The inaugural Fargo Marathon took place on May 14, 2005,[4][5] and started on the Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Red River between Minnesota and North Dakota. The first year's race weekend offered a 5K on Friday, and a marathon, marathon relay, and a half marathon on Saturday, starting at 8 a.m.[6] Almost 3,000 runners were present for the races, and prize money was offered (including $400 for first place in the marathons).[7] The race drew on local bands for music on the course (25 live bands were at the course in the early years), and local culture was prominent (those years featured a "pasta/lefse feed" for pre-race carbo-loading).[8] The co-director told the press that the racers had raised $20,000 for two local charities: The Children's Museum at Yunker Farm and MeritCare Children's Hospital.[9]
The race was founded and run by Mark Knutson at a time when local races were becoming more prominent as tourist attractions, but also as places where cities could build associations as being health-focused communities. The races also offered showcasing opportunities for area athletes that otherwise would have to travel elsewhere to have their talent recognized.[10][11]
In the second year, the race weekend drew runners from 46 states, three countries, and had an estimated economic impact of a $1.5 million boost to the local businesses and charities.[12] The half marathon was one of the most popular events, drawn nearly 2,000 runners.[12] It also spawned a collaboration with the Lake Agassiz Arts Council, which sponsored a Native-focused "Herd About the Prairie" art exhibition. The exhibition placed a collection of 39 decorated buffalo sculptures (the size of real buffalo) throughout the marathon course.[13]
In 2010, Runner's World reported the race held a high entry-fee-to-value quality.[14][5]
As the race progressed in years, it maintained a reputation for being flat,[15] fast, supportive, and loud (with the dozens of bands throughout the course, including rock, dance, oldies, Native drumming—and yes, polka).[16] It has grown in numbers to more than 20,000 runners.[17][18][19][20] The pre-race convention brings food, businesses and speakers to the event center for the thousands of runners and spectators.[21] By 2014, the prize money for first place had also increased to $1,400, with multiple other prizes for top competitors.[22]
In 2019, Knutson sold the race to Rugged Races, though Knutson stayed on as the race director.[23]
In 2020, the first known case of the COVID-19 virus appeared in North Dakota on March 11. Within two days, the country began shutting down, and North Dakota issued a state of emergency.[24] The marathon was rescheduled,[25] but due to the rising number of cases in summer of 2020, it was clear the marathon could not continue.[26] The race was canceled, with all registrants given the option of a refund, a postponement to 2021, or running the race on their own course and time.[27][28][29][30]
Similarly, the 2021 edition of the race was postponed to September 25, 2021, due to the pandemic.[31][32] Participation was at 50 percent of normal, as the race date was close to other Minnesota marathons: The postponed Med City Marathon, the smaller Ely Marathon and the larger Twin Cities Marathon. Race organizers also said the closed Canadian border kept runners away.[33]
Media coverage
Radio coverage has been provided by KFGO.[34] TV coverage has been provided by WDAY-TV, an ABC affiliate.[35]
The inside start and finish has become a notable draw for runners. It provides a stark contrast to what many locals deal with in the winter training months, as Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier Valeria Curtis stressed in a 2019 Runner's World article about training near her home in Minot, North Dakota.[40]
In 2009, the course had to be changed due to flooding. The marathon route took two laps instead of one large loop.
In 2014, in celebration of 10 years of the race, the route changed. It started on the bridge, just as it did on the first year. The finish line wasn't inside; it was near the Fargo Theatre on Broadway Street in downtown Fargo.[41][42] The change was only for one year.
Half marathon
Sammy Malakwen, a two-time winner, set the half marathon course record in 2010 at 1:04:27.
Repeat winners
Semehar Tesfaye has won the women's race three years in a row and set the course record in 2016. Tesfaye graduated from Fargo South High School.[43]
Winners
Key:Course record
All cities in North Dakota unless indicated otherwise
↑ "Fargo Marathon Set". Sports. Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. May 9, 2005. p.3B.
1 2 3 "Wisconsin Man Wins First Fargo Marathon". Sports. Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. Associated Press. May 15, 2005. p.6C.
↑ Yasso, Bart (May 2006). "Racing Report: Races to help celebrate spring and set a personal record or two". Runner's World. Vol.41, no.5. Eaton, Pennsylvania: Hearst.
↑ "Fargo Marathon Raises $20,000". Local. Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. Associated Press. May 25, 2005. p.2B.
↑ "Money-making Marathons: Major Running Events Attract Thousands of People Who Are Spending Money". News. Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin: Capital Newspapers. November 2, 2006. p.E1.
↑ Suzzo, Andrew (2006). The Chicago Marathon. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. ISBN978-0-252-07421-9.
1 2 Ephinstone, J. W. (November 2, 2005). "More marathoners spur cities, retailers into action". Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, Florida. p.E1.
↑ Galbincea, Pat (May 19, 2006). "Half Marathon Gaining in Popularity Among Runners". Sports. The Plains Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. p.D12.
1 2 3 Tollefson, Carrie (May 25, 2011). "Fargo Marathon 2011". C Tolle Run. Minneapolis, Minnesota: YouTube. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
↑ "Grandma's Kicks Off Tourism Season". Local. St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. June 18, 2010. p.5B.
↑ Fedorchak, Julie (May 19, 2010). "Marathon Experience Wonderful". Dakota. Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. p.B1. It seems like every other person I meet is heading to Fargo this weekend to run in the marathon. I love it!
↑ Becker, Bryann (July 17, 2010). "Running is about frame of mind". Voices. Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. p.B1, B3.
↑ Carey, Art (November 15, 2010). "Running for a fallen brother". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p.E3.
1 2 3 Kolpack, Jeff (May 23, 2010). "Record Showing: St. Paul Runner Captures Men's Title in Dominating Manner". Sports. Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. p.C2.
↑ Kolpack, Jeff; Knutson, Mark (May 4, 2017). "2017 Fargo Marathon". The Forum. Fargo, North Dakota: Forum Communication Company. Retrieved March 10, 2021– via YouTube.
1 2 3 Andrew Jason, ed. (June 1, 2014). "2014 Fargo Marathon Commemorative Book"(PDF). spotlightmediafargo.com. Fargo, North Dakota: Spotlight Media Company. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021– via Issuu.
↑ Kolpack, Jeff (May 21, 2017). "Tuwei takes another Fargo Marathon title". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. p.D2.
↑ Henley, Ashley (May 21, 2023). "19th Annual Fargo Marathon Results". The Mighty 790 KFGO. Fargo, North Dakota: Midwest Communications. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
Fargo is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. The population was 125,990 at the 2020 census, which was estimated to have grown to 133,188 in 2023, making it the 218th-most populous city in the United States. Fargo, along with its twin city of Moorhead, Minnesota, form the core of the Fargo–Moorhead metropolitan statistical area, which had a population of 248,591 in 2020.
Fargodome is an indoor athletic stadium in the north central United States, located on the campus of North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo, North Dakota. Opened 32 years ago in late 1992, the facility is owned by the City of Fargo and built on university land. Not an actual dome, its seating capacity is 18,700 for football and over 25,000 for full arena concerts. Its approximate elevation at street level is 900 feet (275 m) above sea level.
Wayne Stenehjem was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 29th Attorney General of North Dakota from 2000 until his death in 2022. He sought the Republican nomination for governor of North Dakota in 2016 but lost the primary to Doug Burgum on June 14 by 20%.
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The North Dakota State Bison wrestling team represents North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. The Bison currently compete in the Big 12 Conference and wrestle their home duals at the Scheels Center. NDSU is currently coached by Obe Blanc.
The Northern League was a name used by several minor league baseball organizations that operated off and on between 1902 and 1971 in the upper midwestern United States and Manitoba, Canada. The name was later used by the independent Northern League from 1993 to 2010.
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The US State of North Dakota experienced significant flooding in its major river basins in 2009, following abnormally heavy winter snows atop saturated and frozen ground.
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Raymon Everett Holmberg is an American former educator, school counselor, and Republican North Dakota state senator. Once tied for the longest-serving state legislator in the United States, Holmberg resigned from the Senate in 2022 after 45.5 years upon investigation into his child sex tourism and alleged receipt of child pornography.
The 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. This would have been the first time North Dakotans selected a governor under new voter ID requirements, in which a student ID was insufficient identification to vote, but a court ruling in August 2016 struck the down the provision; the election was held under the 2013 rules.
Ricky Clark Becker is an American businessman and politician from Bismarck. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives as a Republican from 2012 to 2022.
The 2018 United States Senate election in North Dakota took place on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of North Dakota, concurrently with other elections to the U.S. Senate, as well as other federal, state and local elections in North Dakota.
The 2018 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the U.S. representative for North Dakota's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the U.S. Senate election, as well as other statewide, legislative, and local elections.
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The North Dakota State Bison volleyball team is the NCAA Division I women's volleyball team at North Dakota State University located in Fargo, North Dakota. The program began its first season in 1965 under head coach Collette Folstad. The current Bison head coach is Jennifer Lopez in her 8th season. Lopez took over after former coach Kari Thompson resigned after the 2016 season.
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Sammy Malakwen is a middle- and long-distance runner from Kenya who also trained in Two Harbors, Minnesota. He has won several major marathons, and has finished in the top 10 of several major road races.
The 2024 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect a member of the United States House of Representatives to represent the state of North Dakota from its at-large congressional district. The election will coincide with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the U.S. House, elections to the United States Senate, and various other state and local elections. The primary elections are scheduled for June 11, 2024.
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