One of the things I find I miss from my earliest days of running are the small-town races. Every town had its festival and a race (usually a 10K back then) to go with it. Some of my favorite race shirts come from these, like the Great Lake Sakatah Bullhead Run from Waterville's Bullhead Days - the fish are no better looking on cotton than in real life, but I got a kiss from Miss Bullhead (actually, Miss Waterville, the Bullhead Days queen). How jealous I am of my brother who managed to get a Sand Burr Days T-shirt! I've managed to do the Montgomery Kolacky Days Bun Run and the New Brighton Stockyard Days (won that once), but I'm thinking that next year I'll start a circuit of small-town races.
I'm checking to see if Minneota's having its Box Elder Bug Days 5K this September. I also want to do Cohasset's Blackwater Barge Festival Run, Henderson's Sauerkraut Days 5K (imagine the aid stations) and Crookston's Ox Cart Days 10K.
So, loyal minions, what silly-named races am I missing?
Never ending rain
2 days ago
11 comments:
I actually work with the Boxelder Bug Days Queen years ago. I think it was Minneota, MN (i think that is what was?) She said they had a race but thought they no longer do it..
Yea the small town races are cool. I like your poll. Good idea. Are you still in for the 100 in April ?
I've never run it, but doesn't Grand Rapids have some "Woodtick" themed race? Small town races are the best!
Back year's ago in Hawaii, I loved to run the small Mongoose Run 15K in a small town on the North Shore of Oahu. You had to put up with some strong smells when passing the run off pools by the sugar mill. However, the reward was a quarter side of beef roasting on a spit and a rowboat full of ice and beer. All that, and a neat shirt with a running mongoose.
Ellsworth's Cheesecurd Days. Barney Klecker, Ellsworth native holds a very stout time for the 10km there.
One Block Run: Dick's Bar, Hudson Wisconsin.
Running of the Llamas: Hammond Wisconsin. Sprint down main street, finish at the Hammond Hotel bar.
The e-mail address for Boxelder Bug Days run no longer works and the site hasn't been updated, so I think it's a goner.
I forgot the Eelpout Peelout and the Scenic Sinkhole Scramble!
Kurt, I sent in my money for the Zumbro 100 and I'm planning on doing it, but I'm a little worried about my knee - I just want to do a slow finish and get the monkey off my back.
Keep the suggestions coming, guys!
Oh, and the James Page Blubber Run!
I did a 20-mile training run on the Lake Sakatah Singing Hills trail last summer, while we were "camping" at Kamp Dels with friends. I never thought I would get a chance to re-tell that one!
That bullhead sign sure welcomes you to town, wow.
Freeze your Gizzard Blizzard Run...
In addition to the cool names, small town races also can have unique distances. Cumberland has the 12.4 mile Rutabaga Run, Grantsburg used to have a 16.2 mile Sytennde Mai race, and for a couple years there was an 11.5K race in Chippewa Falls.
New distance = PR
Greg Allen
Run the Bug in Mineota is alive and well, the first saturday after Labor day. They have a new website, runthebug.com which has teh details.
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