The Brimson Sisu Run took place Saturday, August 23rd, in Brimson, Minnesota.  Close to 200 people took part in the run/walk on a cool, cloudy day.  The course started at the Toimi Historical School and wound through two rural homesteads.  Jarrow Wahman won the men's race with a time of 31:40 and Naomi Scott captured the women's title in 40:22.

Jarrow Wahman ran the race for the 7th time in his career, winning for the 5th time.  Jarrow ran uncompetitively last year due to a bout with Lyme disease.  Despite that, he did manage to bike to the race from Duluth and push his daughter in a stroller.  Jarrow and his family come to the Sisu Run every year because they like its grass-roots, organic atmosphere.  Jarrow's next race is the Burrito Union 10-Hour Triathlon, in which he is competing on a two-person team.

Naomi Scott made the trip from Saint Paul to compete in her third Sisu run. Two years ago she walked the course, last year she ran it, and this year she won it, so there is no telling what will happen next year.  Naomi was a swimmer in high school and started running three years ago when a friend asked for help training for the Twin Cities Marathon.  Naomi has been running ever since and this summer competed in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.  Her next race is the City of Lakes 25k in Minneapolis.

David Hypponen, of Duluth, completed the course in 34:07.  David also ran the race last year.  He enjoys travelling to Brimson because his grandfather grew up in Brimson and his family still has a cabin there.  David, who has Finnish ancestry, recently travelled to Finland to visit relatives and run a half marathon.  David is focusing on improving his sprint speed and is looking forward to competing in the Minnesota Mile in a few weeks.

Sue Van Kekerix ran the race for the second time, although she has participated in the event as a walker more years than she can remember.  Sue lives in Two Harbors and enjoys running local, small-town races.  When she runs, she doesn't have a specific goal in mind; Sue simply enjoys personal improvement.

Pictures courtesy of M.S. Kapoor. More pictures available here.

Pictures from the Kristin Burkholder 5k in Esko last Saturday.

Pictures courtesy of M.S. Kapoor

Pictures from the Grand View Firehouse races on August 3rd. Results are available at itiming.com and Northland Runner.

The Duluth Area YMCA is starting a running club:

Looking for some motivation to get out and run on the mornings you just really don’t want to? Want to share the running experience with others? Try the YMCA Running Club on for size! Welcoming new and old and everything in-between…if you run or want to learn how to get started – this is a great opportunity for you!

Goal: The goal of the club is to be there for those who need it – to support runners in the Duluth community!

Meeting day and time: We will meet on Wednesday mornings here at the YMCA at 7am.

Start Date of club: September 17th

Fee: $15 for Duluth YMCA members, $30 for non-members. 

More Information: Club Flyer

Courtesty of G. Pope:

The third annual Bay to Bay Run, sponsored by North Shore Federal Credit Union, was a big success and went off without a hitch (except for one injured ankle) at 8:45 AM, Saturday, July 26 under clear sky, 70 degrees, and light wind. The scenic and challenging course starts in Silver Bay goes up Penn Avenue to join the Superior Hiking Trail for about 4 miles, then descends County #4 to Beaver Bay.

Several records were set. The winner, Josh Whitehead, 17, Princeton, Indiana, part of the “Indiana Connection”, set a course record of 43:52 for the 10K road and trail run. That broke his previous record of 50:26 when he won the race last year. Three others also beat Josh’s time from last year and took Second through Fourth places: Guthrie Cunningham, 16, Finland, MN, 45:40, Luke Iverson, 16, Maple Grove, MN, 48:57, and Owen Cooper, 31, Brimson, 49:48.

Julie Reichoff, 41, of Duluth won the Women’s Section in 53:23, erasing Kira Peterson’s record of 59:43 set on a long course in 2006.

Other age group winners in the Men’s Section were: Whitehead, 25 and under; Cooper, 26-39; Tom Peterson,49, Two Harbors, 55:53, 40-50; and Ron Brickles,59, Silver Bay, 57:29, 51 and better. Women’s Section winners were Sonja Peterson, 15, Two Harbors, 60:20, 25 and under; Monique DeLong, 32, Forest Lake, MN, 60:42, 26-39; Reichoff, 40-50; and Patty Amatrano, 54, Babbitt, MN, 82:17, 51 and better. Overall winners received unique trophies of “The Beaver on the Anchor“, sculpted by Rachel Thun on bases made by Dave Gustafson; other winners received engraved medals.

There were a total of 86 finishers including 11 walkers, far exceeding the previous total number of 53 in 2006. First place Men’s Walker was Bill Axtell, 64, Brainerd, MN, 104:09; Women‘s was Sarah Crawford, 27, Prescott Valley, Arizona, 100:31. All finishers received (or will receive) embroidered hats.

Two twelve year olds were the youngest runners; Levi Axtell, Hovland, 81:56, and Nate Niederhaus, Haubstadt, Indiana, 59:46. Oldest, and walking for the third year, was “Joe” Markitans, 66, Surprise, Arizona, 104:12. “Joe” also came the farthest: 1900 miles!

Last place went in a tie to Bryn Yoki, 28,Duluth, MN, and Teresa Woodwick, 36, Isanti, MN, both sauntering over the Finish Line at 135:52.

The Indiana Connection were here last year with 4 runners. This year they had 13. They drove 13 hours, saw Palisade Head, ran the next day, and left. We hope they’ll stay longer next year!

Race co-directors Tom Clifford and George Pope thank the many volunteers who have made the race a success: Registrars Dave and Gail Gustafson, Lisa Topp, and “Junior” LeGeault (who also patrolled the trail); Finish Line Crew Marlene and Arnie Overby, Shelby Wrege, and LaJean Firminhac, sponsor North Shore Federal Credit Union who produced posters, hats, and helped to fund the race, water and ice donors Northern Lights Café and Zup‘s, traffic controllers Lake County Sheriff’s Department and Silver Bay Police Department, water table monitors from the City of Silver Bay, Northshore Mining who held up the trains for the runners, and the Superior Hiking Trail Association for a beautifully prepared trail.