The inaugural Fargo Marathon took place on May 14, 2005,[4][5] and started on the Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Red River between Minnesota and North Dakota. The first year's race weekend offered a 5K on Friday, and a marathon, marathon relay, and a half marathon on Saturday, starting at 8 a.m.[6] Almost 3,000 runners were present for the races, and prize money was offered (including $400 for first place in the marathons).[7] The race drew on local bands for music on the course (25 live bands were at the course in the early years), and local culture was prominent (those years featured a "pasta/lefse feed" for pre-race carbo-loading).[8] The co-director told the press that the racers had raised $20,000 for two local charities: The Children's Museum at Yunker Farm and MeritCare Children's Hospital.[9]
The race was founded and run by Mark Knutson at a time when local races were becoming more prominent as tourist attractions, but also as places where cities could build associations as being health-focused communities. The races also offered showcasing opportunities for area athletes that otherwise would have to travel elsewhere to have their talent recognized.[10][11]
In the second year, the race weekend drew runners from 46 states, three countries, and had an estimated economic impact of a $1.5 million boost to the local businesses and charities.[12] The half marathon was one of the most popular events, drawn nearly 2,000 runners.[12] It also spawned a collaboration with the Lake Agassiz Arts Council, which sponsored a Native-focused "Herd About the Prairie" art exhibition. The exhibition placed a collection of 39 decorated buffalo sculptures (the size of real buffalo) throughout the marathon course.[13]
In 2010, Runner's World reported the race held a high entry-fee-to-value quality.[14][5]
As the race progressed in years, it maintained a reputation for being flat,[15] fast, supportive, and loud (with the dozens of bands throughout the course, including rock, dance, oldies, Native drumming—and yes, polka).[16] It has grown in numbers to more than 20,000 runners.[17][18][19][20] The pre-race convention brings food, businesses and speakers to the event center for the thousands of runners and spectators.[21] By 2014, the prize money for first place had also increased to $1,400, with multiple other prizes for top competitors.[22]
In 2019, Knutson sold the race to Rugged Races, though Knutson stayed on as the race director.[23]
In 2020, the first known case of the COVID-19 virus appeared in North Dakota on March 11. Within two days, the country began shutting down, and North Dakota issued a state of emergency.[24] The marathon was rescheduled,[25] but due to the rising number of cases in summer of 2020, it was clear the marathon could not continue.[26] The race was canceled, with all registrants given the option of a refund, a postponement to 2021, or running the race on their own course and time.[27][28][29][30]
Similarly, the 2021 edition of the race was postponed to September 25, 2021, due to the pandemic.[31][32] Participation was at 50 percent of normal, as the race date was close to other Minnesota marathons: The postponed Med City Marathon, the smaller Ely Marathon and the larger Twin Cities Marathon. Race organizers also said the closed Canadian border kept runners away.[33]
Media coverage
Radio coverage has been provided by KFGO.[34] TV coverage has been provided by WDAY-TV, an ABC affiliate.[35]
The inside start and finish has become a notable draw for runners. It provides a stark contrast to what many locals deal with in the winter training months, as Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier Valeria Curtis stressed in a 2019 Runner's World article about training near her home in Minot, North Dakota.[40]
In 2009, the course had to be changed due to flooding. The marathon route took two laps instead of one large loop.
In 2014, in celebration of 10 years of the race, the route changed. It started on the bridge, just as it did on the first year. The finish line wasn't inside; it was near the Fargo Theatre on Broadway Street in downtown Fargo.[41][42] The change was only for one year.
Half marathon
Sammy Malakwen, a two-time winner, set the half marathon course record in 2010 at 1:04:27.
Repeat winners
Semehar Tesfaye has won the women's race three years in a row and set the course record in 2016. Tesfaye graduated from Fargo South High School.[43]
Winners
Key:Course record
All cities in North Dakota unless indicated otherwise
^"Fargo Marathon Set". Sports. Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. May 9, 2005. p. 3B.
^ abc"Wisconsin Man Wins First Fargo Marathon". Sports. Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. Associated Press. May 15, 2005. p. 6C.
^Yasso, Bart (May 2006). "Racing Report: Races to help celebrate spring and set a personal record or two". Runner's World. Vol. 41, no. 5. Eaton, Pennsylvania: Hearst.
^"Fargo Marathon Raises $20,000". Local. Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. Associated Press. May 25, 2005. p. 2B.
^"Money-making Marathons: Major Running Events Attract Thousands of People Who Are Spending Money". News. Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin: Capital Newspapers. November 2, 2006. p. E1.
^Suzzo, Andrew (2006). The Chicago Marathon. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. ISBN978-0-252-07421-9.
^ abEphinstone, J. W. (November 2, 2005). "More marathoners spur cities, retailers into action". Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, Florida. p. E1.
^Galbincea, Pat (May 19, 2006). "Half Marathon Gaining in Popularity Among Runners". Sports. The Plains Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. p. D12.
^ abcTollefson, Carrie (May 25, 2011). "Fargo Marathon 2011". C Tolle Run. Minneapolis, Minnesota: YouTube. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
^"Grandma's Kicks Off Tourism Season". Local. St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. June 18, 2010. p. 5B.
^Fedorchak, Julie (May 19, 2010). "Marathon Experience Wonderful". Dakota. Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. p. B1. It seems like every other person I meet is heading to Fargo this weekend to run in the marathon. I love it!
^Becker, Bryann (July 17, 2010). "Running is about frame of mind". Voices. Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. p. B1, B3.
^Carey, Art (November 15, 2010). "Running for a fallen brother". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. E3.
^ abcKolpack, Jeff (May 23, 2010). "Record Showing: St. Paul Runner Captures Men's Title in Dominating Manner". Sports. Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. p. C2.
^Kolpack, Jeff; Knutson, Mark (May 4, 2017). "2017 Fargo Marathon". The Forum. Fargo, North Dakota: Forum Communication Company. Retrieved March 10, 2021 – via YouTube.
^ abcAndrew Jason, ed. (June 1, 2014). "2014 Fargo Marathon Commemorative Book"(PDF). spotlightmediafargo.com. Fargo, North Dakota: Spotlight Media Company. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021 – via Issuu.
^Kolpack, Jeff (May 21, 2017). "Tuwei takes another Fargo Marathon title". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. p. D2.
^Henley, Ashley (May 21, 2023). "19th Annual Fargo Marathon Results". The Mighty 790 KFGO. Fargo, North Dakota: Midwest Communications. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.