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Marathon Details - Walker/North Country Races

North America Marathons > USA > MN > Walker > Walker/North Country Races

Walker/North Country Races

Walker/North Country Races & Half Marathon, 10K

Walker, MN USA

~~September 19, 2020~~ - CANCELLED

http://www.northlandrunner.com/run?page=Race&raceId=280

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Marathon Results

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2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

The course winds through a portion of the Chippewa National Forest, including 9 miles of the North Country Trail (a groomed, grass-covered pathway, 8 to 10 feet in width). In addition to running on this national scenic hiking trail, competitors will also travel a 7 mile section on the Heartland Trail (a 10' wide asphalt bicycle path). The famous finish is an uphill jaunt into Ostlund Field for the finish.

Contact Information

Name:	Lois Templin
Address:	WNCM Box 1440 Walker, MN 56484
Phone Number:	(218)-547-1853
Fax Number:	(218) 547 2024
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (22)

Course 4.6

Organization 4.4

Spectators 2.7

Write a review

Number of comments: 22 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 > ]

C. G. from IL (10/12/2017) "Scenic, well marked trails with great aid stations" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Started with hassle free parking at the high school across the street. Easy race day packet pickup and you can wait before the race inside in the school. A real nice shirt was given for the race. Everyone was really friendly and it was laid back like most ultra races are. Course was on roads 20%, asphalt trails, dirt trails and grass trails. The trails were well marked. We did have trouble with a volunteer telling us to go the wrong direction at mile 2. Runners corrected us and the race director was at mile 12 to ask each runner how much farther they had run. He then tried to adjust the course for that runner to get back to 26.2. A first class move by the director and he was at the finish line to talk to all runners. A great person. The aid stations were well stocked and the volunteers were great. There wasn't a lot of places for spectators being mostly paths through the Chippewa National Forest. A real nice medal when you finished and you could go inside the school and take a shower before your drive home. They also have a 10K and half marathon distance as well. For a challenging course with great scenery you can't beat it. Low entry cost as well. Only 46 finishers so please run this race so I can at a later date. Hope they can economically keep running it. Thanks again to the race director and all the volunteers for a great running experience.
Mark Stodghill from Duluth, Minnesota (9/24/2014) "A scenic, hassle free marathon" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 6+ Walker/North Country Racess COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Not sure how much longer this marathon will last. But the town of Walker and race organizers put on a nice event. The shorter companion races are more popular. But the veteran marathon runner the 50 to 70 year old codger set enjoys this romp in the woods. The advanced ages of the marathon finishers and leaders are atypical. The trail is scenic and runnable, not technical, and the forest is full of fall colors. It doesn't get much easier than this park near the starting line/finishing line of the race, sign up race day, and shower at the finish. If you need noise, music, cowbells and a lot of spectators hollering undeserved praise at you this is not the race for you. If you enjoy the peace of the outdoors, it's a great race. The spectators here are the volunteers who simply help runners. Nice.
K. D. from Pierz, MN (10/14/2013) "hard but beautiful" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I agree with the other comments on this site - this was 1/3 rough woods, 1/3 gravel road/trail and 1/3 road. It is much harder than a road marathon - my time was 4:48 instead of 4:25 I would've had on roads. I wish the medal had more details printed on it, but otherwise everything delivered as advertised. The scenery in the woods was awesome.
H. D. from Little Falls, MN (10/14/2013) "Trail run, tough for a first-timer" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This was my first half-marathon (course is 2nd half of full course) and my first trail run. The distance wasn't a problem but the up-and-downs and the finish on the hill were very challenging. No potty stops along the way of the half, which I didn't like. But plenty of woods to use when no one's looking. If you're up for a trail run with a whopper of a finish, this is the one for you.
G. R. from Wheeler, MI (9/25/2013) "Beautiful course with a little bit of everything" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my 7th full marathon in 8 days, so the 7am early start was very appreciated. There were about 8 of us who took advantage of that start, and I'm glad I did, I needed all the time. The worst part was I took a wrong turn at mile 3. We were to follow the orange '26' arrows. The set I saw curved to the left, so that is the way I went. That took me right back to the start. The RD was great and got me back on course, but I ran a little more than 2 extra miles. It could have been marked better, but I'm not too upset about it. What is 2 extra miles after 182 for the week? This course had a little of everything: pavement, rail trails, dirt roads, wooded trails and grassy fields. It was a beautiful and fun course, and I found it to be only a little challenging. There was a lot of up and down in the woods, but not horrible. The aid stations were well stocked and were very friendly staffed. I'm from a rural area, so this didn't bother me, but it did bother some of my friends from bigger cities. There were multiple hunters in the woods, with dogs and Guns. About every two or three minutes you heard gun shots. I just hoped the hunters knew what they were aiming at. I had to stop once when a big dog stopped me on the trail and bared his teeth and wait for his owner to get to him. Again, I wasn't scared, but I knew some were. The end was pretty nice, you finish on the high school track. The medal was all right, simple but nice. I would recommend this marathon if you are ever in northern MN and want a beautiful fall run. One bit of advice, carry your own water bottle, some of the stops are not very close.
C. H. from Aberdeen, SD (9/19/2011) "Well done Walker!!!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 My wife and I did the marathon this year and had a blast. I started running road races in the mid 70s and this had that nice friendly retro feel to it. It is a great small town marathon. Since it is small you will spend a lot of time by yourself in the woods which we enjoyed greatly. I can't say enough about how enjoyable this race was. It features rough trails; plenty of roots, rocks and hills but that is more than compensated for by the beautiful scenery. As far as the extras go the aid stations had the essentials, the non technical long sleeve shirt was great, would have liked to have a medal that was specific to the marathon but something's you give up for a small marathon like this. If you are tired of large marathons and are looking for a well run race in beautiful country I would check this one out.
D. C. from Minnesota, USA (9/18/2011) "Small town charm, beautiful challenging course." (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 4-5 Walker/North Country Racess COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Walker Marathon is hidden jem. Small town, well organized, established. challenging course of road and trails thru the woods. Enjoy the beauty of woods.
Scott Brueske from Minnesota (9/19/2010) "Northern Minnesota's Gem of a Race!" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Walker/North Country Racess COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is Northern Minnesota at its best! I have run Big Sur and the beauty of the natural scenery here is a very close second. I am not a trail runner but the trails were challenging and fun. It took a bit more concentration to plant your foot on level ground. The miles went by fast because of the varied terrain. One moment roads, then paved bike trails, off onto woodland trails, etc. The variety kept the run interesting and made the miles fly by. The water stop fans were great and cheerful. The small nature of this run allowed my wife and kids to occasionally meet me and even drive with me for a short distance - unlike the large races like Twin Cities where one can't even get close to the finish line. I get tired or technical running shirts many races now hand out so the cotton long-sleeve shirt was a treat and the showers provided a blessing. In short the solitude, beauty, variety and great heart of the people who make this race happen means that this should be on every runner's life list to do once - if not every year!
shannon lindgren from United States (9/19/2010) "Phenomenal Marathon" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is an absolutely beautiful course. The fall foliage and lake vistas were breathtaking. The course/trail was well marked. Plenty of water stops. All of the volunteers, police, and EMTs provided an invaluable service to the runners. The shirts and medals were nice too. Overall, this was a very well organized event.
D. I. from Gainesville, FL (9/23/2008) "Tough, but well worth it!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Beautiful scenery... beautiful scenery... friendly, helpful staff and volunteers... a well done marathon! The trail is rugged, but beautiful and well marked. The race director is committed to this marathon and most accommodating of the participants. There aren't a lot of spectators because of the isolated trails, but those at the aid stations make up for it! I really enjoyed this marathon and recommend it to anyone. Thanks to all who made this a great experience!

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 > ]



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C. G. from IL (10/12/2017) "Scenic, well marked trails with great aid stations" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Started with hassle free parking at the high school across the street. Easy race day packet pickup and you can wait before the race inside in the school. A real nice shirt was given for the race. Everyone was really friendly and it was laid back like most ultra races are. Course was on roads 20%, asphalt trails, dirt trails and grass trails. The trails were well marked. We did have trouble with a volunteer telling us to go the wrong direction at mile 2. Runners corrected us and the race director was at mile 12 to ask each runner how much farther they had run. He then tried to adjust the course for that runner to get back to 26.2. A first class move by the director and he was at the finish line to talk to all runners. A great person. The aid stations were well stocked and the volunteers were great. There wasn't a lot of places for spectators being mostly paths through the Chippewa National Forest. A real nice medal when you finished and you could go inside the school and take a shower before your drive home. They also have a 10K and half marathon distance as well. For a challenging course with great scenery you can't beat it. Low entry cost as well. Only 46 finishers so please run this race so I can at a later date. Hope they can economically keep running it. Thanks again to the race director and all the volunteers for a great running experience.
Mark Stodghill from Duluth, Minnesota (9/24/2014) "A scenic, hassle free marathon" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 6+ Walker/North Country Racess COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Not sure how much longer this marathon will last. But the town of Walker and race organizers put on a nice event. The shorter companion races are more popular. But the veteran marathon runner the 50 to 70 year old codger set enjoys this romp in the woods. The advanced ages of the marathon finishers and leaders are atypical. The trail is scenic and runnable, not technical, and the forest is full of fall colors. It doesn't get much easier than this park near the starting line/finishing line of the race, sign up race day, and shower at the finish. If you need noise, music, cowbells and a lot of spectators hollering undeserved praise at you this is not the race for you. If you enjoy the peace of the outdoors, it's a great race. The spectators here are the volunteers who simply help runners. Nice.
K. D. from Pierz, MN (10/14/2013) "hard but beautiful" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I agree with the other comments on this site - this was 1/3 rough woods, 1/3 gravel road/trail and 1/3 road. It is much harder than a road marathon - my time was 4:48 instead of 4:25 I would've had on roads. I wish the medal had more details printed on it, but otherwise everything delivered as advertised. The scenery in the woods was awesome.
H. D. from Little Falls, MN (10/14/2013) "Trail run, tough for a first-timer" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This was my first half-marathon (course is 2nd half of full course) and my first trail run. The distance wasn't a problem but the up-and-downs and the finish on the hill were very challenging. No potty stops along the way of the half, which I didn't like. But plenty of woods to use when no one's looking. If you're up for a trail run with a whopper of a finish, this is the one for you.
G. R. from Wheeler, MI (9/25/2013) "Beautiful course with a little bit of everything" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my 7th full marathon in 8 days, so the 7am early start was very appreciated. There were about 8 of us who took advantage of that start, and I'm glad I did, I needed all the time. The worst part was I took a wrong turn at mile 3. We were to follow the orange '26' arrows. The set I saw curved to the left, so that is the way I went. That took me right back to the start. The RD was great and got me back on course, but I ran a little more than 2 extra miles. It could have been marked better, but I'm not too upset about it. What is 2 extra miles after 182 for the week? This course had a little of everything: pavement, rail trails, dirt roads, wooded trails and grassy fields. It was a beautiful and fun course, and I found it to be only a little challenging. There was a lot of up and down in the woods, but not horrible. The aid stations were well stocked and were very friendly staffed. I'm from a rural area, so this didn't bother me, but it did bother some of my friends from bigger cities. There were multiple hunters in the woods, with dogs and Guns. About every two or three minutes you heard gun shots. I just hoped the hunters knew what they were aiming at. I had to stop once when a big dog stopped me on the trail and bared his teeth and wait for his owner to get to him. Again, I wasn't scared, but I knew some were. The end was pretty nice, you finish on the high school track. The medal was all right, simple but nice. I would recommend this marathon if you are ever in northern MN and want a beautiful fall run. One bit of advice, carry your own water bottle, some of the stops are not very close.
C. H. from Aberdeen, SD (9/19/2011) "Well done Walker!!!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 My wife and I did the marathon this year and had a blast. I started running road races in the mid 70s and this had that nice friendly retro feel to it. It is a great small town marathon. Since it is small you will spend a lot of time by yourself in the woods which we enjoyed greatly. I can't say enough about how enjoyable this race was. It features rough trails; plenty of roots, rocks and hills but that is more than compensated for by the beautiful scenery. As far as the extras go the aid stations had the essentials, the non technical long sleeve shirt was great, would have liked to have a medal that was specific to the marathon but something's you give up for a small marathon like this. If you are tired of large marathons and are looking for a well run race in beautiful country I would check this one out.
D. C. from Minnesota, USA (9/18/2011) "Small town charm, beautiful challenging course." (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 4-5 Walker/North Country Racess COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Walker Marathon is hidden jem. Small town, well organized, established. challenging course of road and trails thru the woods. Enjoy the beauty of woods.
Scott Brueske from Minnesota (9/19/2010) "Northern Minnesota's Gem of a Race!" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Walker/North Country Racess COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is Northern Minnesota at its best! I have run Big Sur and the beauty of the natural scenery here is a very close second. I am not a trail runner but the trails were challenging and fun. It took a bit more concentration to plant your foot on level ground. The miles went by fast because of the varied terrain. One moment roads, then paved bike trails, off onto woodland trails, etc. The variety kept the run interesting and made the miles fly by. The water stop fans were great and cheerful. The small nature of this run allowed my wife and kids to occasionally meet me and even drive with me for a short distance - unlike the large races like Twin Cities where one can't even get close to the finish line. I get tired or technical running shirts many races now hand out so the cotton long-sleeve shirt was a treat and the showers provided a blessing. In short the solitude, beauty, variety and great heart of the people who make this race happen means that this should be on every runner's life list to do once - if not every year!
shannon lindgren from United States (9/19/2010) "Phenomenal Marathon" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Walker/North Country Races COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is an absolutely beautiful course. The fall foliage and lake vistas were breathtaking. The course/trail was well marked. Plenty of water stops. All of the volunteers, police, and EMTs provided an invaluable service to the runners. The shirts and medals were nice too. Overall, this was a very well organized event.
D. I. from Gainesville, FL (9/23/2008) "Tough, but well worth it!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Beautiful scenery... beautiful scenery... friendly, helpful staff and volunteers... a well done marathon! The trail is rugged, but beautiful and well marked. The race director is committed to this marathon and most accommodating of the participants. There aren't a lot of spectators because of the isolated trails, but those at the aid stations make up for it! I really enjoyed this marathon and recommend it to anyone. Thanks to all who made this a great experience!

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Marathon Details - Walker/North Country Races