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Marathon Details - Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > MN > Northfield > Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon

Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon

Northfield, MN USA

~~January 10, 2021~~ - CANCELLED

http://www.zoomyahyah.com

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Marathon Results

By Year:

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

150 laps around the 282 meter track. No wind, no rain, 56-64 degree temperature....and no hills! Course is certified by USAT&FA (MN-07026-RR). 600 aid stations and music played the entire 26.21 miles.

Contact Information

Name:	Erica Maker and/or Katie Bretscher
Address:	St. Olaf College, Conference & Events, 1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN, 55057
Phone Number:	507-786-3762
Email:	Email the organizers

Race Organizer

The OLDEST Indoor Marathon in the USA! (1/7/20)

Katie Bretscher

The 16th Annual Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, January 10, 2021 at St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN. This is a 150 lap race where every lap time is recorded by your personal time keeper. There are 600 aid stations, you will hear music the entire 26.21 miles and you will change directions every 30 minutes. The weather is perfect: no wind, no rain, no sleet, no snow....just a constant 56-64 degrees. We have the BEST pre-race meal anywhere and we provide towels for out-of-town runners. Registration forms will be available in early June. The deadline to register is 12/01/20. We do accept late registrations if we have not filled our 58 runner quota. To receive 2021 registration information, please go to zoomyahyah.com

Runner Reviews (90)

Course 4.8

Organization 5.0

Spectators 4.9

Write a review

Number of comments: 90 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 > ]

K. E. from North Carolina (1/24/2020) "This was a really well run and well organized even" (about: 2020) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a really nice event, beginning with communication beforehand. Katie, the race director, was really quick in responding to e-mails I sent with questions. The dinner in the cafeteria the night before was very good, with lots of food options available. Each runner had their own timer. Mine was an alumni who came back to volunteer. She was wonderful, cheering for me on each lap, and that's a lot of laps! I highly recommend this marathon.
Rob Klein from Paradise, Michigan USA (1/6/2020) "Oom Yah Yah" (about: 2020) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a great opportunity to run a winter marathon in the upper Midwest. And from my home, I could drive there in a day. Dick Daymont organized this race some 15 years ago. He passed the torch to a couple of young coaches from the college a year or two ago. Dick was still there this weekend meeting the runners, visiting with us, and encouraging us. I asked him about the name, and if he came up with it. Dick told me "Oom Yah Yah" was a chant from the school's fight song. Then a friend of Dick's was trying to come up with a marathon name for each letter of the alphabet, but was having trouble coming up with a name using the letter "Z". So they added the letter Z to the chant and came up with Zoom Yah Yah. An interesting bit of trivia. In years past, getting into this race was done by lottery because they only take 58 runners. I think that is the biggest crowd the track can accommodate. Two years ago I was registered to run, but with the bitter cold that year that had settled over the upper Midwest, the fuel lines in my truck froze, and I simply could not get there in time. This year they just opened registration until their quota was met. RD Katie told me they had 54 registrations and about 10 no-shows were expected. This marathon was held in the sports complex of St. Olaf College. St. Olaf is a Lutheran school, a short drive south of MSP. The pre-race packet pick up was in the commons building, in a room on the third floor. It was coordinated so afterwards we could eat food from the dining hall where the students eat. We received a meal ticket in our packets, and there was about every choice of food imaginable. In the morning we all met up at the Tostrud Sports Center - where the indoor track was. Each runner was matched up with a student volunteer from the college, and that volunteer recorded laps and cheered on their runner. Where the start/finish line was, the volunteers congregated. We started running at 6:30 a.m. and the event was open for 6 hours. The track was kind of rectangular, with rounded corners, and at each corner were tables where each runner could put their refreshments. That is another thing: No food or drink was provided by the race organization for during or after the marathon. You were told to bring with you what you needed and then set your stuff out on one of the tables provided. I think there was one water fountain on the track that was available. So runners brought water, sports drink, gels, fruit, and whatever else. It worked well. And we knew ahead of time. Track marathons are good in the respect that you do not have to carry anything with you during the run - unless you want to. The track had three lanes; the slow runners or walkers were on the inside lane. Faster runners passed in the outside lanes. Then every 30 minutes we switched directions. That worked out really well too. Katie and Erica were the co-race directors - both of them are coaches at the college, and they did a good job. We were kept informed ahead of time about how it worked, and what to expect. The course was flat and fast, with no wind, rain, or snow!
F. L. from NJ (1/11/2019) "Rah! Rah! For Zoom Yah! Yah!" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 6+ Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I'm a little obsessed with this race....just a little, in fact it makes me DIZZY. I 'found' this race in 2009 and since then have run it 6 times. 2019's edition was as fresh and fun as the first time I stepped onto the raised indoor track. The Race Director is a warm, friendly and funny guy. He loves running and this race is 'for the love of running'. The young women from St. Olaf's track and cross country running clubs, who for the most part, are our lap counters, are full of enthusiasm and cheer for EVERY runner, not just their own. The music, yes MUSIC, is fun and interesting and relevant. Water tables are placed in each of the four corners of the track for you to stock your own fluids and nutritional needs. Indoor bathrooms are no more than 60 meters away. The weather conditions are always perfect inside, regardless what what it is doing outside. The course is predictable, no hills, no rocks, no roots. There is always a doctor on site through the entire race - just in case. Oh, and the entire field reverses direction every 30 minutes. The pre-race dinner is OUTSTANDING! Swag is nicely designed. Photos are taken and available. Costs are kept low and yet it is a fundraiser for the track and cross country teams. Everybody WINS. Yah! Yah! Ya gotta do this one.
Deb Seitz from Northfield, MN (1/21/2018) "Truly Amazing!!" (about: 2018) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 When race director Dick Daymont saw me at a local store wearing a marathon shirt he approached me, introduced himself, asked about my marathon experience, and started talking Zoom! Yah! Yah! My initial reaction was '150 laps around an indoor track? Umm...I'll pass, thanks.' Dick's energy and enthusiasm was contagious, though, and I decided I'd give it a shot. I am so happy I did. It was a BLAST! Well organized, super well supported, and just plain fun!! I made a few new friends, thoroughly enjoyed myself, and earned a marathon PR! I cannot recommend this marathon enthusiastically enough! Give it a try :-)
Mark Stodghill from Duluth, Minnesota (1/14/2018) "Favorite indoor marathon" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My favorite of the five different indoor marathons I have run. Race is limited to 50 runners who run 150 laps on an indoor track at St.Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Runners change directions every 30 minutes to lessen the stress of the turns on the oval track. Each runner's laps are counted by a member of the St. Olaf women's track team, who also provide enthusiastic encouragement. Running themed music and rock is piped in throughout the day. The Saturday night pre-race meal on campus is the best pre-race meal in marathoning. St. Olaf must use its campus cafeteria menu as a recruiting tool. Race director Dick Daymont is a marathoner and knows how to host an event.
Evelyn Watkins from Mississippi (1/11/2018) "Such a fun event!!" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a Bucket List race for me. An Indoor marathon with 150 laps around a track sounded like a true mental challenge. And it was! But the track team from St. Olaf's made it easy! My personal lap counter was my cheerleader, but the lap counters around her also became my cheerleaders as they all cheered for each runner! Within about 30 minutes, they knew each runners name and they all cheered for us! A small field (limited to 50) was perfect for this space. We all were given name bibs to go on our backs so we could cheer for each other as well. The pre-race meal comes with your entry and includes unlimited plates from the school's cafeteria (which has tons of options - vegan, veg, etc!) Post race showers are available too. Perfect for a quick overnight trip. When I finish my states I will definitely return to run Zoom again! So much fun!!! Dick & friends do a fantastic job with this event!
Allison Herd from California (1/10/2018) "An Indoor Marathon Worth Running!" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first indoor marathon. I've now completed only 23 marathons in total. The race director has this race very VERY well organized. The food the night before was fantastic with unlimited quantities! The track team that monitors the laps were fantastic - lots of cheering. You can't slack off with this exuberant cheer squad. The music was wonderful - great play list! Also the other runners were very supportive - I heard 'great job' and 'doing well' continuously.
Mike Huggenberger from Nebraska (1/10/2018) "The Zoom Yah Yah is a great marathon experience!" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have completed this race three times now - the latest two times being the 2017 and 2018 races. As much as one can consider running a marathon as being 'fun' this race is certainly all of that. Dick does a great job of organizing the event and his communications prior to and after the event are always timely and informative. My favorite part of the race is having my own personal lap counter - usually a young woman from St. Olaf's track and cross country teams. My counter did a great job of accurately recording my lap times, keeping me informed of my laps completed, while offering me encouragement throughout the entire race. Running that many laps takes a little getting used to but the field house environment and running track are first rate. If you want a most unique marathon experience, make the trip to Northfield next January!
Doug Kleemeier from MN (1/9/2018) "Great Camaraderie - Great Vibe" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have done the race twice now and while 150 laps indoors may scare some people away it is so much fun. You get to know the whole field of racers as you are passing or being passed all the time and everyone cheers you on. Music is playing, the Ole women's Track team is cheering you on and you get to log a bunch of miles in the cold of winter. Dick and his crew do a great job of welcoming everyone and there is great race support. I have made new friends both years. I am looking forward to a third.
Christy Decker from East Peoria, Illinois (1/9/2018) "Zoom Yah Yah is Yah-mazing!!!" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I cannot say enough great things about Zoom Yah Yah 2018!! I wasn't sure what to expect with this being my first time running this race. I went with a goal of finishing under four hours and what I got was so much more!! This was my 30th marathon and is by far one of my most favorite ones! The crowds and the organization was extraordinary! I have never been to a race where you feel like a piece of the puzzle. Everyone counts. The race organizers, lap counters, spectators, and runners were all involved! Most races you feel like just a bib number but at Zoom Yah Yah you are part of the family!

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 > ]



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K. E. from North Carolina (1/24/2020) "This was a really well run and well organized even" (about: 2020) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a really nice event, beginning with communication beforehand. Katie, the race director, was really quick in responding to e-mails I sent with questions. The dinner in the cafeteria the night before was very good, with lots of food options available. Each runner had their own timer. Mine was an alumni who came back to volunteer. She was wonderful, cheering for me on each lap, and that's a lot of laps! I highly recommend this marathon.
Rob Klein from Paradise, Michigan USA (1/6/2020) "Oom Yah Yah" (about: 2020) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a great opportunity to run a winter marathon in the upper Midwest. And from my home, I could drive there in a day. Dick Daymont organized this race some 15 years ago. He passed the torch to a couple of young coaches from the college a year or two ago. Dick was still there this weekend meeting the runners, visiting with us, and encouraging us. I asked him about the name, and if he came up with it. Dick told me "Oom Yah Yah" was a chant from the school's fight song. Then a friend of Dick's was trying to come up with a marathon name for each letter of the alphabet, but was having trouble coming up with a name using the letter "Z". So they added the letter Z to the chant and came up with Zoom Yah Yah. An interesting bit of trivia. In years past, getting into this race was done by lottery because they only take 58 runners. I think that is the biggest crowd the track can accommodate. Two years ago I was registered to run, but with the bitter cold that year that had settled over the upper Midwest, the fuel lines in my truck froze, and I simply could not get there in time. This year they just opened registration until their quota was met. RD Katie told me they had 54 registrations and about 10 no-shows were expected. This marathon was held in the sports complex of St. Olaf College. St. Olaf is a Lutheran school, a short drive south of MSP. The pre-race packet pick up was in the commons building, in a room on the third floor. It was coordinated so afterwards we could eat food from the dining hall where the students eat. We received a meal ticket in our packets, and there was about every choice of food imaginable. In the morning we all met up at the Tostrud Sports Center - where the indoor track was. Each runner was matched up with a student volunteer from the college, and that volunteer recorded laps and cheered on their runner. Where the start/finish line was, the volunteers congregated. We started running at 6:30 a.m. and the event was open for 6 hours. The track was kind of rectangular, with rounded corners, and at each corner were tables where each runner could put their refreshments. That is another thing: No food or drink was provided by the race organization for during or after the marathon. You were told to bring with you what you needed and then set your stuff out on one of the tables provided. I think there was one water fountain on the track that was available. So runners brought water, sports drink, gels, fruit, and whatever else. It worked well. And we knew ahead of time. Track marathons are good in the respect that you do not have to carry anything with you during the run - unless you want to. The track had three lanes; the slow runners or walkers were on the inside lane. Faster runners passed in the outside lanes. Then every 30 minutes we switched directions. That worked out really well too. Katie and Erica were the co-race directors - both of them are coaches at the college, and they did a good job. We were kept informed ahead of time about how it worked, and what to expect. The course was flat and fast, with no wind, rain, or snow!
F. L. from NJ (1/11/2019) "Rah! Rah! For Zoom Yah! Yah!" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 6+ Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I'm a little obsessed with this race....just a little, in fact it makes me DIZZY. I 'found' this race in 2009 and since then have run it 6 times. 2019's edition was as fresh and fun as the first time I stepped onto the raised indoor track. The Race Director is a warm, friendly and funny guy. He loves running and this race is 'for the love of running'. The young women from St. Olaf's track and cross country running clubs, who for the most part, are our lap counters, are full of enthusiasm and cheer for EVERY runner, not just their own. The music, yes MUSIC, is fun and interesting and relevant. Water tables are placed in each of the four corners of the track for you to stock your own fluids and nutritional needs. Indoor bathrooms are no more than 60 meters away. The weather conditions are always perfect inside, regardless what what it is doing outside. The course is predictable, no hills, no rocks, no roots. There is always a doctor on site through the entire race - just in case. Oh, and the entire field reverses direction every 30 minutes. The pre-race dinner is OUTSTANDING! Swag is nicely designed. Photos are taken and available. Costs are kept low and yet it is a fundraiser for the track and cross country teams. Everybody WINS. Yah! Yah! Ya gotta do this one.
Deb Seitz from Northfield, MN (1/21/2018) "Truly Amazing!!" (about: 2018) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 When race director Dick Daymont saw me at a local store wearing a marathon shirt he approached me, introduced himself, asked about my marathon experience, and started talking Zoom! Yah! Yah! My initial reaction was '150 laps around an indoor track? Umm...I'll pass, thanks.' Dick's energy and enthusiasm was contagious, though, and I decided I'd give it a shot. I am so happy I did. It was a BLAST! Well organized, super well supported, and just plain fun!! I made a few new friends, thoroughly enjoyed myself, and earned a marathon PR! I cannot recommend this marathon enthusiastically enough! Give it a try :-)
Mark Stodghill from Duluth, Minnesota (1/14/2018) "Favorite indoor marathon" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My favorite of the five different indoor marathons I have run. Race is limited to 50 runners who run 150 laps on an indoor track at St.Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Runners change directions every 30 minutes to lessen the stress of the turns on the oval track. Each runner's laps are counted by a member of the St. Olaf women's track team, who also provide enthusiastic encouragement. Running themed music and rock is piped in throughout the day. The Saturday night pre-race meal on campus is the best pre-race meal in marathoning. St. Olaf must use its campus cafeteria menu as a recruiting tool. Race director Dick Daymont is a marathoner and knows how to host an event.
Evelyn Watkins from Mississippi (1/11/2018) "Such a fun event!!" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a Bucket List race for me. An Indoor marathon with 150 laps around a track sounded like a true mental challenge. And it was! But the track team from St. Olaf's made it easy! My personal lap counter was my cheerleader, but the lap counters around her also became my cheerleaders as they all cheered for each runner! Within about 30 minutes, they knew each runners name and they all cheered for us! A small field (limited to 50) was perfect for this space. We all were given name bibs to go on our backs so we could cheer for each other as well. The pre-race meal comes with your entry and includes unlimited plates from the school's cafeteria (which has tons of options - vegan, veg, etc!) Post race showers are available too. Perfect for a quick overnight trip. When I finish my states I will definitely return to run Zoom again! So much fun!!! Dick & friends do a fantastic job with this event!
Allison Herd from California (1/10/2018) "An Indoor Marathon Worth Running!" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first indoor marathon. I've now completed only 23 marathons in total. The race director has this race very VERY well organized. The food the night before was fantastic with unlimited quantities! The track team that monitors the laps were fantastic - lots of cheering. You can't slack off with this exuberant cheer squad. The music was wonderful - great play list! Also the other runners were very supportive - I heard 'great job' and 'doing well' continuously.
Mike Huggenberger from Nebraska (1/10/2018) "The Zoom Yah Yah is a great marathon experience!" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have completed this race three times now - the latest two times being the 2017 and 2018 races. As much as one can consider running a marathon as being 'fun' this race is certainly all of that. Dick does a great job of organizing the event and his communications prior to and after the event are always timely and informative. My favorite part of the race is having my own personal lap counter - usually a young woman from St. Olaf's track and cross country teams. My counter did a great job of accurately recording my lap times, keeping me informed of my laps completed, while offering me encouragement throughout the entire race. Running that many laps takes a little getting used to but the field house environment and running track are first rate. If you want a most unique marathon experience, make the trip to Northfield next January!
Doug Kleemeier from MN (1/9/2018) "Great Camaraderie - Great Vibe" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have done the race twice now and while 150 laps indoors may scare some people away it is so much fun. You get to know the whole field of racers as you are passing or being passed all the time and everyone cheers you on. Music is playing, the Ole women's Track team is cheering you on and you get to log a bunch of miles in the cold of winter. Dick and his crew do a great job of welcoming everyone and there is great race support. I have made new friends both years. I am looking forward to a third.
Christy Decker from East Peoria, Illinois (1/9/2018) "Zoom Yah Yah is Yah-mazing!!!" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I cannot say enough great things about Zoom Yah Yah 2018!! I wasn't sure what to expect with this being my first time running this race. I went with a goal of finishing under four hours and what I got was so much more!! This was my 30th marathon and is by far one of my most favorite ones! The crowds and the organization was extraordinary! I have never been to a race where you feel like a piece of the puzzle. Everyone counts. The race organizers, lap counters, spectators, and runners were all involved! Most races you feel like just a bib number but at Zoom Yah Yah you are part of the family!

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Marathon Details - Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon