Wikipedia

Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon

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]

Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon
2021 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon logo
DateMay 10, 2025
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 sitelakewobegontrailmarathon.org
Participants300+

Course

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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

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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 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.[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

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Key:   Course record

All cities in Minnesota unless indicated otherwise

Men Women
Year Place Name Age Hometown Time Year Place Name Age Hometown Time
2024[20]   Josh Peterson 27 Cold Spring 2:34:55 2024   Heather Camp 44 Mankato 3:04:47
  Ben Johnson 38 Minneapolis 2:38:04   Amy Gunderson 43 Savage 3:05:10
  Brian Valentini 40 Minneapolis 2:41:32   Maggie Marx 36 New Haven 3:07:35
2023[21]   Ben Johnson 37 Minneapolis 2:47:35 2023   Katie Zirbes 35 Le Sueur 3:15:30
  Matthew Axelrod 31 Saint Paul 2:55:53   Margaret Irvin 40 Durham, North Carolina 3:19:13
  Stephen Woods 32 Avon 2:57:13   Laura Parson 40 Fargo, North Dakota 3:27:35
2022[22]   John Schreier 32 Minneapolis 2:50:28 2022   Kristen Giombi 36 Raleigh, North Carolina 3:15:37
  David Armstrong 40 Richardson, Texas 3:00:17   Leah Knowles 24 Shakopee 3:16:39
  Jerod Honrath 48 Dallas, Texas 3:06:24   Wanda Gau 59 Little Falls 3:18:27
2021[23]   Brandon Reihm 26 Annandale 2:36:17 2021   Kacy Rodamaker 23 Minneapolis 3:13:23
  Evan Richardson 34 Byron 2:37:23   Wanda Gau 58 Little Falls 3:14:06
  Braden Richardson 35 Byron 2:38:05   Katie Zirbes 33 Hutchinson 3:17:16
2020[24] Race canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2020 Race canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019[25]   Dan Feda 44 Rochester 2:45:30 2019   Cathleen Gross 25 Eagan 3:03:02
  Justin Wirth 38 Annandale 2:52:22   Wanda Gau 56 Little Falls 3:12:47
  Christopher Frank 47 Winnipeg, Canada 2:53:29   Rachel Turi 23 St. Paul 3:19:10
2018[26]   Braden Richardson 33 Byron 2:45:52 2018   Wanda Gau 55 Little Falls 3:05:43
  William McGinnis 38 Madison, South Dakota 2:54:44   Rachel Rice 38 Durham, North Carolina 3:12:54
  Bryan Larison 34 Minneapolis 2:55:06   Sarah Schmidt-Dannert 18 Shoreview 3:19:16
2017[27]   Eric Giandelone 38 St. Paul 2:45:00 2017   Cheryl Jeseritz 38 Savage 3:07:07
  Ethan Komoroski 25 Minneapolis 2:50:56   Elaina Schellhaass 30 St. Louis Park 3:11:13
  Bob Fudurich 38 Mounds View 2:52:45   Brianna Rohne 33 St. Paul 3:11:45
2016[28]   Steven Pekarek 35 Royalton 2:39:29 2016   Amy Feit 36 Luverne 2:58:13
  Andrew Zachman 19 Holdingford 2:49:30   Amy Omann 37 Chanhassen 3:01:17
  Matthew Fisher 37 Austin, Texas 2:53:11   Elaina Schellhaass 29 St. Louis Park 3:08:16
2015[29]   Chad Lutz 29 Stow, Ohio 2:33:59 2015   Nancy Buselmeier 31 Buffalo 3:00:15
  Reid Singer 29 Santa Fe, New Mexico 2:45:43   Brianna Rohne 31 St. Paul 3:03:27
  Adam Nyseth 35 Plymouth 2:54:15   Wanda Gau 52 Little Falls 3:04:57
2014   Justin Gillette 31 Goshen, Indiana 2:42:59 2014   Brianna Rohne 30 St. Paul 3:04:27
  Ben Bruce 30 Waubun 2:50:07   Wanda Gau 51 Little Falls 3:07:39
  Douglas Lange 44 Stillwater 2:50:51   Brooke Rasmussen 18 Big Lake 3:12:18
2013[30]   Jordan Hanlon 29 Minneapolis 2:38:19 2013   Brittany Opatz 27 Waconia 3:02:59
  Ben Bruce 29 Waubun 2:44:15   Brianna Rohne 29 St. Paul 3:15:25
  Jesse Rueckert 33 St. Cloud 2:52:41   Jodi Nelson-Ryan 45 Sartell 3:24:26
2012[31]   Jordan Hanlon 28 Minneapolis 2:35:23 2012   Paula Marozas 24 Little Falls 3:06:03
  Gerad Mead 32 St. Paul 2:36:01   Marey Erickson 25 Waite Park 3:22:07
  Nate Hoffman 29 Annandale 2:42:26   Wanda Gau 49 Little Falls 3:22:43
2011[32]   Don Sullivan 37 Minneapolis 2:48:43 2011   Margaret Landberg 26 Minneapolis 3:05:46
  David Sanderson 34 Rochester 2:52:27   Kathy Provenzano 36 Minneapolis 3:12:12
  Andrew Hemenway 37 Rochester 2:54:45   Corrine Klebe 24 Rochester 3:26:08
2010[33]   Brian Aurelio 26 Washington, D.C. 2:53:25 2010   Wanda Gau 47 Little Falls 3:17:22
  John Maas 48 Sleepy Eye 2:54:14   Kalli Christen 40 St. Cloud 3:18:58
  Michael Heinen 26 Willmar 2:55:36   Traci Amundson 35 Duluth 3:19:09
2009[34]   Joe Buckentine 46 St. Cloud 2:50:19 2009   Kalli Christen 39 St. Cloud 3:17:52
  Ryan Hammerberg 25 St. Cloud 2:52:23   Traci Amundson 34 Duluth 3:28:24
  Paul Danger 38 Valparaiso, Indiana 2:55:13   Valerie Kelso 29 Rice 3:28:25
2008[35]   Paul Danger 37 Valparaiso, Indiana 2:47:36 2008[36]   Kalli Christen 38 St. Cloud 3:19:07
  David Hartz 50 Cold Spring 3:04:01   Karen Wander 43 Becker 3:28:44
  Stanley Hup 53 Northfield 3:17:32   Yvette Dockendorf 38 St. Louis Park 3:29:50

References

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  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. ^ Hatten, Mick (May 12, 2018). "Keeping a Lake Wobegon marathon streak alive: St. Cloud police officer Janssen to run Saturday". St. Cloud Times.
  16. ^ "2020 Lake Wobegon Marathon Virtual Race" (PDF). Lakewobegontrailmarathon.org. St. Cloud, Minnesota. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  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. ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2024 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2023 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2022 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2021 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2019 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2018 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Leaderboard - Marathon - 2017 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - MTEC Results". Pickle Events. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  28. ^ Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (14 May 2016). "2016 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  29. ^ Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (9 May 2015). "2015 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  30. ^ Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (11 May 2013). "2013 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  31. ^ Pickle, Brad; Haukos, Chris, eds. (12 May 2012). "2012 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Pickle Events. St. Cloud, Minnesota: MTEC Results. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  32. ^ Moran, Jack, ed. (14 May 2011). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Raceberry Jam. Edina, Minnesota: Apple Raceberry Jam. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  33. ^ Moran, Jack, ed. (8 May 2010). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Raceberry Jam. Edina, Minnesota: Apple Raceberry Jam. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  34. ^ "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.
  35. ^ Moran, Jack, ed. (10 May 2008). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon". Raceberry Jam. Edina, Minnesota: Apple Raceberry Jam. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  36. ^ Bell, Ralph (29 May 2008). "Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon will be back". news. St. Joseph, Minnesota: St. Joseph Newsleader.
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