Despite the wind gusts I loved this course! It is a tar trail except for the first mile. The rural setting is peaceful and I especially enjoyed the cute baby lambs. If you need thousands of runners and spectators to keep you motivated this is not the course for you. I qualified for Boston and hope to go back to Lake Wobegone where all the runners are good looking and faster than average!

This is a beautiful and peaceful run for those who appreciate a chance to test themselves on a fast course where you are able to run your on pace or push yourself against some very serious MN club competition. The club organization of the race was superb with all the most important elements covered - i.e. accurate mile markers, access to large gym immediately before start, bag drop, plenty of food and hot fluid at finish. Fans at the many trail intersections were wonderful with signs, cowbells, and loud/knowledgable shouts for every competitor. The low entry fee is a tremendous bargain for quality of volunteers/stations, beautiful medal and soft tech t-shirt for finishers only.

This is a small marathon (308 finishers in 2013) that is organized better than most large marathons. Other than the cold & windy weather, I have only 100% positive things to say about the race. Best features: pre-race communications, friendly pasta dinner and great medal.

Let me start off with my only ridiculously small complaint-no cream and sugar was available for my coffee at the start :) Other than that, WOW, what a great event! After running all big marathons (NY, Boston, Houston,etc) I was looking for a small, flat, PR/BQ marathon and this was it. Sharon Hobbs was very hands-on and was organized from start to finish. Because of the location of the race, spectators were few but those that were present were great. There were stretches during the race I did not see one other person, including another runner but I actually thought that was pretty cool. I came from Austin, TX and this was my first trip to Minnesota and it was worth it. I met some very friendly people and I did not mind when I crossed the finish line that they erroneously announced I was from Austin, 'Minnesota.' I did not even know it existed :) I hope this event stays small and outsiders like myself don't learn about this hidden gem. I hope to be back soon!

This was my first marathon and couldn't have gone better. Very well organized and a great group of runners, through a real covered bridge, over creeks, pastures, through forests. A long ways from the big city and as a person from a small town this is a slice of running heaven! (Did I mention no hills!)

This is a great little marathon. If you love to run this is the race for you. The race director is very hands on and visible from start to finish and cares about all 26.2 miles of this gem. The weather is usually on the cool side and with a favorable breeze you may just run a PB. The course has very little elevation change and one left turn, it is very simple, you lace up your shoes and run. The spectators are few but enthusiastic. The race stuff and shirts are great also, I have actually used the bags that I received from this race for years. The post race food is tasty and plentiful and any race that plays Iron Maiden at the finish line kicks butt in my book.

Whether this is my first or 999th marathon, I come from a world where one creates his/her own reality and dreams. There could be a million screaming fans along the course or no one at all and I would still be in heaven running this course. If you only see a flat course, that is what you will remember and believe! If you truely experience this course, you will experience a run in Heaven! With every course, you can find a devil along the way and allow it to destroy and crush your spirit as well as your physical being. With The Lake Wobegon Trail, you have angels guiding you through trees, fields, towns, lakes, covered bridges, wonderful friendly aid stations, fantastic views, over streams, past several Lake Wobegon characters cheering you on, cows grazing in the pasture, wildlife waking up, pure country air, and a fantastic finish line! All you have to do is remain sane if you are in pain and allow the course to work it's magic. Each time I run this course, I'm reminded why I run - not to burn off whatever, but to truely experience running in Heaven! I could run anywhere in the world but no way would I miss this run in and to Heaven!

I have run this marathon every year since it's birth and it only gets better every year. The meticulous organization and professional attitudes of everyone involved is beyond words. Among the 10 marathons I run each year, I look forward to this one the most. The spectators are charged up and full of energy and the refreshments at the end are awesome (love the pizza and fresh baked cookies).

Ran this race every year since its birth and it does just keep getting better every year. Volunteers are the best and its a beautiful run through the farm country of central Minnesota. Its been hot its been cold ort its been perfect running wheather but thats one of the challenge of running a marathon you take what you get.

The 2012 race is the fifth time I have done Lake Wobegon, and it continues to be my favorite marathon experience. The course is beautiful, winding through the scenic small towns and the pretty central Minnesota countryside. It is a very flat course, and was my first marathon.

The race is extremely well organized by a local running club who knows what runners like and need. They gave us cool medals, long-sleeved tech shirts, a great garment bag with the race logo, and great pizza, cookies and treats when you finish.

Spectators get 5 stars, not because there were a lot of them, but because the roving band of them that would appear every couple of miles at trail intersections were wildly enthusiastic and supportive. It was like a traveling party! Amazing, friendly volunteers, too. They were great at the aid stations and so helpful at the finish.

This is a top notch small town marathon,