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Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon

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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+

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]

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] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Josh Peterson 27 Cold Spring 2:34:55 2024 1st place, gold medalist(s) Heather Camp 44 Mankato 3:04:47
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Ben Johnson 38 Minneapolis 2:38:04 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Amy Gunderson 43 Savage 3:05:10
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Brian Valentini 40 Minneapolis 2:41:32 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Maggie Marx 36 New Haven 3:07:35
2023[21] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Ben Johnson 37 Minneapolis 2:47:35 2023 1st place, gold medalist(s) Katie Zirbes 35 Le Sueur 3:15:30
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Matthew Axelrod 31 Saint Paul 2:55:53 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Margaret Irvin 40 Durham, North Carolina 3:19:13
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Stephen Woods 32 Avon 2:57:13 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Laura Parson 40 Fargo, North Dakota 3:27:35
2022[22] 1st place, gold medalist(s) John Schreier 32 Minneapolis 2:50:28 2022 1st place, gold medalist(s) Kristen Giombi 36 Raleigh, North Carolina 3:15:37
2nd place, silver medalist(s) David Armstrong 40 Richardson, Texas 3:00:17 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Leah Knowles 24 Shakopee 3:16:39
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Jerod Honrath 48 Dallas, Texas 3:06:24 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Wanda Gau 59 Little Falls 3:18:27
2021[23] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Brandon Reihm 26 Annandale 2:36:17 2021 1st place, gold medalist(s) Kacy Rodamaker 23 Minneapolis 3:13:23
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Evan Richardson 34 Byron 2:37:23 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Wanda Gau 58 Little Falls 3:14:06
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Braden Richardson 35 Byron 2:38:05 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 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] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Dan Feda 44 Rochester 2:45:30 2019 1st place, gold medalist(s) Cathleen Gross 25 Eagan 3:03:02
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Justin Wirth 38 Annandale 2:52:22 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Wanda Gau 56 Little Falls 3:12:47
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Christopher Frank 47 Winnipeg, Canada 2:53:29 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Rachel Turi 23 St. Paul 3:19:10
2018[26] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Braden Richardson 33 Byron 2:45:52 2018 1st place, gold medalist(s) Wanda Gau 55 Little Falls 3:05:43
2nd place, silver medalist(s) William McGinnis 38 Madison, South Dakota 2:54:44 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Rachel Rice 38 Durham, North Carolina 3:12:54
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bryan Larison 34 Minneapolis 2:55:06 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Sarah Schmidt-Dannert 18 Shoreview 3:19:16
2017[27] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Eric Giandelone 38 St. Paul 2:45:00 2017 1st place, gold medalist(s) Cheryl Jeseritz 38 Savage 3:07:07
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Ethan Komoroski 25 Minneapolis 2:50:56 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Elaina Schellhaass 30 St. Louis Park 3:11:13
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bob Fudurich 38 Mounds View 2:52:45 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Brianna Rohne 33 St. Paul 3:11:45
2016[28] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Steven Pekarek 35 Royalton 2:39:29 2016 1st place, gold medalist(s) Amy Feit 36 Luverne 2:58:13
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Andrew Zachman 19 Holdingford 2:49:30 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Amy Omann 37 Chanhassen 3:01:17
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Matthew Fisher 37 Austin, Texas 2:53:11 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Elaina Schellhaass 29 St. Louis Park 3:08:16
2015[29] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Chad Lutz 29 Stow, Ohio 2:33:59 2015 1st place, gold medalist(s) Nancy Buselmeier 31 Buffalo 3:00:15
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Reid Singer 29 Santa Fe, New Mexico 2:45:43 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Brianna Rohne 31 St. Paul 3:03:27
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Adam Nyseth 35 Plymouth 2:54:15 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Wanda Gau 52 Little Falls 3:04:57
2014 1st place, gold medalist(s) Justin Gillette 31 Goshen, Indiana 2:42:59 2014 1st place, gold medalist(s) Brianna Rohne 30 St. Paul 3:04:27
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Ben Bruce 30 Waubun 2:50:07 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Wanda Gau 51 Little Falls 3:07:39
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Douglas Lange 44 Stillwater 2:50:51 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Brooke Rasmussen 18 Big Lake 3:12:18
2013[30] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Jordan Hanlon 29 Minneapolis 2:38:19 2013 1st place, gold medalist(s) Brittany Opatz 27 Waconia 3:02:59
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Ben Bruce 29 Waubun 2:44:15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Brianna Rohne 29 St. Paul 3:15:25
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Jesse Rueckert 33 St. Cloud 2:52:41 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Jodi Nelson-Ryan 45 Sartell 3:24:26
2012[31] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Jordan Hanlon 28 Minneapolis 2:35:23 2012 1st place, gold medalist(s) Paula Marozas 24 Little Falls 3:06:03
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Gerad Mead 32 St. Paul 2:36:01 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Marey Erickson 25 Waite Park 3:22:07
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Nate Hoffman 29 Annandale 2:42:26 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Wanda Gau 49 Little Falls 3:22:43
2011[32] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Don Sullivan 37 Minneapolis 2:48:43 2011 1st place, gold medalist(s) Margaret Landberg 26 Minneapolis 3:05:46
2nd place, silver medalist(s) David Sanderson 34 Rochester 2:52:27 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Kathy Provenzano 36 Minneapolis 3:12:12
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Andrew Hemenway 37 Rochester 2:54:45 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Corrine Klebe 24 Rochester 3:26:08
2010[33] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Brian Aurelio 26 Washington, D.C. 2:53:25 2010 1st place, gold medalist(s) Wanda Gau 47 Little Falls 3:17:22
2nd place, silver medalist(s) John Maas 48 Sleepy Eye 2:54:14 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Kalli Christen 40 St. Cloud 3:18:58
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Michael Heinen 26 Willmar 2:55:36 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Traci Amundson 35 Duluth 3:19:09
2009[34] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Joe Buckentine 46 St. Cloud 2:50:19 2009 1st place, gold medalist(s) Kalli Christen 39 St. Cloud 3:17:52
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Ryan Hammerberg 25 St. Cloud 2:52:23 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Traci Amundson 34 Duluth 3:28:24
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Paul Danger 38 Valparaiso, Indiana 2:55:13 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Valerie Kelso 29 Rice 3:28:25
2008[35] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Paul Danger 37 Valparaiso, Indiana 2:47:36 2008[36] 1st place, gold medalist(s) Kalli Christen 38 St. Cloud 3:19:07
2nd place, silver medalist(s) David Hartz 50 Cold Spring 3:04:01 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Karen Wander 43 Becker 3:28:44
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Stanley Hup 53 Northfield 3:17:32 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 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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