Features
Runners Gone Wild: A Guide to Races Up North
The snow is gone and mud season is almost over. It’s time to pore over a race calendar and choose which running events to target this year. And when it comes to race selection, novice runners and veterans alike are in luck. From the mile to the marathon, from roads to trails, you have a cornucopia of race options that showcase the beauty of the Northern Wilds.
Road Runner
Jump-start your season at the Fitger’s 5k in Duluth on April 16. And hurry. The 1,700-participant limit is first come, first served. If you want a longer run to start your year, try the Ham Run Half Marathon up at the end of the Gunflint Trail on May 1.
In this part of the world, all roads eventually lead to Grandma’s Marathon weekend in Duluth on June 18. The weekend includes a 5k and Whipper Snapper Races for the kids, so everybody in your crew can run.
The towns of Ely and Tower get in the game with races on Independence Day. Down by the North Shore, the Tofte Trek 10k Trail Race gives the road races some competition on a busy Fourth of July. Possibly the race with the longest heritage in the Northland, the Park Point 5-Miler takes over Duluth on July 15.
By now, your children have probably gotten tired of cheering you on from the sidelines. Wednesday Night at the Races is a series that runs from July 27 to Aug. 31 with distances for all ages so kids can test their legs, too.
The Minnesota Mile in Duluth is a chance to go speeding downtown on Sept. 11 and prove how much you trained. Or, if distance is your thing, try the 2nd Annual Thunder Bay Miles with the Giant Marathon, a new addition to the fall schedule.
Hit the Trail
Got mud? The Arrowhead of Minnesota is the right place for trail running. The Northern Minnesota Track Club (NMTC) starts the Spring Trail Series on Apr. 27 through June 1 in Duluth. Spring is in the air at the Superior Trail 50k at Lutsen on May 21. (Lucky for me, there’s a 25k option.) Voyageurs dominate July near Duluth with the Half Voyageur Trail Marathon on July 16 followed by a full 50-mile dose in the Minnesota Voyageur Trail Ultra on July 30. Three trail races in two days will test your mettle during the Duluth Trail Fest on Aug. 27-28.
The NMTC Fall Trail Series delivers your weekly fix in Duluth from Sept. 7 to Nov. 6. The Superior Trail Races have a fall session at Lutsen on Sept. 9-10.
Bring your kids to the Korkki Nordic Ski Center and try the Bangin’ in the Brush Trail Race for some “old school” fun on Sept. 17. Finish out your trail running year with the epic Wild Duluth 50k or 100k. If you’ve been meaning to tour the Superior Hiking Trail near the head of the lake, it’s an awesome way to see it. A lot of it.
Online Race Resource
Six years ago, Kristopher Glesener kept losing his newspaper calendar of seasonal events. He started the website Northland Runner to create a comprehensive list and still runs it as a hobby. He told me, “We’re pretty lucky, actually. Northeastern Minnesota has a great running scene and a strong running community. Every weekend, there is an interesting race to go check out.”
His website is my go-to overview of regional races. You can even search for events based on your zip code. There are many more choices than I mention in this story. Visit NorthlandRunner.com. Click and run!
