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Friday night Glow Run kicks off another huge weekend
In its still brief history, the Ely Marathon has more than carved its own niche.
The event has become a September staple in Ely, with more than 1,000 people taking part in either the full 26.2-mile marathon or one of several associated races in 2023.
Those numbers could be met or even exceeded this year as the 2024 Ely Marathon Weekend fast approaches.
Both the full 26.2-mile marathon as well as the Highland Bank Half Marathon are taking place as usual on the morning of Sept. 21 with the annual 5K Northern Lights Glow Run kicking off the festivities on Friday, Sept. 20.
Dick Beardsley
Ely’s Whiteside Park will once again serve as the focal point of marathon weekend both days.
“There will be a lot going on in Whiteside Park on Saturday and everyone is invited,” said event organizer Wendy Lindsay.
Food trucks, live music, a beer and drink tent along with a bounce house extravaganza make the city park the hub of activity for marathon- related events.
Since beginning in 2015, the marathon has become a major event - drawing participants and visitors from around the region and beyond.
Participation peaked at roughly 1,100 participants in 2021, when the event resumed after a one-year, Covid-19-related hiatus.
The numbers fell just shy of the 2021 high last year, and Lindsay said registration so far lines up with another big event.
“We are expecting over 700 runners this year for the half and full marathon,” said Lindsay. “ The 5K will bring in around 350.
Marathon Saturday in Ely has been popular and busy since the event’s inception, but the Friday evening Glow Run has taken on its own life and organizers are capitalizing - adding numerous events on Friday.
The run starts at 7 p.m. and both starts and finishes at the park, where food trucks and a beer tent will be open from 4 to 9 p.m.
Race packet pickup starts at noon.
The festivities continue Saturday, with both the marathon and half-marathon starting along the Echo Trail and continue in to Ely, finishing at the park.
Again, the park will be home to food trucks, beverage tent, the bounce house “extravaganza” and live music from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Running celebrities Dane Rauschenburg and Dick Beardsley will be signing their books, and both sauna and cold plunge tanks are part of the festivities.
An awards ceremony is set for 2 p.m.
Hudson Kingston is the defending marathon champion after winning the 2022 race in two hours, 55 minutes and 21 seconds.
In addition to the marathon and its associated races, the Ely Marathon has carved its own niche on the road racing scene with its canoe portage division.
Jacob Bendel won the canoe portage division with a time of 4:36:42 in 2023, while seven teams were part of the marathon relay canoe portage event.
“There are seven full marathon portage runners registered and 16 half marathon portage runners,” said Lindsay. “We expect around 15 dogs in this year’s half marathon. We added this category last year.”
The marathon comes with some road closures and detours on Sept. 21.
No cars should be parked along the race course, and cars parked on the racecourse will be towed at the owner’s expense.
Sheridan and Chapman Streets will be cleared of all traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on race day.
In addition, these road closures will take place:
• (Echo Trail) North Arm Road to Grant McMahan, 7:30 to 10 a.m.;
• (Grant McMahan) Echo Trail to Highway 169, 8 a.m. to noon;
• (Old Winton Road) Grant McMahan to West Sixth Avenue, 8 a.m. to noon;
• (Cedar Lake Road/Cloquet Line) Old Winton Road to Beel Road , 8 a.m. to noon;
• (Pioneer Road) Grant McMahan to Miners Drive, 8:30 to 1:30 p.m.;
• (Miners Drive) Pioneer to 17th Avenue, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.;
• (17th Avenue) Miners to Camp Street, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.;
• (Camp) 17th to 15th, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.;
• (Sheridan) 15th to First Avenue East, 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m;
• (First Avenue East) Sheridan to Harvey 8:15 a.m, to 2 p.m.;
• (Chapman) First Avenue East to Seventh Avenue East, 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m.;
•(Harvey) First Avenue East to 17th Avenue East, 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m.
