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.
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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!