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START: 7:00 a.m. on May 9, 2009 at the Holdingford High School. Runners will head west from the Holdingford High School for one mile and join the Lake Wobegon Trail ¾ mile north of the Holdingford Trail Facility. Runners will run through the towns of Holdingford, Albany, Avon, and St. Joseph. The race finishes at the Trail Facility in St. Joseph. COURSE: The course is flat, fast, and pretty. The course is certified (USATF #MN-08042-RR). The Lake Wobegon Trail is a 10 foot wide asphalt bike trail on a former railroad track. The trail is smooth and has no cant. There is very little elevation change at any time along the entire length of the course. You cannot get lost on this course. Runners join the trail after one mile and then simply follow the trail to the finish. There is only one turn on the entire trail where the trail ‘T’s’ at about 11 ½ miles and runners go left at the ‘T’. The trail is primarily rural except as it passes through the four small towns along the route. Many people feel that the trail from Holdingford to St. Joseph is the prettiest portion of the Lake Wobegon Trail. WEATHER: The average high for St. Joseph on May 9 is 67 degrees. The average low is 42 degrees. The sunrise is 5:52 a.m. SAFETY: The trail crosses public roads and private drives at a number of points along the trail. Most of these crossings will not be controlled and runners must yield to vehicles. Runners should use caution at all trail crossings. WATER STATIONS: Tentatively water stations will be located an average of 2.4 miles apart on the course with the furthest distance between water stations anticipated to be 3.0 miles apart. Sports drink will be available at water stations beginning at mile 12.5. Volunteers may have cookies, candy, or fruit available at some stations. TOILETS: Holdingford High School and Trail Facilities at Holdingford (mile 1.8), Avon (mile 18.2), and St. Joseph (finish) have toilets and water fountains. SPECTATORS: Space and parking is limited at most water stations. Water stations are generally located adjacent to public roads and often not safe locations for children. Friends and family are encouraged to spectate from the Trail Facilities in the towns of Holdingford, Albany, Avon, and St. Joseph. FINISH: Finisher shirts (choice of shirt size is guaranteed only if registration is postmarked by April 16, 2009) and finisher medals will be awarded to all runners who complete the course within the six hour time limit. Refreshments will be provided to all runners at the finish.AWARDS: Awards will be presented to the male and female overall and masters winners and to the top male and female finisher in each category: 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70+. REGISTRATION:
The 2009 race is limited to 250 runners.
Entry fee is $40 postmarked by PACKET
PICKUP: Race bibs will be
picked up before the start at the TRANSPORTATION:
Runners may park at the finish at the St. Joseph Trail Facility and
ride a bus to the start at the ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact Sharon Hobbs at shobbs@rnoon.com for additional information. NOTE FROM THE RACE DIRECTOR: Welcome to our website! I hope that you are seriously considering running the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon with us this year. We were very pleased with how well the race went last year and are happy to be able to offer a certified course with a new and improved start location to avoid the short out and back stretch and accommodate more runners this year. I hope that you decide to join us at the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon this spring! Sharon Hobbs Race Director |