Stearns - Morrison Enterprise. May 20, 2008.
  10. [10]
    Kaul, Greta (April 16, 2019). "Is the Running Boom Over?". Minneapolis, Minnesota: MinnPost. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  11. [11]
    "2018 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon Results". Pickle Events. May 12, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  12. [12]
    "Man collapses, dies during marathon in Minnesota". Sports. Duluth News Tribune. Duluth, Minnesota: Forum Communications. 14 May 2011.
  13. [13]
    "Marathon runner who died was Oklee, Minn., native". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota: Grand Forks Herald. 17 May 2011.
  14. [14]
    Harlow, Tim (3 May 2016). "Reward offered for information leading to Lake Wobegon Trail bridge arsonist". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  15. [15]
    Hatten, Mick (May 12, 2018). "Keeping a Lake Wobegon marathon streak alive: St. Cloud police officer Janssen to run Saturday". St. Cloud Times.
  16. [16]
    "2020 Lake Wobegon Marathon Virtual Race" (PDF). Lakewobegontrailmarathon.org. St. Cloud, Minnesota. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  17. [17]
    "How to Stay Safe During Athletic Activities and Sports". mn.gov. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Department of Health. May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  18. [18]
    Bierschbach, Briana; Howatt, Glenn (6 May 2021). "What you need to know about Minnesota's COVID-19 restrictions". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021.
  19. [19]
    Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (8 May 2021). "2021 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - Marathon Results". mtecresults.com. St. Cloud, Minnesota: Pickle Events. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  20. [20]
    Mozey, Brian (2 April 2020). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon cancelled due to COVID-19; replaced by virtual race". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota: USA Today. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  21. [21]
    Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (14 May 2016). "2016 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  22. [22]
    Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (9 May 2015). "2015 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  23. [23]
    Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (11 May 2013). "2013 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  24. [24]
    Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (12 May 2012). "2012 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  25. [25]
    Moran, Jack, ed. (14 May 2011). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Raceberry Jam. Edina, Minnesota: Apple Raceberry Jam. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  26. [26]
    Moran, Jack, ed. (8 May 2010). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Raceberry Jam. Edina, Minnesota: Apple Raceberry Jam. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  27. [27]
    "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon" (PDF). Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon. St. Cloud, Minnesota: St. Cloud River Runners. 9 May 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  28. [28]
    Moran, Jack, ed. (10 May 2008). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Raceberry Jam. Edina, Minnesota: Apple Raceberry Jam. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  29. [29]
    Bell, Ralph (29 May 2008). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon will be back". news. St. Joseph, Minnesota: St. Joseph Newsleader.
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