RUNNING

Child abuse survivor runs for her cause

WEST FARGO – Leslie Brunette used to run from her past. Now she runs to overcome it. Brunette of rural West Fargo is a child abuse survivor and one of six women who run on a team to raise awareness for the nonprofit organization, Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota.

By Tracy Frank , October 16, 2012

Wagner: Falls offers a variety of running conditions

Bemidji, Minn. - Autumn’s volatility provides for one of the interesting guessing games for runners.

By Steve Wagner / Forum Communications Co. , October 14, 2012

Bjorlie, Bye win individually, Fargo North, Davies win team at EDC

WAHPETON, N.D. - Katie Bye took home the crown at the East Region girls cross country meet Saturday at the Bois DE Sioux Golf Club in Wahpeton. Bye helped lead Fargo Davies to its third consecutive EDC team championship. Tanner Bjorlie, of Fargo North, won the championship on the boys side with Davies winning the team championship.

By Forum staff reports , October 13, 2012

Wagner: Too much hard training can catch up to runners

Bemidji, Minn. It’s easy to get excited after a race and hurry to sign up for another. Maybe you’ve set a personal best, conquered a new distance or learned something about yourself to try in the next race. Or, if things didn’t go so well, you want to erase the memory of a bad or particularly challenging race.

By Steve Wagner , October 07, 2012

Wagner: Crossover workouts help keep body fresh

Bemidji, Minn. Less than a month ago, I was on the phone with a friend talking about dropping out of the upcoming Twin Cities Marathon. My confidence in finishing the race had hit rock bottom and I held concerns about my long-term health and running.

By Steve Wagner , September 30, 2012

Perham looks to break through after just missing a boys cross country state title last season

Perham, Minn. Perham cross country runner Keeghan Hurley watched last season as his Yellowjackets squad missed out on a state championship by the slimmest of margins, finishing second in Minnesota Class 1A by one point behind St. Cloud Cathedral.

By Chris Murphy , September 26, 2012

Wagner: Beautiful fall sights reaffirm love of running

Bemidji, Minn. Frost-covered wild grass filled the ditches along a country road during my early morning run last week. Riley, my run-loving golden retriever, stopped to explore and sniff some scents in the tall blades. Every few minutes, he’d race past me in a torrid sprint, stop for a sniff again and repeat the same game of leapfrog. When he lingers behind too long, I’ll circle back and look for him As we trekked north on the blacktop, the sunlight slowly unveiled the landscape before me. Still below the horizon, though, a mystic fog hovered above the wetlands and other low-lying spots. The multi-colored blaze of foliage from maple, oak and birch trees filled my view. It is mornings like these I kick myself for leaving my camera or phone on the counter. Those views, imprinted in my memory, will simply stay in a place only I can retrieve them. Those views will be my motivation for the next time I look for an excuse to stay inside and play the debate game about whether to head out for a run or stay inside – a self-defeating argument that can only result in delaying what I love to do. The fall means more to Riley, too, as he finally is allowed to frequently run with me again. After sitting out much of the summer due to warm weather, the consistent running turns Riley more playful and energetic. In the fall, I’m almost always running with friends, Riley or both. It is fall mornings like the one last week that make the sport fun, energizing me physically and mentally with cooler temps, grand vistas and a reminder that seasons change. And as the seasons change, so does our running. While fall’s arrival assures us that a cold, hard winter awaits, it serves as a time of renewal and affirmation. A renewal of the human spirit and the love for running, the affirmation of toiling through hard workouts and hot weather to prepare for a fall race. As the seasons change, so do the effects and meaning of our running – with moments of pure joy and times to recover and regroup for the next big challenge. Bemidji Pioneer Editor Steve Wagner writes a running blog, which can be found online at runningspud.areavoices.com. He can be reached via email at swagner@bemidjipioneer.com.

By Steve Wagner , September 23, 2012

Wagner: Difficult workouts key for race preparation

Bemidji, Minn. Tuning up for a key race on your calendar doesn’t have to be a mystery. Rather, it can be a lot of fun. You can take your fitness to a new level if you pick the right race or workout, then go out and execute. Quite a few runners made the trek to the Dick Beardsley Half Marathon in Detroit Lakes, Minn., earlier this month. Quite a few will turn around and race marathons – like the Twin Cities Marathon – next month.

By Steve Wagner , September 16, 2012

Wagner: What makes a race special to you?

Bemidji, Minn. For the past four months, a group of 12 to 15 people have been meeting monthly to plan and organize the inaugural Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon, set for Oct. 12, 2013.

By Steve Wagner , September 02, 2012

Wagner: Experiences can fuel inspiration

Bemidji, Minn. One of the best parts of life is finding what we love – sometimes through trial and error, other times through the singular pursuit of our passions, or even by accident.

August 19, 2012

Finding inspiration key to a good run

Over the past several weeks, my thoughts have focused a lot on inspiration – how, why and where it comes from.

By Steve Wagner , August 12, 2012

Wagner: Triathlon offers new experience

Bemidji, Minn. Making my way to the pavilion, I stepped into line to receive my race packet. Then a volunteer pulled the cap off a black permanent marker, writing the designated wave on my left wrist before marking the race number on my arm and leg.

By Steve Wagner , July 29, 2012

Wagner: Early morning runs can be inspiring

Bemidji, Minn. Five miles into my run, I reached a river crossing to find an expanse of sky opened up among the tower pine, elm and birch.

By Steve Wagner / Forum Communications Co. , July 22, 2012

Wagner: Running outside can be a joy, despite the heat

Bemidji, Minn. We’re not quite to the dog days of summer, but it sure feels like it. With plenty of heat, and sometimes high humidity thrown into the mix, it can be tough to want to do much of anything outside – let alone run. Personally, after having run so many marathons in the past few years, it’s easy to want to take a break. But I’ve also always ran my fastest races in the fall, making it difficult to want to ease up. Since Grandma’s Marathon last month, and a couple big storms blowing through this summer, it’s been hard to get the motivation to run. And the weather doesn’t make it any easier.

By Steve Wagner , July 15, 2012

81-mile run on Highway 81 set for next weekend

FARGO – Detour signs will be placed up and down Highway 81 north of Fargo next weekend, but it won’t be for road repair reasons. A new running venture will be under construction with a completion date of about 16 hours.

By Jeff Kolpack , July 11, 2012