FARGO — The Sanford Fargo Marathon, which after 16 straight years of running was unable to be held this past year because of the coronavirus pandemic, is scheduled to run in the fall of 2021.
Normally held in May, the marathon will be held Sept. 20-25.
“It just didn’t make sense for us to try to do an event in May,” said marathon director Mark Knutson. “There is no clear light at the end of this pandemic tunnel. We figured it would be best to push it out to September and hopefully we will be in the clear by then.”
Knutson said the fall schedule is a “one-time thing” with officials planning to hold the marathon in the spring again.
Last year’s spring marathon was postponed due to COVID, with hopes of running the event last August. But that too was canceled due to COVID.
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“It’s been a challenge. It’s been hard for everyone … runners and event organizers,” Knutson said. “On the positive side, I have seen a lot of people doing more outdoor activities. More runners, bikers and walkers. If there is something positive to glean off this, it might be this.”
The marathon has drawn 20,000 or more participants for the eight different events it has held the past few years. Knutson is hoping for that same number again next fall.
The full marathon, half-marathon and 10K runs will start and finish in the Fargodome. The course for the full marathon has yet to be finalized, but Knutson is hoping it can run through the campuses of Concordia and Minnesota State Moorhead.
“Schools could be in full session which might be nice,” Knutson said. “It would provide a lot of fanfare and student support.”
Here is the marathon’s schedule of events for next fall:
Monday, Sept. 20
Cyclothon that includes a 15-mile ride that starts at 6 p.m. and a 26.2-mile ride that starts at 6:30 p.m. $40 entry fee.
Tuesday, Sept. 21
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Furgo Dog Run that is a 1.5-mile run that starts at 6:30 p.m. $35 for one human and one dog, $49 for two humans and one dog.
Thursday, Sept. 23
Youth run that includes a one-half mile run and a one-mile run that begins at 4:30 p.m. $15 entry fee.
Friday, Sept. 24
5K run that begins at 6:30 p.m. $45 entry fee.
Saturday, Sept. 25
6.2-mile marathon that begins at 6:30 a.m., $95 entry fee
13.1-mile half marathon that begins at 6:30 a.m., $69 entry fee
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4-person relay that begins at 6:30 a.m., $155 entry fee
10K run that begins at 7 a.m., $45 entry fee
