Last Minute Updates
Pre-Race Dinner
The pre-race dinner will be held in the President’s Conference Room in the Gorecki Dining and Conference Center. Please park in Lot 2. The room is located on the upper level. There will be signs at both entrances to campus. Campus Map Dinner is at 6pm.
Housing
If you have reserved a room on campus, check-in is located in Gorecki 120 on the lower level of the Gorecki Center in the College of St Benedict. There will be signs at both entrances to campus. Campus Map
If you forgot, you can still reserve your room online, directly from the College of St Benedict.
Friday Packet Pickup
You may pickup your packet at the site of the pre-race dinner from 5:45pm to 8pm.
Race Day Parking in St. Joseph
Look for the fluorescent red signs that direct you to park near the Lake Wobegon trailhead building (just north of the water tower). There is no parking in two of the obvious parking lots. The entrances to these lots will be blocked.
Saturday Packet Pickup
You may pickup your packet at the Lake Wobegon trailhead building, 572 College Ave, St Joseph (just north of the water tower) starting at 5:30am. Packet pickup closes when the last bus leaves for the half marathon at 8am.
Saturday Morning Coffee
For the marathon, coffee, bagels, juice and fruit will be at the starting line at St Mary's School. For the half marathon, coffee and bagels will be available at the trailhead building starting at 6am.
Bus to the Marathon & 50km Start
The bus leaves at 6am from the Lake Wobegon trailhead building, 572 College Ave, St Joseph (just north of the water tower).
Driving to the Marathon & 50km Start
Drive to St Mary's School, 211 S 5th Avenue East, Melrose, MN. Take the Melrose exit from I94 (exit 135), turn north onto County Highway 13 which becomes S 2nd Ave E. Turn right onto E 4th St S. Turn left onto S 5th Ave E. The school is on your right. The steeple for the Catholic church to the west can be seen for a long way. We gather in the room with an entrance on the north side of the school. The bus will arrive about 6:30am.
Bus to the Half Marathon Start
The bus leaves at 8am from the Lake Wobegon trailhead building, 572 College Ave, St Joseph (just north of the water tower).
Driving to the Half Marathon Start
Take the Albany exit from I94 (exit 147), turn north onto 8th St S. Cross over Lake Wobegon Trail. Turn right ont Railroad Ave. Continue on Railroad Ave as it bends to the right and becomes County Highway 54. Before County Highway 54 bends left and parallels the interstate, turn left onto Schwinghammer Dr. Take an immediate left onto Whispering Oaks Dr. Follow Whispering Oaks Dr. almost to the end. Just past the last house on the left is an asphalt path that leads to the Lake Wobegon Trail and the half marathon start. There is a port-a-potty at the start. The bus will be here at approximately 8:20. We will start promptly at 8:30am.
Weather - What to Wear??
The weather in Minnesota is quite variable in May. It could be 32F or 0C (as it was on May 9, 2010), or 70F or 21C and sunny (as it was on May 4, 2010). Be sure to check the predicted weather for St Joseph, MN 56374 before you decide what to wear on race day. On May 10, 2010, the predicted weather for Saturday, May 15, 2010 is partly cloudy, with temperature of 45F or 7C in the morning, rising to 65F-70F or 18C-21C.
Health Warnings
The sun in mid-May is the same strength as the sun in late July. Your skin is probably not used to long exposure to the sun (especially if you are just coming out of a long Minnesota winter). We recommend sun block.
Even if it seems cold, remember to drink an appropriate amount of fluids for your body and level of effort. We have water stops every couple of miles that offer water and sports drink and something simple to eat.
Check for ticks after the race. If you stay on the asphalt path, you probably won't get any, but ticks with Lyme disease are in Minnesota, so you can't be too careful.
Good Luck!
Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you. We are especially interested in making the event safer and more enjoyable.