How about a winter race in Minnesota that isn't impacted by the weather, or road conditions, or for that matter, anything else? I believe this was the first indoor marathon … MORE
How about a winter race in Minnesota that isn’t impacted by the weather, or road conditions, or for that matter, anything else? I believe this was the first indoor marathon in the lower 48 thanks to awesome race founder and director, Dick Daymont. A cheerful guy who loves running and runners and hosting this event to raise funds for the St. Olaf’s track and field and cross country track teams. Let’s start with packet pickup.
That’s held at Buntrock Commons on St. Olaf’s campus in Northfield, MN the night before the race. Dick greets most of the runners by name and those newbies become new friends within 5 minutes. Race Bibs, shirts and blank “back bibs” are handed out along with any other donated swag items Dick has snagged. Colored markers are available to write your name on your back bib (which is encouraged so you can cheer runners on as you are passing them). After some preliminaries we are released to go into the cafeteria for our pre-race feast. This is NOT your ordinary pasta dinner. This is NOT the college food I remember. This is an international gourmet buffet of the highest quality. During dinner you get to know the runners who will you will be passing and who will be passing you in tomorrow’s race.
Race morning. All are encouraged to arrive early, before 6am is best, to prepare for the 6:30am start. There are things to be done like: (1) putting your labeled hydration and nutrition on the tables which are at all 4 corners of the track. (2) change from “street shoes” into your running shoes, (3) hit the nice, warm bathrooms, and meet and greet your lap counter and provide them with instructions of how/when to tell you what lap you are in or have completed.
The race: ZYY is 150 laps of the raised track in Tostrud Center. Sounds daunting? Well, maybe but it is FUN! Each runner has a personal lap counter who becomes your lead cheerleader, but all the other counters will cheer you on within the first few laps. They will jump up, cheer and call you by name. Music is a constant element, all types of music, some of it extremely relevant. Yes, relevant – you are making laps of the track and might be DIZZY; Going Round In Circles; Turn Turn Turn…..and this year for some unknown reason they played the 1950s-1960s commercial “Don’t Cross The Street In The Middle Of The Block”…. To keep us from leaning too far to either side for the rest of our lives, there is a “reverse direction” every 30 minutes, which goes incredibly smoothly. As you approach YOUR finish, the cheering squad begins to chant your name LOUDLY…..and then rise to their feet as you cross the finish line.
See what I mean?
For your health and safety, Dr. Bob is there by the side of the track should any medical issue arise. He’s another reason why this is such an incredible event.
In addition to your finisher’s medal you also receive the certificate that your lap counters were using to record your time for every lap, signed by the counter and DIck Daymont, Race Director.
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Rah! Rah! for Zoom! Yah! Yah!
How about a winter race in Minnesota that isn't impacted by the weather, or road conditions, or for that matter, anything else? I believe this was the first indoor marathon … MORE
How about a winter race in Minnesota that isn’t impacted by the weather, or road conditions, or for that matter, anything else? I believe this was the first indoor marathon in the lower 48 thanks to awesome race founder and director, Dick Daymont. A cheerful guy who loves running and runners and hosting this event to raise funds for the St. Olaf’s track and field and cross country track teams. Let’s start with packet pickup.
That’s held at Buntrock Commons on St. Olaf’s campus in Northfield, MN the night before the race. Dick greets most of the runners by name and those newbies become new friends within 5 minutes. Race Bibs, shirts and blank “back bibs” are handed out along with any other donated swag items Dick has snagged. Colored markers are available to write your name on your back bib (which is encouraged so you can cheer runners on as you are passing them). After some preliminaries we are released to go into the cafeteria for our pre-race feast. This is NOT your ordinary pasta dinner. This is NOT the college food I remember. This is an international gourmet buffet of the highest quality. During dinner you get to know the runners who will you will be passing and who will be passing you in tomorrow’s race.
Race morning. All are encouraged to arrive early, before 6am is best, to prepare for the 6:30am start. There are things to be done like: (1) putting your labeled hydration and nutrition on the tables which are at all 4 corners of the track. (2) change from “street shoes” into your running shoes, (3) hit the nice, warm bathrooms, and meet and greet your lap counter and provide them with instructions of how/when to tell you what lap you are in or have completed.
The race: ZYY is 150 laps of the raised track in Tostrud Center. Sounds daunting? Well, maybe but it is FUN! Each runner has a personal lap counter who becomes your lead cheerleader, but all the other counters will cheer you on within the first few laps. They will jump up, cheer and call you by name. Music is a constant element, all types of music, some of it extremely relevant. Yes, relevant – you are making laps of the track and might be DIZZY; Going Round In Circles; Turn Turn Turn…..and this year for some unknown reason they played the 1950s-1960s commercial “Don’t Cross The Street In The Middle Of The Block”…. To keep us from leaning too far to either side for the rest of our lives, there is a “reverse direction” every 30 minutes, which goes incredibly smoothly. As you approach YOUR finish, the cheering squad begins to chant your name LOUDLY…..and then rise to their feet as you cross the finish line.
See what I mean?
For your health and safety, Dr. Bob is there by the side of the track should any medical issue arise. He’s another reason why this is such an incredible event.
In addition to your finisher’s medal you also receive the certificate that your lap counters were using to record your time for every lap, signed by the counter and DIck Daymont, Race Director.
Awesome experience!
This race was on my bucket list for a few years. A local marathon was always the same weekend until this year so I took advantage. The GOOD: Dick Daymont … MORE
This race was on my bucket list for a few years. A local marathon was always the same weekend until this year so I took advantage.
The GOOD: Dick Daymont does a great job with this race! The pre-race dinner is great! Lots of options (you are given a meal ticket to eat in the school’s cafeteria). The lap counters (XC team at St. Olaf’s) are enthusiastic. Every lap you are encouraged. Having tables at each corner of the track is great. You can stash your stuff in one corner or have it spread out. Your personal lap counter is attentive and will help you in whatever way you want. I gave her my phone and the passcode and she recorded videos/pictures and posted them for me as well.
THE (kinda) BAD: It’s freaking COLD in Minnesota in January!!! 3 degrees the day before the race. I was worried about flight delays getting there. I was delayed getting home but I didn’t so much care.
WHAT I LEARNED: I ran a few training runs on the local track to prepare for the race. Be prepared for some sore IT, knees, hips with those turns. (you change direction every 30 minutes-this helps but I was pretty sore after…)
OVERALL – I will definitely do this one again! A fun, personalized experience.
Get loopy with the Zoom! Yah! Yah!
Why would anyone want to run a marathon on an indoor track? If you like to meet other runners, and want a lot of personal interaction, this is the marathon … MORE
Why would anyone want to run a marathon on an indoor track? If you like to meet other runners, and want a lot of personal interaction, this is the marathon to do. Because the course is 150 laps, there are plenty of opportunities to see and encourage the other runners. The timers, who are members of the St. Olaf’s Women’s Track Team give a lot of encouragement and are constantly cheering. This is one marathon that you will want to go back to again and again, despite all of the “loopty loops.”
150 laps of over-the-top fun!
Northfield, Minnesota can be downright frigid in January, but race day temps at this indoor marathon at St. Olaf's College is between 58 and 65 degrees. The Race Director, Dick … MORE
Northfield, Minnesota can be downright frigid in January, but race day temps at this indoor marathon at St. Olaf’s College is between 58 and 65 degrees.
The Race Director, Dick Daymont goes out of his way to insure all runners experience an atmosphere of fun and comaraderie at the pre-race events and on race day. Saturday’s packet pickup and pre-race meal are held in the Buntrock Commons building at St. Olaf’s College. Rob aka “the hat guy”, one of the veteran runners, cheerfully helps Dick with handing out front and back bibs and meal tickets. The back bibs are plain white bibs which each runner can personalize with their name and some creative artwork – on race day this allows passing runners to shout out support for those they are passing.
Most of the 44 runners come to the pre-race dinner so this gives everyone the opportunity to mingle, meet old friends and make new ones. Once directed to “go eat” the assembled masses rush into the St. Olaf’s Student Cafeteria for one of the most outstanding pre-race meals on this planet! Carnivore? No problem, Vegan? No problem. Gluten Free? No problem. Like your whole grains? No problem. Prefer Asian, Middle Eastern, Seafood, Burgers, Fries, Pizza, or just plain old pasta and salad? No problem. Want seconds? No problem. Did you say you want a dessert, or two or three? No Problem!
After the meal, Dick Daymont provides an introduction/history of the event, shares stories of some of the runners participating in the event, explains how the “reverse direction every 30 minutes” works, provides a run down on the timing for the next morning’s event, and conducts a fun raffle.
On race morning we meet at 5:45am at the Tostrud Center at St. Olaf’s College. Since this race DOES NOT USE CHIP TIMING, the first order of business is that each runner gets paired with a lap counter. Most of the lap counters are young woman who are on the St. Olaf’s Track Team. Runners are quick to bond with their counter, who doubles as a super cheerleader throughout the 150 laps. We joke that we are their pet hamsters running around in circles! But the counters do have a very important job, they actually log your time each and every one of those 150 laps! They will shout out encouragement to all runners and all the counters, regardless of who they are counting for, will chant your name as you take you final lap and run to the finish.
Tables are set up in each of the four “corners” of the track for runners to stock their own hydration and nutrition needs. Rest rooms are within 100 yards of the running track. There is enough space around the track for spectators (mostly family members of runners) to stand and cheer. And, very importantly a doctor is present throughout the entire event.
Music is played throughout the entire race using many songs that had previously been submitted by runners with the addition of some silly and appropriate tunes like “Dizzy”, “Turn, Turn, Turn”. Signs for each runner and for general encouragement are taped along the far wall. Every 30 minutes an orange traffic cone is placed at the Start/Finish/Turn spot and runners turn around it (it is very orderly) to reserve direction.
You might wonder why I rated the perfectly flat course on a smooth track surface a “2” and not a super easy “1”. I’ll offer two reasons. (1) running on a perfectly flat surface isn’t as easy as it seems, there is really no variation and therefore the same muscles are constantly being stressed. (2) given the nature of the track, there are 600 turns (150 * 4 corners) and even with the changing direction, these turns have a way of becoming uncomfortable on the hips.
I’d love to give the race a “5” for course scenery, but I had to be realistic. As much fun as the event is, and I will come back again and again if I am lucky enough to make it in with the lottery), you do pass around the same 4 walls 150 times. I’d be lying to say the scenery is spectacular.
Scenery aside, this is such a great race put on by a running club “The Band of 10,000 Aches” for the love of running. They make you feel welcome and part of their community
Indoor Marathon? Sure!
When I first heard of the Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon, I thought, 'The folks who came up with this race must be nuts!' Turns out I was right, but … MORE
When I first heard of the Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon, I thought, ‘The folks who came up with this race must be nuts!’ Turns out I was right, but that’s a good thing! I could not stop smiling all race weekend, from Dan’s hilarious weather forecast during the pre-race meal (incredible food, by the way) to sharing stories with fellow runners at the post-race pub gathering downtown. Never have I experienced such camaraderie! Each runner has his or her own personal timer/lap counter, which collectively make up a very enthusiastic cheer zone and keeps you motivated throughout the race. And when you finish, you get a great shirt, medal, and race certificate. The race directors, Dick and Dennis, thought of everything and have truly created a race worth repeating. Most of all, it was a joy to run with and cheer on such a fun and friendly group of runners! When I first heard of the Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon, I thought, ‘The folks who came up with this race must be nuts!’ Turns out I was right, but that’s a good thing! I could not stop smiling all race weekend, from Dan’s hilarious weather forecast during the pre-race meal (incredible food, by the way) to sharing stories with fellow runners at the post-race pub gathering downtowh. Never have I experienced such camaraderie! Each runner has his or her own personal timer/lap counter, which collectively make up a very enthusiastic cheer zone and keeps you motivated throughout the race. And when you finish, you get a great shirt, medal, and race certificate. The race directors, Dick and Dennis, thought of everything and have truly created a race worth repeating. Most of all, it was a joy to run with and cheer on such a fun and friendly group of runners! I will definitely be back!