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Minnesota > Walker North Country Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K
Walker, MN
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Date

Saturday, September 20, 2008



Event Details

The red, orange and yellow-toned hues of the abundant fall leaves are on display every year at the running of the Walker North Country Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K, an early-fall road race that takes runners through the winding hills and backwoods forest lands of Minnesota's Chippewa National Forest, on a course that isn't for the "faint of heart," as the race organizers describe -- fewer than five miles of the course takes place on paved surfaces, which makes for a challenging race for any runner.

Run on a point-to-point course that starts at the mile 13 marker of the full marathon (which itself starts and finishes in downtown Walker, Minn.), the half marathon begins just north of Portage Lake, south of Walker and just off Highway 371. From there, the course follows a winding route through the woods and hills of the forest, taking an eastward tack for the first six miles before turning northward at about the half-way point in the half marathon course (and the 3/4-point of the full marathon course).

Along the way, the course takes runners over the "Troll Bridge" just below Anoway Lake, and finally hits paved roads for the last few miles of the race when it hits Sixth Lake Road, a stretch of roadway that runs between the Heartland/Paul Bunyan Trail and a series of lakes on the way back into town, including Long Lake and Lake May. The second half of the race features mostly flat and fast terrain, a welcome respite after the very hilly first half of the race through the forest.

The race finishes at the track and field complex of Walker High School, and features what has become the famous half-mile climb to the finish, a stretch of uphill toward the finish line. At the finish line, there is (weather permitting) a wine and cheese party with music later in the afternoon for the more than 900 runners and approximately 300 volunteers who come out for the race each year.


Race Weather & Climate

Located amongst the gorgeous lake country of northern central Minnesota, the town of Walker (which lies just miles from Leech Lake) tends to see mild, pleasant weather in the summer and early fall, with occasionally very cool conditions. In September, area temperatures average between 66°F and 46°F, while rainfall amounts average around 2.91 inches for the month.


Fees

$40 if registered by September 1, 2007
$45 after Sept. 1


Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2008 running of the Walker North Country Marathon, register online at Active.com or print out and mail in by downloading this form.


Website

www.walkernorthcountrymarathon.com


Course Map


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