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Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon

May 8, 2027 · 7:00 AMHoldingford, MN, United States

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Race Day

48°F

36–61°F · Feels cool

Total elevation gain

249ft

Relatively flat course · Net elevation change +33 ft

Participants

353

Intimate field

Crowd Rating

2/ 10

Quiet course sections

The Lowdown

The Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon traces its roots to a community-driven celebration of the central Minnesota landscape and the fictionalized spirit of Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon. Since its founding it has become a beloved spring marathon for regional runners and destination athletes seeking a quiet, scenic point-to-point course. The race traditionally starts in the small town of Holdingford and follows the converted rail-trail corridor, finishing near larger service hubs where family and volunteers gather to welcome finishers. Over the years the event has built a reputation for being well-organized, low-key, and friendly — an event where novice marathoners and experienced racers alike feel supported.

The course runs primarily on the crushed limestone Lake Wobegon Trail, offering gently rolling terrain, wide sightlines, and changing seasonal vistas — wetlands, oak savanna, stretches of prairie, and small-town Main Streets. Runners enjoy long, runnable sections without heavy urban traffic, with wooden bridges, trestles, and river crossings adding scenic variety. The trail surface and modest elevation changes make it a popular choice for runners aiming for steady pacing and Boston-qualifying efforts. Aid stations are frequent and staffed by local volunteers and running clubs, and the post-race area emphasizes community hospitality with local food, refreshments, and families cheering along the final stretch.

Race day atmosphere is relaxed and encouraging: expect a small-to-midsize field, enthusiastic volunteers, and a strong small-town vibe rather than sprawling expo halls or large-city fanfare. Many runners praise the supportive course marshalling, clear signage, and the opportunity to run uninterrupted miles surrounded by nature and quaint towns. The Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon course is measured and certified to national standards and is regularly used as a Boston-qualifying course; the event follows USATF/AIMS measurement practices to ensure accurate distance and eligibility for qualifiers.

Aug 31, 2026: 2027 edition set for May 8, 2027; registration opening soon
The official site (lakewobegontrailmarathon.org) still has an expired SSL certificate and could not be verified directly. Multiple independent race-listing aggregators (RunGuides, FindMyMarathon, MarathonGuide, World's Marathons) agree on a 2027 date of Saturday, May 8, 2027, in Holdingford, MN, and third-party listings indicate 2027 registration opens September 1, 2026 via GetMeRegistered. 2027 entry pricing has not yet been published; the 2026 registration cycle closed April 26, 2026 with prices ranging from $70 (early bird) to $120 (final tier).

Course Highlights: 01Holdingford Depot Trailhead – Race start at the historic Holdingford trailhead and former railroad depot area
02Sauk River Crossing – Scenic wooden trestle and riverside views where the trail crosses the Sauk River
03Rural Farmland & Prairie Sections – Long flat stretches through central Minnesota farmland offering open sky and spring wildflowers
04Albany Trail Bridge – Mid-race landmark at the pedestrian bridge near Albany with views of the valley and town
05Avon Trailhead & Community Park – Aid station area near Avon where runners pass through a small-town park and picnic area
06St. Joseph Historic Downtown – Approaching the finish, runners pass the brick storefronts and local businesses of St. Joseph
07Lake Wobegon Trail State Park Interpretive Signs – Informational signs and historic railroad artifacts along the route highlighting the trail's rail-to-trail history
Also on this race weekend: Half marathon · 10K
Time Limit: 6h 30m
Boston Qualifier: This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.

Minimum Age: 18 years
Entry Methods: Online Registration
Mail-in/Paper Entry
Race Day/In-Person Registration
Charity/Fundraising Entry
Volunteer Exchange/Staff Entry
Group/Team Registration
Eligibility: Must be 18 years or older on race day
Must complete online registration and pay entry fee by the posted deadline
All entrants must sign the race waiver and medical release
Participants should be in adequate training and are strongly advised to obtain medical clearance if they have any medical conditions or are returning from injury
Race bibs are non-transferable and ID may be required at packet pickup
Participants must obey race officials, course marshals, and posted course rules
Course cutoff is approximately 6.5 hours; runners not meeting intermediate cutoffs may be asked to stop or move to the course sweep
Strollers, bicycles, wheeled devices, and pacers on bikes are not permitted on the course
No pets allowed on the race course
The race reserves the right to limit entries and to refuse or remove any entrant for safety or conduct reasons
Required Documents: Photo ID (passport or national ID)
Medical certificate/doctor's note (issued within 12 months)
Proof of age (birth certificate or passport)
Completed race registration form
Signed liability waiver/assumption of risk
Emergency contact information
Proof of medical/health insurance (front page or insurance card)
Cancellation & Refund Policy: Full refund minus $10 processing fee if canceled 60 or more days before race
50% refund if canceled between 30 and 59 days before race
No refunds for cancellations within 30 days of race day
Bib transfers allowed up to 14 days before race for a $15 transfer fee with written request
Deferred entry to the 2027 event available up to 7 days before race for a $25 deferral fee

01: The Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon follows the crushed-limestone Lake Wobegon Trail through central Minnesota’s rolling farmland, lakes and forests, offering a predominantly flat, fast course with scenic rural views.
02: Chip timing is provided with official splits and there are staffed aid stations roughly every 2–3 miles offering water, electrolyte drink and gels; drop bags and pacers are typically available.
03: All finishers receive a technical race shirt and a finisher medal, and awards are presented to overall and 5-year age-group top finishers.
04: Race weekend usually includes pre-race packet pickup in Holdingford the day before and a limited post-race food area with local refreshments; parking near the start/finish is limited so organizers often run shuttle buses from overflow lots.
05: Runners are advised to register early (the marathon often reaches capacity), dress in layers for variable May weather, and note that strong spectators are concentrated near the start/finish and a few trail crossings due to the rural nature of the course.

Prepare for This Race

Pace CalculatorPlan splits for marathon Race PredictorPredict your marathon time BQ CalculatorBQ-eligible course Fuel PlannerPlan nutrition for marathon, cool weather Difficulty Analyzer249ft gain, 48°F avg, marathon Training PacesTraining zones for marathon

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