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Minnesota > Gopher to Badger Half Marathon & 5K
Stillwater,
MN
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Date
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Event
Details
This is a race that has a special significance if you're from one of
the two states through which the half marathon route runs, as the
"gophers" from Minnesota go to battle each year with the "badgers" of
Wisconsin for bragging rights in the Gopher to Badger Half Marathon
& 5K, a scenic running event that takes participants through
many areas that will probably look familiar even if you've never set
foot in Stillwater.
That's because the town and its surrounding areas have been the filming
locations for a number of popular Hollywood movies, including Grumpy
Old Men and its sequel Grumpier Old Men,
the Coen brothers' Fargo and 1996's Beautiful
Girls, which starred Matt
Dillon and Uma Thurman. The course itself is attraction enough,
however, as it takes runners through the beautiful St. Croix River
Valley, whose lower 52 miles are a designated National Scenic Waterway
and boast more than 50 public as well as private parks and nature
preserves.
Runners will experience a number of challenges along the very hilly
13.1 miles of the half marathon course, which starts on Neal Avenue in
Stillwater near the Oak Glen Country Club and follows a mostly
southward and eastward course through the towns' historic
neighborhoods. Runners will cross the Interstate 94 bridge near the end
of the race, which takes them over to Wisconsin for the finish in
Lakefront Park.
To get to the starting line, runners in both races (the half marathon
and the 5K) should park at Lakefront Park in Hudson, where the buses
that will transport them to the starting line will pick them up.
Organizers encourage you to arrive by 7:20 AM, so as not to miss the
8:00 AM race starting time.
Race
Weather & Climate
Set along the banks of the St. Croix River about 30 miles due east of
Minneapolis, the towns through which the half-marathon course runs
(Stillwater and Bayport, Minn. and Hudson, Wis.) typically see very
cold winters and mild to moderately warm summers. In August, Stillwater
experiences temperatures that average between 82°F and
61°F, while rainfall amounts average about 4.92 inches for the
month (making August the area's wettest month of the year).
Fees
$28 if registered by August 3, 2008
$33 after Aug. 3 through the day of the race
Registration
Online registration for the 2008 Gopher to Badger Half
Marathon is not yet available, but you can sign up for the event by
filling out and mailing in this printable form.
Website
www.finalstretch.com
Course Map
View Larger
Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in the Gopher to Badger Half Marathon or 5K? Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories and tips for the
event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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