It all started four years ago on a picture-perfect day. With blue skies, a shining sun and more than 1,000 smiling participants, the Maple Grove half-marathon and 5 K proved to be an incredible community event that the Maple Grove Lions Club chose to continue annually.
The half-marathon and 5 K are considered invigorating, but also great training runs for longer events such as Grandma's Marathon. The half-marathon course is 13.1 miles, and participants experience the Maple Grove landscape up close as they run up hills, around lakes, and through the woods.
The 5K course is 3.1 miles where participants can run quickly across a flat course. Both are USATF certified and begin and end at the Maple Grove High School track. A two-person half-marathon relay will occur on the track at the same time as the half-marathon.
The 2012 Maple Grove Half-Marathon and 5K begins at 7:30 a.m. May 12. The event is expected to fill up early, with more than 1,180 runners this year. participants can register online at Zap events. Registration is $40 for the half-marathon and $25 for the 5K. Proceeds from the race benefit the Maple Grove Lions Clubs, which supports multiple charitable activities around Maple Grove.
Not quite a marathoner? You can still join the festivities as a volunteer; opportunities to help include directing runners on the course, setting up and giving out food; contact Paul Wisnewski at pwisnew1@gmail.com.
Maple Grove High School Stadium, 9800 Fernbrook Ln.; 651.688.9143; maplegrovehalfmarathon.com
