Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon - Race Reviews

A wonderful experience. Course is mostly flat with only two areas that are slightly uphill. Only negative which is expected is that opportunities for portapotty usage on the course was difficult due to only one being available at the various spots. With the number of participants and being a small race, this makes sense logistically. Organizers and volunteers are great and it's easy for my family who were spectating to drive along to different spots to cheer!

Great course, atmosphere, aide stations, and post race food options. Community is great. Definitely recommend.

Completed the 2023 LWTM. Was my 8th marathon and first Lake Wobegon. It instantly became my favorite. Wonderful quiet and scenic course, not at all crowded, and very well organized. I got PR and BQ. Can't recommend this marathon enough.

Extremely well organized. Put on by a local running club, The St. Cloud River Runners Small town marathon run on a paved trail, an old railroad bed, flat and fast. Great food at the finish and they have plenty, even for the later finishers.

So much to love about this event: great course (and certified), nice climate, 7am start time, very well organized (with shuttle busses), not crowded, waiting *indoors* before the race starts (thanks Holdingford High School!), lots of fun people, convenient and affordable lodging/hotels in the area. I've run Grandma's Marathon in Duluth a few times, and found that Lake Wobegon Marathon is much more enjoyable - looking forward to running it again next year!!

The Lake Wobegone Trail Marathon is a top notch event. As a Fifty Stater, I'm very glad it served as my Minnesota Marathon. I had originally planned to run the Brookings Marathon, but it was canceled because of severe weather that had gone through that area earlier in the week. The race director for Lake Wobegone opened the race up to several of us that had planned to run Brookings. He did so without any convincing. I'm very appreciative of that having traveled to the region to run a marathon. Picking up the packet/bib was super easy. Being dropped off for the buses that took us to the start line was easy. Once there we were greeted as we got off the bus by the town mayor! How cool is that? We gathered in a local high school with plenty of restrooms, room to stretch and get ready, and water as we waited for the start of the race. The course is a point to point on the Lake Wobegon Trail. It is a paved rail trail that goes through gorgeous rural areas with beautiful farms, lakes, small cities, and forests all around. It was a picture perfect day. The course is flat. There weren't a ton of spectators on the course, but enough to keep you motivated especially as we ran through some of the small towns. They were all super nice and very encouraging. The finish line was well attended and had a great assortment of food. I love smaller races like this. So, it was perfect in my book. I left town before picking up my age group award as I didn't expect to place. The race director sent it to me for free. He has been easy to communicate with along the way. I'm deeply appreciative to him and all of those who put on a great race. Thank you all! Run Lake Wobegone if you are looking for a great smaller race with top notch logistics along a stunningly beautiful course.

Well done race in all aspects. Pre-race communications were excellent. A good value to the runners. Lovely course on a retired railroad bed. Mostly flat and tree lined in many sections. Wear sunscreen! If it's hot, consider carrying extra fluids. Pasta dinner Friday night was well done and plentiful. Signs along the trail gave advice reminiscent of Garrison Keillor. Race added signs with encouraging thoughts and humor. Numerous locations where spectators could reach the trail. Runs through a covered bridge early in the race.

This was my first time running this marathon and 4th overall. The organization and attention to details were spot on. The couse is very pretty and flat (only one minor rise at 9ish). Weather started around 50 with and got up in the 70s. The ice chips handed out at 21 were crucial. The pasta dinner and post race food were both great. Great race!

This race experience was wonderful. Shortly after registering, I received a welcome email from the race director (!!!) and that was just the start of how awesome this race was. Great course, plenty of motivating, well-stocked aid stations, helpful volunteers. This was a great experience for me and I will be back!!

I heard nothing but positive comments about the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon, and it still exceeded my expectations. I thought I would miss the 'big race' feel, but there was nothing missing in this race. It was well organized, with great volunteers, great spectators, and a great course!

This was my first marathon and was highly recommended by a friend. I have to say it was a wonderful event, well organized, beautiful trail and scenery, enthusiastic spectators and over all TOP NOTCH. Everyone was friendly and had a home town feel, not huge but country nice. I highly recommend this marathon. Oh yes, the medal is beautiful and represents the trail.

Nowhere else have I seen 5 deer leap past me, ran to the tune of a roosters crow or the mooing of the local cows. I loved the scenic bus ride to the start and the athletes welcome by the volunteers. Start holding area is indoors at the local school so the unpredictable spring weather doesn't chill you prerace. Motivational signs were a plus since the fans are mostly the 4 legged kind. The 'trail' is asphalt bike trail, smooth and flat! Medal and shirt artwork are my favorite thus far! Finish has soda pop (DrPepper never tasted better), pizza & cookies. The pacers were top notch and the race director very accommodating. Lots of local top notch racers. A memorable race!

If you want a laid back, easy marathon this is the one! When I say easy I mean packet pick up was a breeze, bag drop took seconds for drop off and pick up, no standing in long lines for bus ride to start. Super organized, well run event. Kudos to the race director. Paved trail was well maintained and flat! Great PR course. I was surprised at how many spectators there were considering it was such a small event. Highly recommend!

I ran this marathon in 2013, 2014, and 2015. I qualified for Boston all three times. My only suggestion for improvement in this marathon is to have a timing mat at the start and not just the finish. For those looking to BQ or PR seconds matter so don't dally in the port-a-potty.

I have to tell you: this is a fabulous small race! I had a really rough week leading up to race day. My spirit was low, and my body felt weak. On race day, I made my way to the shuttle, feeling a little worried ... we congregated in the high school gym near the starting line. I wandered among my fellow marathoners, and the happy atmosphere soon helped me relax. It was a cold morning, but the sunshine was brilliant. The run started, and I began my journey through the wetlands of Minnesota. The course is simply peaceful. I ran though agricultural areas, small towns, wetlands, past lakes, through a covered bridge ... all in gentle sunshine and perfect temperatures. Volunteers cheerfully provided support and guidance, fellow runners were happy and helpful, and mostly, my soul got to rejuvenate. I finished that 26.2 miles feeling better than when I started. And that is all one can ever desire from any journey. Kudos to the organizers for choosing to have such a well run race in such a wonderful place.

I have run over 25 marathons & this is one of my favorite races. The course was very flat & fast, & weather was perfect. I felt it was the perfect size race, as I always had someone within vision ahead. I would definitely recommend this race if looking for a PR!

For a small town marathon the race directors do a great job of making everyone feel like they are all big time winners. The course is fast and flat with absolutely beautiful scenery all along the paved trail. The cheering crowds were surprisingly large for a small marathon and the massages, awards, and food at the end rival some bigger marathons I have run. If you want a nice getaway and great time in speed and the experience I would recommend this marathon.

What a lovely morning. The course traverses woods, farms, lakes and wetlands, with spring erupting everywhere. At one point the frogs on either side of the trail gave the loudest welcome on the entire course. The occasional crossroads provided access for clusters of friendly, enthusiastic fans. The welcome finish, in St. Joseph, was charming and well organized. Kudos to the organizers.

This is a really great race. The trail itself is easy to run on and it's very scenic running thru several rural MN towns and I especially enjoyed running over the bridges. The volunteers were fantastic and the post-race pizza was delicious. Even the race bag was much nicer than I've ever received. I'll definitely be back!

This race is the perfect size; small but not tiny. Beautiful fast course through countryside and small towns; minimal road crossings. It's also a great value, especially for the high quality bag, and great looking shirts & medals.

One of the big successes is the number of people who qualify for Boston running this small rural town feel marathon! Great course!

I have run the course 4 times: 1 time as a pacer and 3 times as a competitor. The race director has made sure runners, spectators, and volunteers have had an enjoyable experience. Her attention to details is spot on and over and above what I would expect. The price is very reasonable and the swag received is of high quality. The course itself is flat, fast, and scenic. If you are looking for a BQ-this is your race!

I loved running this course. I was cheered at every location open to the public, there was always enough water/sport drink, and all traffic was halted for the runners. The volunteers were terrific, the pacers were on time, the details were all perfectly managed, and at the finish they treated me with TLC like you wouldn't believe. What a race!

This was my first time running the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon and it was FANTASTIC! It was obvious that a lot of hard work went into putting this race on. It was very well coordinated, and the volunteers were kind, caringabsolutely wonderful. At the finish line, I was treated as if everyone knew me: cheers, applause, a lot of personal attention-and I had never met any of them. The scenery along the course was absolutely beautiful-nature at its best. An unbelievable 5-star experience in Small-town, Minnesota. Hats-off to the St. Cloud River Runners! This one should be on every marathoner's 'must-run' list.

Would I run this race again, yes. It's a small race, if you are looking for large amount of spectators this isn't your race. But what few spectators there are along the course, well they have allot of heart. My only wish that I have for the run is I would like to see it held during the fall. The colors there must be something to see. At this time of the year the trees are just starting to bud. It would be a more scenic run. This year fishing season opened on the same day of the run. So if you are a fisherman this make the run another plus for you. This year packet pick up and the pre-run dinner where held at a local college in St Joseph, which is not far from the finish line. Once again this is a small race. Don't expect to find things here that you would at a larger race. But if you want a flat course and great people this is great run. Hope to return with my son and his family. We stayed in St Cloud which is not far from St Joseph

The race director has kept the number very manageable so extra little details can be covered. From the pasta feed to the finish line there is great organization and very helpful, friendly volunteers.

Although this race isn't filled with spectators, it is a really fun race because the organizers are friendly, the start isnt very crowded, there are ample water station, easy spectator access, and a flat, beautiful run through rural Minnesota.

What a great event. While I wasn't happy with my race time (thanks to the headwinds at the end of my race - the last 4 miles killed me!), I really enjoyed my entire race experience. Everything was so well organized, communicated, and coordinated, and as a participant focused on a personal goal, it's nice to not have to worry about the details. The volunteers are the poster children for Minnesota Nice. Seriously, where did you find these people? From the Mayor of Holdingford welcoming us to his town, to the smiley faces at packet pick-up, to the helpful and supportive people staffing the water stops and manning the traffic stops, and then the welcome arm-around-the-shoulder I received at the finish line - these people made my day. I wasn't happy about my race time, but they made me happy about the whole experience. Wow. I really appreciated the finish line food  pizza and my favorite beverage, Cherry Coke? That was a pleasant surprise! And the swag. The 'drop' bags were another pleasant surprise - I guess plastic is for sandwiches? Loved the technical shirt, and most of all, this year's medal. I'm an orchid enthusiast and member of the Minnesota Orchid Society, and when I saw the medal adorned with five lady-slipper orchids, well, it was worth it, no matter what time I crossed the line. I know the medals change every year, but this was a happy coincidence. I even had a turkey and 3 deer cross the trail in front of me! Kudos to Sharon Hobbs and a heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this event happen. It was a beautiful day on a beautiful course, all made possible by beautiful people. Someday I will do this race again (I usually don't like to repeat races), and in the mean time, I will recommend it to every runner I know.

If you need a flat, fast well organized small marathon, this is the one for you. Great runner's club feel to this. Trail is fully paved. No congestion. Easy logistics...pre-race dinner at college and start at high school so no waiting around outside.

Lake Wobegon is a low-key but extremely organized, runner friendly race. The travel logistics are exceptionally easy. Sharon does an outstanding job incorporating the community in helping to create a welcoming experience to all runners, spectators and volunteers. An AWESOME race experience.

This marathon is set up by runners for runners. The water stations, post race food, and volunteers are above and beyond most races I have participated in. With the layout of the course it's very fan friendly for supporters to be able to see their runners multiple times.

This race is the complete package! Very well organized from the packet pickup, pasta-feed, bus ride to the start, indoor pre-race area with plenty of bathrooms and fun music to jazz you up! Beautiful, flat course with water, toilets, support spaced just right, and the finish is filled with excitement, support, food, and easy access to see your family or people waiting for you! It's a 'everyone know's your name' feeling! And if they don't, they will before you leave!!

The circle is complete..my marathon career began with LWTM and ends with LWTM. This was my only full marathon after a tendon transfer surgery in 2011 in my foot. It was uncertain if I would be able to run another full marathon. I did it...barely. Now wisdom says to let it go. They say you always have a soft spot for your first marathon, but it's not just because it was the first...it's because of the energy, volunteers, spectators, pacers, runners, camaraderie during the race, and beauty of the LWTM trail. Not to mention it's flat, fast, and a great Boston qualifier! 'Four towns, two feet, one day' I like to say about this race, it makes you seem like you're amazing! :) I will ALWAYS recommend this race to anyone, especially as a first time marathon. I won't be on the course anymore as a runner, but I will definitely be there as a volunteer in the years to come! See you out there!!!

Very well organized and executed race. The volunteers were very helpful and gracious, I couldn't thank them enough at each aid station or the finish. This race is very small and intimate, everyone either knows each other or wants to get to know you. Yes, it's a flat paved 10 ft. wide trail, but with only 325-350 runners I never felt boxed in or crowded. The aid stations are not as frequent as some big marathons, usually 2-2.5 miles apart, so with that in mind bring a hydration belt if you need it. But they were great aid stations with all the essentials and then some, including salty snacks like pretzels and chips, my favorite! The finish line area was fantastic, tons of great food and drink, lots of options depending on how well you feel after a race. Everything from pizza to bagels, water to Gatorade to Cokes and Sprites. And chocolate milk, always a bonus. Great volunteers at the finish too, took the time to help, make sure you were doing ok, then gave you directions to the food, massage tent or finishers shirts. PS - this review would have been great even if I didn't PR by 12 minutes!

The Wobegone Marathon is such a fun experience! This is my second time running it and I plan on coming back again! It is well run, Sharon makes everyone feel special! the course is beautiful and fast, and although the crowds are small, they make up for it with their spirit!!!

This is a very well organized small race. Course is flat and has few turns. Very friendly and helpful volunteers. This race is mainly woods/country setting. If you need crowds and massive amounts of people to push you through, this might not be the race for you. Great set up. I would highly recommend this one.

This race is put on by the running club I belong to. They are very friendly and do a fabulous job organizing and executing this race. The volunteers are outstanding, friendly and energetic. The course is picturesque and flat. Very good place to PR. Not your 'big city' marathon and I liked that compared to my previous marathon which fit that category.