Here are a few events coming up:

1. The Gearing Up for Grandma's seminar will take place on April 5th. This yearly seminar usually features a talk by a professional runner as well as presentations by local running gurus. This year Michelle Lilienthal is the featured speaker. Michelle is an Iowa native and is competing in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials this year. Doctor Kenji Sudoh, a orthopedist at the Duluth Clinic, and Jim Stukel, co-owner of The Athlete's Foot stores in Duluth, will also give presentations. The seminar is at 9am at the Duluth Clinic's First Street Building. More info: Grandma's Marathon - Gearing Up for Grandma's Announcement

    

2. Eve Stein has arranged for a ChiRunning seminar on May 10th. ChiRunning is a technique similar to T'ai Chi that improves your running efficiency. The seminar costs $110 and runs 10am to 2:30pm at the Snowflake Nordic Center in Duluth. More info: Eve's Blog - ChiRunning

    

3. The Northern Minnesota Track Club Trail Series schedule for both the spring and fall has just been announced. You can pick up a paper schedule at the Duluth Running Co. or Austin-Jarrow. The race information is also posted here on the Races page.

Pictures from the Run on Water in Bayfield, WI today.

Austin-Jarrow shoe store in Duluth is celebrating its 24th birthday on February 29th (this Friday). Stop by and enjoy free cookies and coffee all day. You will also receive 29% off all apparel items should you want to stock up for the upcoming running season.

Austin-Jarrow Info:

917 W Central Entrance

Duluth, MN 55811

218-722-1185

The Eel Pout Peel Out took place yesterday in Walker, MN. The 5k race was part of Walker's 27th Annual Eel Pout Festival. The race started at Walker High School, passed through downtown Walker, ran along the shores of Leech Lake, and finished back at the high school. It was a cloudy day with temperatures in the mid-20s. The festival included many other events, including a polar plunge, a rugby tournament, car races on ice, a karaoke contest, and ice fishing olympics.

Jenna Dean, of Bemidji, won the women's race. Jenna is a junior at Bemidji High School where she runs track and cross-country. Jenna starting running as conditioning for soccer when she was eleven or twelve. She runs year-round and hopes to eventually qualify for the state track meet in the 1600m or 3200m. Unless she finds another 5k in the next couple weeks, this was Jenna's last road race before the 2008 track season.

Ryan Evans, of Lino Lakes, took second place in the men's race. Ryan is a junior at Centennial High School. He also is looking forward to the 2008 track season and would like to someday earn all-state honors. Ryan runs numerous races throughout the year, but his favorite is the Golden Lake Gallop, his hometown race. If Ryan does the Peel Out next year, he will strongly consider bringing a pair of Yaktrax for some extra traction.

Husband and wife Eric and Kerri Nelson, of Bemidji, enjoyed participating in the Peel Out. The couple did not train specifically for the race and just ran it for fun. Eric has a radio show on Q107 and 104.9, and Kerri works at a veterinary hospital in Bemidji. The Nelsons enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities and are planning a Boundary Waters camping trip later this year.

Jason Howard made the trip from Duluth to participate in his first Peel Out. Like many other runners, Jason did not have any time goals for the race due to the snow and slush on the course. Jason also battled a slight headwind the first half of the race but was overall satisfied with his time. Describing Jason as an avid runner would be an understatement. On March 15th, he is planning on doing both the Steve Chadwick 5k and the Duluth Clinic Indoor Triathlon. Also, he will be competing in a marathon every other week in May and June, including the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego and the Cleveland Marathon. Jason enjoyed the feedback he got from spectators during the race. One group of people cheered for him and someone in a car called him a loser, so he feels like it averaged out in the end.