The Hawk Ridge Race for Raptors took place Saturday morning amidst some blustery winter weather.  Thirty-four hearty participants completed the 5k run and two completed the 1-mile walk.  Evan Walpole won the men's 5k with a time of 18:11.  Molly Pennings won the women's title in 22:47.  Everyone enjoyed hot soup and cider after the race.  Proceeds benefitted the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory.

2010 Hawk Ridge Race for Raptor 5k Results

Pictures submitted by Shane Olson.

Submitted By:

Mark Massoglia

Dogwood Race Director

mmassoglia@oneil.com

Since 1998, I’ve had the privilege of being the race director of the Dogwood 5K Run and 2-Mile Walk in my hometown of Saxon.  With the help of many residents, businesses, and organizations, the “Dogwood” has grown to become a popular event in the Gogebic Range and raised enough money to offer two annual scholarships for high school seniors.  The Saxon-Gurney Lions Club had presented the event and underwritten the insurance since 2005 but recently voted to disband.  I’m happy to announce the Merceir-Kero American Legion Post 371 recently voted to take over the Dogwood scholarship fund so scholarships will continue to be offered for the next few years.  Unfortunately, due to the increased difficulty of commuting from the Oshkosh area, where I’ve resided since 2001, to Saxon for run responsibilities, I will no longer be able to continue as race director.  Therefore, with great regret, the Dogwood Run/Walk will have to be discontinued.

For the Dogwood to have lasted 13 years, many people have devoted a lot of time and hard work to make the event successful.  Unfortunately, there are too many to list individually in this letter but I can go in some detail about their contributions.  First of all, I want to thank all the Saxon-Gurney businesses that sponsored the Dogwood since 2000 and other area businesses that donated door prizes.  I also want to thank the Iron County Fair Board and Saxon-Gurney Volunteer Fire Department for the use of their facilities.  Also, many people have taken time to work as volunteers.  As an avid runner, I know first-hand an event is only as good as its volunteers and I’m very proud of my volunteers.  A run is really no different than any business; you can’t survive without customers, or, in this case, runners and walkers.  Therefore, I want to thank everyone who have come to Saxon and made the Dogwood a part of their race calendar.  Last but not least, I want to thank my family for doing most of the “behind-the-scenes” and “leg” work when I was gone.  I especially want to give proper credit to my sister Kay, who actually came up with the idea of a run for Saxon, and my brother Greg, who mapped out the Dogwood course.
 
Since 2002, the Dogwood has been part of the popular “Run the Range” series with four other runs in the Hurley-Ironwood area.  I wish to continue as series points director for one more year and then, hopefully, “pass the torch” to someone else.  The series has introduced the sport of running to many area people over the last ten years, and I hope the series will continue for years to come.

Finally, I urge everyone to continue to support as many running events as possible in some capacity.  A well-organized running event can be a great promotional tool for a community.  Please don’t ever take any event for granted or treat it with apathy; otherwise, you will risk losing it.

Submitted By:

Lisa Messerer

wildknit@clearwire.net

I have had a few folks ask about the winter Lakewalk runs so thought I would share with everyone The Plan, such as it is.

The first Wednesday after Daylight Saving Time ends (aka 11/10/10) we will start meeting in the big parking lot in Canal Park (between Dewitt-Seitz and Grandmas) at the far end adjacent to Morse Street.

Meeting time consensus seems to be 5:00-5:15pm. In general if we know you are coming we will wait for your arrival, unless we know you are fast enough to chase us down. ;->

Run is at your own pace and for whatever distance seems right that day (with the Lakewalk extension it could be a heck of a run, though I am guessing lights are needed past 26th Ave E).

Afterwards some folks like to hit a local establishment for a bit more socialization - but that is purely optional.

I think of this as being barely organized (in other words I am not in charge) and as a good way to ensure I get out there at least one day a week through the darkest days of winter when it would be easy to curl up with my knitting and a good book.

Oh yeah - we meet no matter what the weather throws at us! Though, if the DTA cancels service I probably can't make it down from my house so may not show up that day. ;->

We keep meeting each Wednesday in Canal Park until: the trails clear of snow and/or light remains past 6:00 pm and/or the Spring NMTC series starts.

Submitted By:

Bob Gustafson

Public Relations Director

Grandma's Marathon

218-727-0947

2011 FITGER’S 5K REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Field Capped at 1,700

Duluth, MN - Registration is now open for the 2011 Fitger’s 5K Run & Walk, scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2011.

The Fitger’s 5K field is limited to the first 1,700 registrants, an increase of 200 from the 2010 race which reached its entry limit one month prior to the race.

To sign up for the 22nd annual event, runners and walkers should log on to GrandmasMarathon.com or YoungAthletesFoundation.com. The Fitger’s 5K registration process is conducted exclusively online.

The race begins at 9 a.m. on East Superior Street in front of Fitger’s and travels through downtown Duluth and Canal Park before finishing back at Fitger’s.

The entry free is $25 plus processing fee with all net proceeds benefiting the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), a Grandma's Marathon program that focuses on the promotion and development of youth athletics throughout Carlton , Cook, Douglas, Lake and St. Louis Counties . Since its inception in 1990, the YAF has contributed more than $415,000 to area nonprofit youth athletic organizations.

Duluthians Jeremy Polson (15 minutes, 35 seconds) and Katie Koski (18:23) were the top finishers at the 2010 race, which drew a record 1,582 registrants.

The Fitger’s 5K is sponsored by 10fold Solutions, Anytime Fitness, City of Duluth, Duluth News Tribune, Duluth Running Company, Fitger’s, Great Clips, Great Harvest Bread, Integrity Health Network, maurices, Minnesota Power, MIX 108, Northland’s NewsCenter, Sam’s Club, St. Luke’s and The Shack Smokehouse and Grille.

For more information, visit GrandmasMarathon.com, YoungAthletesFoundation.com, or call (218) 727-0947.

More pictures from Sunday's Pine Valley race, courtesy of Jamie Block.