Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon
Bemidji, MN
- Marathon, 26K, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Blue Ox Marathon is a scenic 26.2 mile road course on all paved trails and roads. The route is fairly flat consisting of about 50% paved bike trail and 50% paved road. Most of course is partially shaded with some open areas along lake shore. If you’re looking for … MORE
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Beautiful run
This is my 3rd year running the Blue Ox. It was my first time doing the lake loop. The lake loop takes you around the entire perimeter of Bemidji Lake. … MORE
This is my 3rd year running the Blue Ox. It was my first time doing the lake loop. The lake loop takes you around the entire perimeter of Bemidji Lake. You get to run through Bemidji State Park as well. This race is put on just as the trees are changing for fall, so it is absolutely beautiful. The lake loop ends up being just over 16 miles. Packet pick up is a breeze. Not a huge expo, but you can buy last minute running essentials. The town of Bemidji is beautiful and friendly. There is a lot of lodging right next to the start of the race which allows for easy race day transportation. There are water stops about every 3 miles and 1 GU stop. I will be back again next year for the full marathon.
Perfect fall race
Very scenic fall race mostly flat. Lil difficult to get to if out of town but well worth the trip. The trees were in full fall bloom. Support was also … MORE
Very scenic fall race mostly flat. Lil difficult to get to if out of town but well worth the trip. The trees were in full fall bloom. Support was also very good. A must do.
Great scenery!
-in the morning before you board the shuttle bus you can wait inside the Sanford center to stay warm -great coordination for shuttle bus to the start -beautiful, fun, flat … MORE
-in the morning before you board the shuttle bus you can wait inside the Sanford center to stay warm
-great coordination for shuttle bus to the start
-beautiful, fun, flat course around Bemidji Lake
Mostly flat and pretty course
The weather could not have been more perfect this year for the Bemidji half marathon. Sunny and cool with a mostly flat paved trail and some neighborhood views. Nice shirt … MORE
The weather could not have been more perfect this year for the Bemidji half marathon. Sunny and cool with a mostly flat paved trail and some neighborhood views.
Nice shirt and medal, but the expo was pretty weak. Bagels, chips, and cookies at the finish. My only big complaint is that there were only four porta potties at the race start, and very few along the course.
Happy to have visited Minnesota and got to see Paul Bunyan and Babe!
Loop around the lake plus neighborhoods
Very smooth logistics. Easy Morning packet pickup, cool souvenirs on offer. Nice size race with different distances starting at different locations ( no pacing off the half runners). Course was … MORE
Very smooth logistics. Easy Morning packet pickup, cool souvenirs on offer.
Nice size race with different distances starting at different locations ( no pacing off the half runners). Course was more varied than I expected—some neighborhoods, some roadside stretches, some lake stretches, some wooded areas, through a state park/campground. If I hadn’t just run charlesvoix and Jackson hole I probably would have thought it was prettier ☺️.
There were some hills, but garmin says only 530 feet of elevation gain, so definitely a fast course. Weather was overcast and 60s (unseasonably warm for MN in fall?) but good running weather. Easy 3.5 hours from MSP.
And the slogan—harness your inner ox—is fun, as are ox themed medal/shirt.
This was a nice run.
This was a nice run. The course was great, too bad the weather wasn't the best. Great time of year for a run. Very well organized. The Sanford Center works … MORE
This was a nice run. The course was great, too bad the weather wasn’t the best. Great time of year for a run. Very well organized. The Sanford Center works out great for start and finish.
I really like this marathon!
I have run this marathon every year since it started and I keep coming back! Fall marathons are great for those of us in cooler climates who do most of … MORE
I have run this marathon every year since it started and I keep coming back!
Fall marathons are great for those of us in cooler climates who do most of our training from spring to fall. I am not sure why participation rates have not increased more for this marathon – as it is a little gem – but at the same time – that is also what is attractive about it. You don’t have to wait in line for 20 minutes prior to the start of the marathon to pee! In case of cool weather (which is common at this time of year) you can do all your pre-race stretching inside and then just run out to the start line a few minutes prior. Much of the course is on trails – and I thought it was very scenic. They have had some great pace bunnies too. Coming from a flat city, I find the inclines on the back portion tough (I only have small hills for practice) and wish they would reverse the course. Treats after the race are minimal – but it is nice that they are inside. You will be happy if you place in your 10 year age group and they have age group awards. It is a little blue cow/ox bell with a wool ribbon. After seeing them in year one, I kept coming back until I placed top 3 in my age group to get one – and the year I finally did (2016) they did not have age group awards. But they had them in 2017 (I placed 4th) and I hope they have them again. Top male and female also get very unique awards. Finisher medals are hung with a wool ribbon – of a different pattern each year. Participant shirts are unisex.
In the past they have also had an agreement with another location where you can go to shower for free after the marathon (great for those of us who just stay 1 night) so I hope that continues. The expo is small but has some extras; a pasta dinner for purchase and in 2017 they had a free candlelit yoga session the evening prior. It was FANTASTIC, I was ready for a good night’s sleep!
Be sure to stop by the Visitor Centre and see Babe and Blue Ox. From there you can get a self-walking art guide as well as a little cardlette that lists a few shops where you can get a discount or a free souvenir.
A must do!
Hubby and I found this event about 3 weeks prior to race day, and we wanted to get a MN race done before we leave ND next year. We love … MORE
Hubby and I found this event about 3 weeks prior to race day, and we wanted to get a MN race done before we leave ND next year. We love small town events, and this one looked great. And it really was! This town boasts the theme of Paul Bunyan (hence the Blue Ox marathon after Babe the blue ox) and the theme carried over into various parts of the weekend which was great fun.
Pros:
Small expo with friendly volunteers, great long sleeve technical shirt, a delicious pasta dinner the night before (proceeds benefit local all access playground), later start (9am) and mostly flat course around Lake Bemidji, bursting with glorious Fall foliage. Cool weather at the start made for perfect marathon temps (cool, cool, cool!) Aid stations were basic but had what you needed every 3 miles or so. THE MEDALS!! Awesome!!!
Cons – None that I can think of! We had rain the last hour or so of the race, but the race organizers can hardly be responsible for that!
There wasn’t a lot of crowd support along the course, BUT, it was a cooler and rainy day, so that could have attributed to that. But, crowd support isn’t a huge “must” for me, so I was fine. If you love lots of crowd support though, you may miss that along the way.
Both my husband and I agree this is one of our favorite road marathons we have done. We loved the small town charm, friendly faces from start to finish, the course and the medal – all were top notch! We would absolutely do this event again!