Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon

Last updated
Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon
Minnesota-marathon-logos--2021--lake-wobegon-trail.png
2021 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon logo
DateMay 9, 2026
LocationHoldingford, Minnesota to St. Joseph, Minnesota
Distance26.2 miles
Primary sponsorCentracare Clinic
Established2008
Course recordsMen: 2:33:59 (2015)
Chad Lutz
Women: 2:58:13 (2016)
Amy Feit
Official site lakewobegontrailmarathon.org
Participants300+

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]

Contents

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]

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]

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." [15]

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 Walz 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. [16] [17] 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. [18]

Marathon race results

Key:  Course record

All cities in Minnesota unless indicated otherwise

MenWomen
YearPlaceNameAgeHometownTimeYearPlaceNameAgeHometownTime
2024 [19] Gold medal icon.svgJosh Peterson27 Cold Spring 2:34:552024Gold medal icon.svgHeather Camp44 Mankato 3:04:47
Silver medal icon.svgBen Johnson38 Minneapolis 2:38:04Silver medal icon.svgAmy Gunderson43 Savage 3:05:10
Bronze medal icon.svgBrian Valentini40 Minneapolis 2:41:32Bronze medal icon.svgMaggie Marx36 New Haven 3:07:35
2023 [20] Gold medal icon.svgBen Johnson37 Minneapolis 2:47:352023Gold medal icon.svgKatie Zirbes35 Le Sueur 3:15:30
Silver medal icon.svgMatthew Axelrod31 Saint Paul 2:55:53Silver medal icon.svgMargaret Irvin40 Durham, North Carolina 3:19:13
Bronze medal icon.svgStephen Woods32 Avon 2:57:13Bronze medal icon.svgLaura Parson40 Fargo, North Dakota 3:27:35
2022 [21] Gold medal icon.svgJohn Schreier32 Minneapolis 2:50:282022Gold medal icon.svgKristen Giombi36 Raleigh, North Carolina 3:15:37
Silver medal icon.svgDavid Armstrong40 Richardson, Texas 3:00:17Silver medal icon.svgLeah Knowles24 Shakopee 3:16:39
Bronze medal icon.svgJerod Honrath48 Dallas, Texas 3:06:24Bronze medal icon.svgWanda Gau59 Little Falls 3:18:27
2021 [22] Gold medal icon.svgBrandon Reihm26 Annandale 2:36:172021Gold medal icon.svgKacy Rodamaker23 Minneapolis 3:13:23
Silver medal icon.svgEvan Richardson34 Byron 2:37:23Silver medal icon.svgWanda Gau58 Little Falls 3:14:06
Bronze medal icon.svgBraden Richardson35 Byron 2:38:05Bronze medal icon.svgKatie Zirbes33 Hutchinson 3:17:16
2020 [23] Race canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2020Race canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 [24] Gold medal icon.svgDan Feda44 Rochester 2:45:302019Gold medal icon.svgCathleen Gross25 Eagan 3:03:02
Silver medal icon.svgJustin Wirth38 Annandale 2:52:22Silver medal icon.svgWanda Gau56 Little Falls 3:12:47
Bronze medal icon.svgChristopher Frank47 Winnipeg, Canada 2:53:29Bronze medal icon.svgRachel Turi23 St. Paul 3:19:10
2018 [25] Gold medal icon.svgBraden Richardson33 Byron 2:45:522018Gold medal icon.svgWanda Gau55 Little Falls 3:05:43
Silver medal icon.svgWilliam McGinnis38 Madison, South Dakota 2:54:44Silver medal icon.svgRachel Rice38 Durham, North Carolina 3:12:54
Bronze medal icon.svgBryan Larison34 Minneapolis 2:55:06Bronze medal icon.svgSarah Schmidt-Dannert18 Shoreview 3:19:16
2017 [26] Gold medal icon.svgEric Giandelone38 St. Paul 2:45:002017Gold medal icon.svgCheryl Jeseritz38 Savage 3:07:07
Silver medal icon.svgEthan Komoroski25 Minneapolis 2:50:56Silver medal icon.svgElaina Schellhaass30 St. Louis Park 3:11:13
Bronze medal icon.svgBob Fudurich38 Mounds View 2:52:45Bronze medal icon.svgBrianna Rohne33 St. Paul 3:11:45
2016 [27] Gold medal icon.svgSteven Pekarek35 Royalton 2:39:292016Gold medal icon.svgAmy Feit36 Luverne 2:58:13
Silver medal icon.svgAndrew Zachman19 Holdingford 2:49:30Silver medal icon.svgAmy Omann37 Chanhassen 3:01:17
Bronze medal icon.svgMatthew Fisher37 Austin, Texas 2:53:11Bronze medal icon.svgElaina Schellhaass29 St. Louis Park 3:08:16
2015 [28] Gold medal icon.svgChad Lutz29 Stow, Ohio 2:33:592015Gold medal icon.svgNancy Buselmeier31 Buffalo 3:00:15
Silver medal icon.svgReid Singer29 Santa Fe, New Mexico 2:45:43Silver medal icon.svgBrianna Rohne31 St. Paul 3:03:27
Bronze medal icon.svgAdam Nyseth35 Plymouth 2:54:15Bronze medal icon.svgWanda Gau52 Little Falls 3:04:57
2014Gold medal icon.svgJustin Gillette31 Goshen, Indiana 2:42:592014Gold medal icon.svgBrianna Rohne30 St. Paul 3:04:27
Silver medal icon.svgBen Bruce30 Waubun 2:50:07Silver medal icon.svgWanda Gau51 Little Falls 3:07:39
Bronze medal icon.svgDouglas Lange44 Stillwater 2:50:51Bronze medal icon.svgBrooke Rasmussen18 Big Lake 3:12:18
2013 [29] Gold medal icon.svgJordan Hanlon29 Minneapolis 2:38:192013Gold medal icon.svgBrittany Opatz27 Waconia 3:02:59
Silver medal icon.svgBen Bruce29 Waubun 2:44:15Silver medal icon.svgBrianna Rohne29 St. Paul 3:15:25
Bronze medal icon.svgJesse Rueckert33 St. Cloud 2:52:41Bronze medal icon.svgJodi Nelson-Ryan45 Sartell 3:24:26
2012 [30] Gold medal icon.svgJordan Hanlon28 Minneapolis 2:35:232012Gold medal icon.svgPaula Marozas24 Little Falls 3:06:03
Silver medal icon.svgGerad Mead32 St. Paul 2:36:01Silver medal icon.svgMarey Erickson25 Waite Park 3:22:07
Bronze medal icon.svgNate Hoffman29 Annandale 2:42:26Bronze medal icon.svgWanda Gau49 Little Falls 3:22:43
2011 [31] Gold medal icon.svgDon Sullivan37 Minneapolis 2:48:432011Gold medal icon.svgMargaret Landberg26 Minneapolis 3:05:46
Silver medal icon.svgDavid Sanderson34 Rochester 2:52:27Silver medal icon.svgKathy Provenzano36 Minneapolis 3:12:12
Bronze medal icon.svgAndrew Hemenway37 Rochester 2:54:45Bronze medal icon.svgCorrine Klebe24 Rochester 3:26:08
2010 [32] Gold medal icon.svgBrian Aurelio26 Washington, D.C. 2:53:252010Gold medal icon.svgWanda Gau47 Little Falls 3:17:22
Silver medal icon.svgJohn Maas48 Sleepy Eye 2:54:14Silver medal icon.svgKalli Christen40 St. Cloud 3:18:58
Bronze medal icon.svgMichael Heinen26 Willmar 2:55:36Bronze medal icon.svgTraci Amundson35 Duluth 3:19:09
2009 [33] Gold medal icon.svgJoe Buckentine46 St. Cloud 2:50:192009Gold medal icon.svgKalli Christen39 St. Cloud 3:17:52
Silver medal icon.svgRyan Hammerberg25 St. Cloud 2:52:23Silver medal icon.svgTraci Amundson34 Duluth 3:28:24
Bronze medal icon.svgPaul Danger38 Valparaiso, Indiana 2:55:13Bronze medal icon.svgValerie Kelso29 Rice 3:28:25
2008 [34] Gold medal icon.svgPaul Danger37 Valparaiso, Indiana 2:47:362008 [35] Gold medal icon.svgKalli Christen38 St. Cloud 3:19:07
Silver medal icon.svgDavid Hartz50 Cold Spring 3:04:01Silver medal icon.svgKaren Wander43 Becker 3:28:44
Bronze medal icon.svgStanley Hup53 Northfield 3:17:32Bronze medal icon.svgYvette Dockendorf38 St. Louis Park 3:29:50

References

  1. "Membership Information—St. Cloud River Runners". St. Cloud River Runners. St. Cloud River Runners. January 1, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  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. "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon — Course Map". lakewobegontrailmarathon.org. St. Cloud River Runners. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  4. "Lake Wobegon Trail, Stearns County". www.americantrails.org. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  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. Timp, Michael (4 May 2010). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon becomes Central Minnesota tradition". News. Stearns-Morrison Enterprise. Albany, Minnesota.
  7. "First Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". News. Stearns-Morrison Enterprise. Albany, Minnesota. 20 May 2008.
  8. Hatten, Mike (9 May 2015). "Records set at Lake Wobegon marathon". St. Cloud, Minnesota: Gannett. St. Cloud Times. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  9. "1st Lake Wobegon Trail marathon". Albany, Minnesota: Stearns - Morrison Enterprise. May 20, 2008.
  10. Kaul, Greta (April 16, 2019). "Is the Running Boom Over?". Minneapolis, Minnesota: MinnPost. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  11. "2018 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon Results". Pickle Events. May 12, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  12. "Man collapses, dies during marathon in Minnesota". Sports. Duluth News Tribune. Duluth, Minnesota: Forum Communications. 14 May 2011.
  13. "Marathon runner who died was Oklee, Minn., native". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota: Grand Forks Herald. 17 May 2011.
  14. Harlow, Tim (3 May 2016). "Reward offered for information leading to Lake Wobegon Trail bridge arsonist". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  15. "2020 Lake Wobegon Marathon Virtual Race" (PDF). Lakewobegontrailmarathon.org. St. Cloud, Minnesota. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  16. "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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2024 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  20. "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2023 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  21. "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2022 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  22. "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2021 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  23. 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.
  24. "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2019 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  25. "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2018 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  26. "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2017 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  27. Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (14 May 2016). "2016 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  28. Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (9 May 2015). "2015 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  29. Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (11 May 2013). "2013 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  30. Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (12 May 2012). "2012 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  31. Moran, Jack, ed. (14 May 2011). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Raceberry Jam. Edina, Minnesota: Apple Raceberry Jam. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  32. Moran, Jack, ed. (8 May 2010). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Raceberry Jam. Edina, Minnesota: Apple Raceberry Jam. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  33. "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.
  34. Moran, Jack, ed. (10 May 2008). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Raceberry Jam. Edina, Minnesota: Apple Raceberry Jam. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  35. Bell, Ralph (29 May 2008). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon will be back". news. St. Joseph, Minnesota: St. Joseph Newsleader.