Going for a PR at the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon

I've finally committed to racing my next marathon. The Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon on May 12 is where it will all go down. The last time I went out to try and lower my PR was in December 2010 so I am certainly due.

Even though it is listed as a trail marathon this is very misleading from what I understood. The course is actually a paved bike trail, but there is little to no gravel to be run on. Here is a description of the course:

COURSE: The course is flat, fast, and picturesque. Many people feel that the trail from Holdingford to St. Joseph is the prettiest portion of the Lake Wobegon Trail. The trail is primarily rural except as it passes through the four small towns along the route. In a post on the “A Prairie Home Companion” website, Garrison Keillor said this about the Lake Wobegon Trail: “I’ve biked the bike trail…and love the ordinary beauty of farmland and meadow and the towns along it.” The course is certified (USATF #MN-08042-RR).

The Lake Wobegon Trail is a 10 foot wide asphalt bike trail on a former railroad track. The trail is smooth and has no cant. There is very little elevation change at any time along the entire length of the course. You cannot get lost on this course. Runners join the trail after one mile and then simply follow the trail to the finish. There is only one turn on the entire trail where the trail ‘T’s’ at about 11 ½ miles and runners go left at the ‘T’.

I love races with minimal turns and from the look of it I cannot expect any better than this.

I am excited and feeling good about things this early in the training cycle. 2:49:59 or bust - I am going for it!

Best of luck!

sounds like a nice race. no cars, no noise, away from it all. enjoy and run fast.

Good luck on the PR attempt! I guess you won't be able to take any pictures?

Remind us...current PR is 2:58?

2:55. So it won't be easy. The stars will have to align...but I'm ready for the challenge!

ounce wrote:Good luck on the PR attempt! I guess you won't be able to take any pictures?

No, gotta stay focused and run hard. But I plan to take lots of pictures in NY this fall as I've always wanted to snap pics during a 'race'.

Good luck. Looks like a good course for the attempt.

Ben good luck with going sub 2:50! You can do it buddy. Funny thing is my PR in Boston was 2:55:xx and the following year I ran the 2:49:16. So it is a very doable goal. I did run Chicago in between those two races on a warm day and ran 2:53:xx. Even if it was a nice perfect day I'm not sure I would have gone sub 2:50 but it would have been close. Still I feel you have a good shot at nail that nice PR!

Sounds like a great race! I love the smaller marathons that are a bit different. Good luck!!