A Great Day on the Trail Less Traveled!



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Sunday, May 1st, 2011 looked like it might be a nice day with an early morning temperature of 36 degrees and the sun peeking out behind the clouds. The little blue sky there was disappeared and snowflakes blotted out the sun. The temperature dropped a few degrees throughout the day and a steady wind in the high teens with gusts up to 27 miles per hour from the west southwest kept the runners from overheating.

The Half-Marathon had 121 finishers with a winning time of 1:25:58. Kyle Pietari from Duluth, Minnesota was the top male finisher followed by Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux from Grand Marais, MN 1:29:49 and 15 year-old Anthoni Morrow from Sartell, MN 1:29:56. Jennifer Johnsen from Carlton, MN finished 1:37:24, Marianne Stewart from Thunder Bay, Ontario 1:38:19 and Sarah Noordhoek from Carlton, MN 1:39:39.

The 5k race had 41 participants overall with the top five female finishers all from Grand Marais, MN. Shelby Ahrendt took first with a time of 24:21.7. Mother daughter duo Julie Collman and Jessica Berg-Collman took second and fourth place with 24:27:7 and 28:48.7 respectively. Finishing 3^rd and 5^th were Patty Johnson and Rebekah Laky with times of 27:26.3 and 28:48.9.

First place in the 5k for the male participants was Erik Howells of Thunder Bay, Ontario 23:39.2. In second place was Jerry Erickson of Duluth, MN and a time of 23:47:2 and third place finisher David Cosgrove of Thunder Bay with a time of 25:00.5.

A delicious ham dinner was provided for the participants and there was even a Little Runts Run for the children. Local non-profits volunteered as a way to raise money for their organization including the Cook County Hockey Association, Cub Scouts, Cook County Booster Club, Great Expectations Charter School and Kid’s Plus. Everyone was kept safe thanks to the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department and the Boundary Waters Amateur Radio Club.

As Minnesota’s Greenest Race the Ham Run Half-Marathon was a cup free race providing each Half-Marathon participant with a Hydra Pouch. All dinnerware used at the meal was compostable and all plastic, tin, cardboard, glass and aluminum was recycled. Race Banners and bibs are re-used each year as well as much of the flagging. Participants and spectators helped reduce omissions by taking part in the shuttle transportation before, during and after the race. Those who participated in the Ham Run Half Marathon or 5k Fun Run can be proud to be a part of an Ec0-Sustainable Event.

We hope you will tell your family and friends about the Ham Run and head up to the Trail Less Traveled on Sunday, May 6th, 2012, for the 5th Annual Ham Run Half-Marathon and 5k Fun Run on the Gunflint Trail.

Ham Run Half Marathon Ham Run Ham Dinner