Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon - Race Reviews

This was a really nice event, beginning with communication beforehand. Katie, the race director, was really quick in responding to e-mails I sent with questions. The dinner in the cafeteria the night before was very good, with lots of food options available. Each runner had their own timer. Mine was an alumni who came back to volunteer. She was wonderful, cheering for me on each lap, and that's a lot of laps! I highly recommend this marathon.

This was a great opportunity to run a winter marathon in the upper Midwest. And from my home, I could drive there in a day. Dick Daymont organized this race some 15 years ago. He passed the torch to a couple of young coaches from the college a year or two ago. Dick was still there this weekend meeting the runners, visiting with us, and encouraging us. I asked him about the name, and if he came up with it. Dick told me "Oom Yah Yah" was a chant from the school's fight song. Then a friend of Dick's was trying to come up with a marathon name for each letter of the alphabet, but was having trouble coming up with a name using the letter "Z". So they added the letter Z to the chant and came up with Zoom Yah Yah. An interesting bit of trivia. In years past, getting into this race was done by lottery because they only take 58 runners. I think that is the biggest crowd the track can accommodate. Two years ago I was registered to run, but with the bitter cold that year that had settled over the upper Midwest, the fuel lines in my truck froze, and I simply could not get there in time. This year they just opened registration until their quota was met. RD Katie told me they had 54 registrations and about 10 no-shows were expected. This marathon was held in the sports complex of St. Olaf College. St. Olaf is a Lutheran school, a short drive south of MSP. The pre-race packet pick up was in the commons building, in a room on the third floor. It was coordinated so afterwards we could eat food from the dining hall where the students eat. We received a meal ticket in our packets, and there was about every choice of food imaginable. In the morning we all met up at the Tostrud Sports Center - where the indoor track was. Each runner was matched up with a student volunteer from the college, and that volunteer recorded laps and cheered on their runner. Where the start/finish line was, the volunteers congregated. We started running at 6:30 a.m. and the event was open for 6 hours. The track was kind of rectangular, with rounded corners, and at each corner were tables where each runner could put their refreshments. That is another thing: No food or drink was provided by the race organization for during or after the marathon. You were told to bring with you what you needed and then set your stuff out on one of the tables provided. I think there was one water fountain on the track that was available. So runners brought water, sports drink, gels, fruit, and whatever else. It worked well. And we knew ahead of time. Track marathons are good in the respect that you do not have to carry anything with you during the run - unless you want to. The track had three lanes; the slow runners or walkers were on the inside lane. Faster runners passed in the outside lanes. Then every 30 minutes we switched directions. That worked out really well too. Katie and Erica were the co-race directors - both of them are coaches at the college, and they did a good job. We were kept informed ahead of time about how it worked, and what to expect. The course was flat and fast, with no wind, rain, or snow!

I'm a little obsessed with this race....just a little, in fact it makes me DIZZY. I 'found' this race in 2009 and since then have run it 6 times. 2019's edition was as fresh and fun as the first time I stepped onto the raised indoor track. The Race Director is a warm, friendly and funny guy. He loves running and this race is 'for the love of running'. The young women from St. Olaf's track and cross country running clubs, who for the most part, are our lap counters, are full of enthusiasm and cheer for EVERY runner, not just their own. The music, yes MUSIC, is fun and interesting and relevant. Water tables are placed in each of the four corners of the track for you to stock your own fluids and nutritional needs. Indoor bathrooms are no more than 60 meters away. The weather conditions are always perfect inside, regardless what what it is doing outside. The course is predictable, no hills, no rocks, no roots. There is always a doctor on site through the entire race - just in case. Oh, and the entire field reverses direction every 30 minutes. The pre-race dinner is OUTSTANDING! Swag is nicely designed. Photos are taken and available. Costs are kept low and yet it is a fundraiser for the track and cross country teams. Everybody WINS. Yah! Yah! Ya gotta do this one.

When race director Dick Daymont saw me at a local store wearing a marathon shirt he approached me, introduced himself, asked about my marathon experience, and started talking Zoom! Yah! Yah! My initial reaction was '150 laps around an indoor track? Umm...I'll pass, thanks.' Dick's energy and enthusiasm was contagious, though, and I decided I'd give it a shot. I am so happy I did. It was a BLAST! Well organized, super well supported, and just plain fun!! I made a few new friends, thoroughly enjoyed myself, and earned a marathon PR! I cannot recommend this marathon enthusiastically enough! Give it a try :-)

My favorite of the five different indoor marathons I have run. Race is limited to 50 runners who run 150 laps on an indoor track at St.Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Runners change directions every 30 minutes to lessen the stress of the turns on the oval track. Each runner's laps are counted by a member of the St. Olaf women's track team, who also provide enthusiastic encouragement. Running themed music and rock is piped in throughout the day. The Saturday night pre-race meal on campus is the best pre-race meal in marathoning. St. Olaf must use its campus cafeteria menu as a recruiting tool. Race director Dick Daymont is a marathoner and knows how to host an event.

This was a Bucket List race for me. An Indoor marathon with 150 laps around a track sounded like a true mental challenge. And it was! But the track team from St. Olaf's made it easy! My personal lap counter was my cheerleader, but the lap counters around her also became my cheerleaders as they all cheered for each runner! Within about 30 minutes, they knew each runners name and they all cheered for us! A small field (limited to 50) was perfect for this space. We all were given name bibs to go on our backs so we could cheer for each other as well. The pre-race meal comes with your entry and includes unlimited plates from the school's cafeteria (which has tons of options - vegan, veg, etc!) Post race showers are available too. Perfect for a quick overnight trip. When I finish my states I will definitely return to run Zoom again! So much fun!!! Dick & friends do a fantastic job with this event!

This was my first indoor marathon. I've now completed only 23 marathons in total. The race director has this race very VERY well organized. The food the night before was fantastic with unlimited quantities! The track team that monitors the laps were fantastic - lots of cheering. You can't slack off with this exuberant cheer squad. The music was wonderful - great play list! Also the other runners were very supportive - I heard 'great job' and 'doing well' continuously.

I have completed this race three times now - the latest two times being the 2017 and 2018 races. As much as one can consider running a marathon as being 'fun' this race is certainly all of that. Dick does a great job of organizing the event and his communications prior to and after the event are always timely and informative. My favorite part of the race is having my own personal lap counter - usually a young woman from St. Olaf's track and cross country teams. My counter did a great job of accurately recording my lap times, keeping me informed of my laps completed, while offering me encouragement throughout the entire race. Running that many laps takes a little getting used to but the field house environment and running track are first rate. If you want a most unique marathon experience, make the trip to Northfield next January!

I have done the race twice now and while 150 laps indoors may scare some people away it is so much fun. You get to know the whole field of racers as you are passing or being passed all the time and everyone cheers you on. Music is playing, the Ole women's Track team is cheering you on and you get to log a bunch of miles in the cold of winter. Dick and his crew do a great job of welcoming everyone and there is great race support. I have made new friends both years. I am looking forward to a third.

I cannot say enough great things about Zoom Yah Yah 2018!! I wasn't sure what to expect with this being my first time running this race. I went with a goal of finishing under four hours and what I got was so much more!! This was my 30th marathon and is by far one of my most favorite ones! The crowds and the organization was extraordinary! I have never been to a race where you feel like a piece of the puzzle. Everyone counts. The race organizers, lap counters, spectators, and runners were all involved! Most races you feel like just a bib number but at Zoom Yah Yah you are part of the family!

I ran the Zoom Yah Yah Indoor Marathon for the second time this year. Out of the five indoor marathons I have run, it is my favorite. It is also one of my favorites out of the 36 marathons I have completed. The night before starts the event with a pre race meal and a meeting to review the logistics. The next morning you arrive at the comfortable indoor facility to place your bottles on the tables around the track and to claim your spot to place your gear. You then meet your personal lap counter and timer from the women's track team and then before you know it, it is time to begin running the 150 laps. Probably the best thing about the whole marathon is how supportive the lap counters and other runners are. Everyone is cheering you on. I definitely recommend this event to anyone who wants to try a different type of marathon. Be sure to send in your entry early. They use a lottery to fill up the race.

It was my first time running this event, and I had a blast, even though my training was minimal. The camaraderie of the runners, the enthusiasm of the lap counters as well as spectators, and the beautiful facility all make this one special. Clearly, it is a labor of love for the RD Dick and his dedicated group of volunteers. I am working on my running friends to join me next year.

I've read/heard about ZYY Indoor Marathon for years and when my son moved to Minneapolis last summer, it seemed time to try it out, since I had a free place to sleep just 18 miles north of St Olaf College. The many comments on earlier years' races are all accurate. The mezzanine track is a terrific place to run, the surface is forgiving. The four corners even have a slight bank to them, especially in lanes 2 and 3...if you find them, you can enjoy them...and with 600 corners to run, you will find them. The real difference-maker in this race is having a personal lap counter. We each met our counter pre-race. In another amazing detail of planning, RD Dick Draymont tries to link something about each counter with the runner. I'm from Indiana...my counter was as well! In fact, it was likely we had run some races together while she was still in High School. Each lap counter hand writes the cumulative time at each lap for her runner. Then, at the end, after the final time is recorded, she signs and gives the lap sheet to the runner! It's one of the best mementos I've ever received. Also, each lap counter makes a poster for her runner and they are posted along one wall of the track. I got to take that home as well. Everything about this race is personal, friendly and unique. It's not a PR type of an event...most of us were some 20-30 minutes slower than we felt we were running...such is the effect of the turns and the reversals every 30 minutes. However, the unique experience is not to be missed. I would definitely run this race again. And, if my son doesn't move, I very well may :-)

If it did not require significant travel for me I would run this marathon every year. Race Director Dick has everything worked out. This is a perfectly run event. Plenty of communication before arriving, a package pick up and buffet meal Sat night that is every marathoners dream INCLUDED in the entry fee, door prices for each runner, an opportunity to meet the other runners before Sunday's event. The race itself is flawless as other reviews point out. How often are you cheered by name 150 times! The only negative and this is pointed out by Dick too, is expect to run more than 26.2. The logistics of passing other runners and changing directions adds to the distance. However continuous music and cheering, 600 water stops, and perfect running conditions make this an event you want to try.

This was my 19th marathon and it is one of my favorite. I was worried the 150 laps might get mind-numbing but it was the exact opposite. I could not believe how fun it was. Everyone in the race wore a bib on the back with their name and we cheered each other when passing or being passed-so amazing! Every runner knew every one else by the end of the race. As with every marathon, the final miles always are a challenge and it gets rough, but you have the rest of the race field and the volunteers cheeering so enthusiastically, that you are able to work thru it and triumph. The pre-race meal was one of the biggest spreads of food/drink/salads/desserts I have ever seen. The packet pickup was well organized and fun. The volunteers and medical team took the time to get to know each runner and any needs they may have. Music played thru out the entire race and many of us would sing together while running. The changing directions was really a plus and very well organized. 5 star race experience for sure. Will absolutely run this race again!

First time ZYY finisher. Veteran of 43 prior marathons. I just finished the race and have had a few hours to digest the experience. My wife says I sometimes have too high of expectations but, I just think optimistically about a lot of things. The realist in me, however, says a lot of what you feel and think is what you've made of the situation. In any event, I did have high expectations and today's run met and exceeded them -in spades. What a great race. I so enjoyed myself and loved the enthusiasm all the staff and students associated with the race put out. The (student) timers where terrific and encouraging and delivered excellently on keeping track of every lap and ensuring you knew they were there for you. I am certain I've got many more ZYY's to do down the road. I live just 25 minutes away from where the race takes place and have known of its existence but, the caliber of the event was top-notch and this news hadn't permeated my running community a short distance away. Everything from the organization (including meal the evening before), to the correct participation level for the sizing of the track, the timing of re-direction, engagement and accuracy of the timers and enthusiasm of everyone associated with the event -including fellow runners- was right on. I couldn't have asked for more but, if I had, I bet it would have been delivered. One final note... This is an indoor track race (150 laps around an 282 meter quad-oval). I had the unique experience of being at the finish line to cheer on the winner of the race while still being about an hour from finishing myself. Where else can you do that?

This was my fourth indoor marathon and in my opinion the best. Pros: 1. Flat course in a climate controlled environment 2. Up to four water stops per lap that you stock with your favor nutrition 3. Wide variety of music playing over PA system throughout event 4. Personal lap counter and split taker from St Olaf women's cross country and track teams 5. Counters cheering you on every lap 6. Counters chanting your name on the last lap 7. Dinner buffet at college cafeteria night before race 8. Raffle where everyone wins a door prize at organizational meeting on Saturday night 9. Back bibs that you write your name on so the other runners can cheer you on 10. Super friendly and very organized race director and race organization Negatives 1. None really

I submitted a raving review in 2015, so I won't repeat myself, but I neglected to mention how much fun the playlist was! No headphones are allowed, but Dick Daymont has an awesome playlist of energetic tunes spanning several decades piped overhead. This really adds to the camaraderie on the field as we all are jamming to the same tunes. The women's cross country team lap counters are out there dancing and singing and it just pumps you up! Seriously, this is a party! I'll be back for my 4th ZYY next January!

After reading the comments on this site about past Zoom! Yah! Yah marathons, I had to try it. I was not disappointed (even with a slower than normal time!). Because it is run indoors on a track at St. Olaf College, it is limited to 44 runners. Dick Daymont, the race director, is friendly, helpful and gets to know everyone. Packet pick up is low key and held before the pre-race dinner (price included in registration). Everyone has raved about the dinner, and they should. It's a buffet and the options are overwhelming. Race starts at 6:30am on Sunday which is a great start time in my mind. You then run 150 laps around the track. Every runner gets their own lap counter - a woman on the St. Olaf cross-country team. They are the best! They cheer for everyone. They're dancing and singing to the music that plays overhead. On your last lap, they start chanting your name. These women are great. Also, you provide your own supplies so if you want PowerAde instead of Gatorade, then you can have that. Because of the small group, and the 150 laps, you get to know the other runners; and everyone supports everyone else. It was a great experience, and I would recommend it to everyone. It may have been -11 outside the race; but the conditions were perfect inside.

I ran this race this past January for the first time and loved it! Loved the pre-race dinner on Friday! Loved the drawing after the dinner - everyone won something! Loved the attention to detail Dick Daymont gives the race, he's a great race director! Loved the flat course! Loved having a drink waiting for me at every corner of the track! Loved having my own personal timer and cheerleader! Loved being able to shower downstairs in the locker rooms immediately afterwards! To top it all off, Dick mailed me the water bottles I mistakenly left there after at his own expense! What a generous gesture. Will be putting my name into the lottery for this one again next year!

In an era of proliferating marathons, the focus has shifted to singular assets (bigger field! more bands! larger medal!) rather than an overall quality experience. The Zoom!Yah!Yah! Marathon isnt memorable because of a ripped-from-the-headlines aspect that will make it the darling of the cable news cycle. Instead, it becomes the race you wont forget because it isnt this way. The ZYY is everything it promises to be in the Race Directors claim. Its flat, the weather conditions are ideal, there are 600 aid stations (guaranteed to provide something of your liking, since you supply it). Between the lap counters and the 40-plus other runners who you will see for your entire race, the course support is unrivaled. Be sure to get to Northfield the night before so you can partake in what is undoubtedly the best pre-race meal on the marathon circuit. Store your bags along the course for easy access, bring along your family to cheer you on, even the bathrooms and the post-race showers are simple affairs.

This is my favorite marathon. I have finished it 6 times (6 * 150 = 900 laps) and one time I had the flu and had to drop out after 102 laps, so I have run over 1000 laps in this marathon around 282 meter track in Tostrud Center at St Olaf. I am glad that I have run every one of those 1000 laps. It is a really fun marathon. The experience begins the night before when we meet together for dinner at the expo in the student center at St Olaf. The food is great, the best dinner the night before any of my other marathons. At the meeting/dinner the night before we meet most of the other runners in the race and the officials and other people who put on the race. This is a great way to get to know the people you will be seeing repeated during the race the next morning. On Sunday morning we meet our timer, a member of the St Olaf womans Track or Cross Country team who will record our splits for every lap of the race and we can put our drinks and goodies for the race at one or more of the four tables around the course. So you could have as many as 600 water stops along the way. One of the great things about the race is that we see everybody else in the race along the way. In most marathons I only see about the five or ten people around. Here I see the guy way ahead of me many times as he passes by and I also see the people way behind me as I pass them. We met these people and got to know them the night before at the dinner and so these are all people we know and we can carry on a running conversation with them as one passes the other. The course is not a PR course, there are 600 right corners on the route and every half hour we have a 180 degree turn as we change direction. Also with the frequent passing other runners I find that I spend most of the time running on the boundary of lanes two and three and so this will add about an extra 1500 meters to the distance. It is a great race and Dick Daymont is a great race director. He really makes everyone feel as an old friend and very welcome at the race. It is a great race, definitely my favorite.

If you are looking to run a marathon in MN in the winter- this is the way to do it! Though there are really no spectators, the lap counters are also great spectators and cheer you on. Very well organized. Great weather, Great pasta dinner, no hills, and great parking! What more can you want?

As you might expect, you're running around a 282 meter track for several hours. Variety is not something that should be expected with this marathon...and that's exactly what you get. It takes a special kind of focus to grind through the 150 laps, but fortunately, you're not alone out there. Your personal lap counter (provided by the St. Olaf Women's Track team) will energetically cheer you on and keep track of the 150 laps you've completed. Spectatorseven those who aren't related to you in any way shape or formwill cheer you on. But mostly, it's you and the other 40-odd runners. Y'all get to know each other very well over the course of the day, with encouragement and motivation from each of them. They're the ones who make the race awesome. Logistically, the race is all that and a bag of chips. You can have as many water stops as you require with the multiple tables available per lap. Also, the finisher shirts are fantastic. Top-notch. Would I do this marathon again? Probably not. It's a pretty brutal race for the mind (even worse when it turns out you have the flu). Still, I'm really happy to have done it once.

Northfield, Minnesota can be downright frigid in January, but race day temps at this indoor marathon at St. Olaf's College is between 58 and 65 degrees. The RD, Dick Daymont goes out of his way to insure all runners experience an atmosphere of fun and comaraderie at the pre-race events and on race day. Saturday's packet pickup and pre-race meal are held in the Buntrock Commons building at St. Olaf's College. Rob aka 'the hat guy', one of the veteran runners, cheerfully helps Dick with handing out front and back bibs and meal tickets. The back bibs are plain white bibs which each runner can personalize with their name and some creative artwork - on race day this allows passing runners to shout out support for those they are passing. Most of the 44 runners come to the pre-race dinner so this gives everyone the opportunity to mingle, meet old friends and make new ones. The St. Olaf's Student Cafeteria provides one of the most outstanding pre-race meals on this planet! Prefer Asian, Middle Eastern, Seafood, Burgers, Fries, Pizza, or just plain old pasta and salad? No problem. Did you say you want a dessert, or two or three? No Problem! After the meal, Dick Daymont provides an introduction/history of the event, shares stories of some of the runners participating in the event, explains how the 'reverse direction every 30 minutes' works, provides a run down on the timing for the next morning's event, and conducts a fun raffle. On race morning we meet at 5:45am at the Tostrud Center at St. Olaf's College. The first order of business is that each runner gets paired with a lap counter. Most of the lap counters are young woman who are on the St. Olaf's Track Team. Runners are quick to bond with their counter, who doubles as a super cheerleader throughout the 150 laps. The counters actually log your time each and every one of those 150 laps! They will shout out encouragement to all runners and all the counters, regardless of who they are counting for, will chant your name as you take you final lap and run to the finish. Tables are set up in each of the four 'corners' of the track for runners to stock their own hydration and nutrition needs. Rest rooms are within 100 yards of the running track. There is enough space around the track for spectators to stand/sit and cheer. And, very importantly a doctor is present throughout the entire event. Music is played throughout the entire race using many songs that had previously been submitted by runners with the addition of some silly and appropriate tunes like 'Dizzy', 'Turn, Turn, Turn'. Signs for each runner and for general encouragement are taped along the far wall. Every 30 minutes an orange traffic cone is placed at the Start/Finish/Turn spot and runners turn around it (it is very orderly) to reserve direction. This is such a great race put on by a running club 'The Band of 10,000 Aches' for the love of running. They make you feel welcome and part of their community. I love this event and will continue to submit my name in the lottery as long as I'm running marathons!

Dick Daymont and the women's cross country team go out of their way to make every runner feel like a super star. The pre-race meal is fantastic, and it also lets the runners get to know each other before the race and adds to the feeling of camaraderie. With a field of about 40 runners being together for 150 laps, there is a sense of community that is built into this race. Living in MN, this is a great way to get in a winter marathon without having to pay for a plane ticket somewhere. It is kinda crazy to do 150 laps around an indoor track, but it's a unique experience and builds mental strength. With 5-and-change laps to a mile, I found it too hard to calculate my distance as I went. So it was probably the 18-20 mile point when I began to wonder if I would ever finish. But the constant cheering from the women's cross country team kept me going. They cheered my name every single time I came around to the point where I completed a lap. It was so encouraging. On the last lap, they chant your name! You feel like a rockstar! They also made personalized signs for each runner and hung them around the track. Each runner has his or her own lap counter, and my lap counter, Jamie, was so sweet. She had something positive and encouraging to say with every lap, and she counted down the last 10 laps for me which helped me keep pushing to the end. She offered to help me carry my stuff out to my car afterward, too. The medals were beautiful (one of my favorites) and the t-shirts were nice, too (although waaay too big since they were men's sized). This is a well organized, fun race that I will definitely do again!

I know what you are thinking  an indoor marathon? Really? I thought it was a little bit crazy too, but, as a St. Olaf grad, I really loved the idea of running a marathon at my school&plus, how many people can say that they ran a marathon in Minnesota in January? Simply put, the race exceeded all of my expectations and turned out to be a unique and wonderful experience (and a fantastic way to get through the January runner slump). Plus, it was just stinking fun! The laid back feel of the event draws a varied group of people who share a real love for running. In a normal marathon, you would never know who you are running with, because you probably only see them once (maybe twice) over the course of 26.2 miles. At Zoom! Yah! Yah!, the whole field of runners shares a track for 3+ hours and you see, and support, each other constantly. I have never felt more supported (mentally) during a run  from other competitors, from spectators, and from the college students who voluntarily wake up at 5:30 am on a Sunday to count your laps. So much love! Some things to keep in mind: -You are technically running further than 26.2 miles (the course itself is a tad longer - plus you cant always run in the center lane). -There are not a ton of spectators  but, as noted above, there is no way you will not feel supported. -Runners provide their own nutrition (including drink), but there is a drinking fountain practically on the course. -There isnt a traditional expo, but more of a pre-race dinner and meeting the night before. Im only mentioning this because, if you are like me and often wait until the expo to purchase last-minute supplies for the race, you will be out of luck. Final thought: This is a low-key, laid back, support-your-fellow-runners event  its for fun. If you are a die hard, out for blood, have-to-get-a-PR- and-will-throw-an-elbow-to-make-it- happen type of runner (you know who you are), you wont enjoy this race. Im not saying there arent fast runners or real competitors (the 2015 winner ran a blazing 2:48!), Im just saying that you have to be willing to support everyone else on the track too. A sensational race and experience  do it!

This was a really fun and new challenge! RD Dick Daymont gives very personal service and attention to each runner and their families. The dinner and prerace talk were informative and fun, but communication on times for each will help for next time. The course is a rectangular shaped track so it was great to change direction every 30 minutes. There are constant cheers as you complete each lap, motivational signs around the track and your own personal lap counter. Having access to my own drinks and food every lap with a table in each of the 4 corners was great. The one downer was the bathroom was quite a ways off the track. Great shirts and medal. In spite of personally having a bad race I still had lots of fun!!! Super race, especially for January here in Minnesota! I will recommend this race and likely do it again in the future!

I had a few issues with communication. Usually, I find all of the race information on-line, but I think most of the information about this race is communicated via e-mail. I did not receive information about the specific track facility or the pre-race dinner. That said, I had a great time at this race. Bathrooms (not porta-potties) are never more than 200m away. Your food and drinks are never move than 200m away. If you forget your food and drink, there are water fountains and bagels available. All the positive comments about the flat course and constant windless conditions are true. The camaraderie of running with the same people for the 4+ hours that it took me to run the race is amazing. You cheer for each finisher and sympathize with every pulled muscle. You can have your dedicated lap counter communicate every lap you run, or just forget and keep your pace for as long as you want. Without mile markers to distract me, I just ran until the last 10. The women's track team who count laps are an amazing cheer section, as well as all of the other spectators who come to watch. About halfway through your last lap, the lap counters start to chant your name. The chanting grows louder the closer you get to the finish (and as you get closer to the cheer section). I had to finish with a sprint because I was SOOOOOO excited! There were screams and congratulatory hugs and it was AMAZING! A better finish than the New York City marathon for sure!

If you are one of those runners who can put your body on auto pilot while your mind wanders, this race is perfect. No wind, rain or sun, just find a pace that feels comfortable, lock it in and run. It has a small town feel to it, and everyone is very friendly. Having your own lap counter makes things simple, and the change of direction negates any problems with turns. I'm happy Minnesota has a January marathon indoors.

The Zoom! Yah! Yah! Marathon was the absolute best. I loved the weather. The runners and the lap counters were very encouraging. My lap counter Dot was cheering me on the entire race. The women's cross country team was one big cheerleading group and made the runners feel special as we ran by them lap after lap. When you get to the last lap and everyone chants your name it is the greatest feeling. My husband and I were invited to Hogan Brothers for lunch in Northfield after the race with the other runners and that was a fun time. I was informed that I had missed an excellent and lively pasta dinner the night before. My flight was delayed so I didn't get there in time. This was my 30th state and definitely one of my all time favorites. Thanks Dick!

For years, I told my running friends that I would never do a marathon that wasn't a Boston Qualifier - just couldn't see the point of it. Well,...scotch that! As a former Minnesotan now living in Missouri, I can honestly say after running the 2014 ZYY two days ago that I would do this race every January from now on if I still lived there. It turned out to be a PURE running experience like I've never had in any of my 23 other marathons [ although Stockholm came close ]. I found the constant 60-degree temperature, combined with no hills and no wind, to be ideal for my type of running. And seeing my friends, my volunteer lap-counter [ Thanks again, Betsy! ], the official race clock and my water & gel supplies every couple of minutes for the entire 4 hours and 20 minutes that it took me to finish made the time just fly. Couldn't believe how fast 100 completed laps turned into 110, then 120, etc. all the way to the end. Race Director Dick Daymont is a fantastic host, giving personal attention to each and every one of the 45 runners comprising the field. Shirt & Medal very sharp; certificate lists all 150 split-times; great dinner the night before; fun lunch afterwards...it's got it all!

Remember your favorite runs, the ones where you and a friend encouraged each other to your goal? Remember your favorite athletic events, where you were cheered from start to finish? Remember your most comforting moments, where you knew that someone had your back the entire way? Remember your most care free days, where everything was available and convenient, and you knew that the road was smooth ahead? If you want a race you will remember forever, for all the reasons above and many more, the Zoom!Yah!Yah! is your race. The Zoom!Yah!Yah! brings you together as runners, but compounds you into friends. An entrant is not simply a number and a check, s/he is immediately welcomed into the ZYY/St.Olaf/Northfield family whether you are a first-timer or a multi-time participant. The 'expo' is more of a gathering of friends, where you will have your questions answered by the race director and experienced runners, bond over the best pre-race meal there is in marathon running, and get a sense of how wondrous the event is. The event may be 150 laps around an indoor track, but it's not akin to your dreary practice run around the high school track on a cloudy afternoon. This is more like doing those 150 laps while the football team is involved in a playoff game - except you are that team and the cheerleaders are cheering for you. The 'cheerleaders' in this case are the dedicated, brilliant, and kind-hearted members of the St. Olaf Women's Cross Country and Track teams, who will scream your name, count your laps, and drive you to toward the finish. Theyre worth their weight in gold, and they put those so-called 'big' crowds of supersized marathons to shame (Thanks, Moriah!). Even when you're on the other side of the loop, fellow runners - both the fastest and slowest - will offer encouragement thanks to the name bib on your back. Even the leaders are friendly here, and for once you'll see them every step of the way, from toeing the line with them to watching them finish. There are no hills in the ZYY, no elevation changes, no course changes, no misplaced mile markers, and no surprises whatsoever, the last thanks to the race information provided from the application to the week of the race. If you don't know where to go or where to be, you simply did not read your e-mail. The race team truly has your back for anything you might think of/need/desire, and their preparation and competence is evident in everything to the basics to the life supporting care they delivered here several years ago. Finally, it is truly a race where you can concentrate on what you came here for - enjoying the run. No chip worries. No starting corrals. No trying to get around four people holding hands while pushing strollers who lined up in the wrong pace group. No poorly stocked water stations or diluted mystery liquid, as you supply your own refreshment and place it at one of the 600 aid stations (one in each corner). No bathroom issues. If you need a towel so you can shower before you get on your plane, the race director will even supply you with one. If you want a race you will remember for the medal, or for the logistical nightmare of the expo and getting to the start, be sure to check out the thousands of marathon offerings who are in it to raise money for themselves. If you want a race that you will remember for the right reasons, start here. You'll be glad you did.

Some are intimidated by the thought of running 140 laps, around and around and around for hours. But in a Marathon, you're so much inside yourself, that aspect disappears very quickly for most of us. YES, there is no scenery to look at. YES there is no interesting terrain. YES there's a real concern about repetitive stress if you're not smart about it. BUT: Where else do you get to KNOW all of the other runners during the race (because their names are printed on bibs on their backs)? Where else are you able to run a marathon WITH a bunch of other people of widely varying paces and abilities? Where else can you give and get encouragement from those other runners (who are quickly becoming your friends as you run the race) every minute (literally)? Where else is there a huge cheering section cheering YOU on every few hundred yards? This is not the easiest, not the hardest, not the most beautiful marathon, but it is, by far, the FUNNEST marathon I've ever run. And, yes, that includes Boston. I was smiling the whole 26.2 miles.

If you enjoy the camaraderie of running marathons above all else, this race is for you. Because you've got 150 laps, moments shared with other participants increase exponentially & leaving you knowing EVERYONE by first name and quirky story (after all, anyone doing an indoor marathon HAS a quirky story, right?!). Other things I loved: my lap counter (bringing a small gift for him/her is a nice touch!), Dick- the enthusiastic RD, access to race photos at no cost, informal post race lunch with RD and participants, the town of Northfield itself. Decide how you want to pace this thing beforehand- mentally, it's more challenging to breakdown. Unless you are a math genius, it's tough to calculate splits and time targets by traditional targets (5K, 10K, 20 mile) or mile markers (5.7 laps = 1 mile). I asked my counter to let me know how many I had run after 1 hour, and to cue me when I was at number 75 (halfway) as well as 140 (Counting down from 50+ laps, no way. 10 laps, I can do). For me, the best strategy was to simply dissociate, listen to my body on pace, and have FUN! If you're traveling in for this one, make time to visit the Lululemon outlet and Mall of America.

OK, it's not a scenic race - except for the inspirational presence of the St. Olaf women's track and cross country teams who count the 150 laps the runners must complete. But the event is first-class from the good organization by RD Dick Daymont and The Band of 10,000 Aches Running Club to the great camaraderie among the runners, the perfect temperatures and the best pre-race meal in marathoning. The buffet at host school, St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., the night before the marathon is all-world. All the turns make the race a little more challenging than one might expect. Train for it. There aren't many people running it on a lark.

At the pre-race dinner, Dick Daymont, ZYY race director, asked me what drew me to ZYY. I like to schedule a winter marathon to provide training motivation during a quiet racing season (at least in the Northeast), but I realized the primary reason I chose ZYY in particular was the favorable comments from other runners. Fortunately for me, these rave reviews were accurate! If you're looking for a PR, this is probably not the course, for a few reasons: 1) the turns, 2) if you're passing runners, you will run in lane 2 or 3, and end up running longer than 26.2 miles, 3) you carry your fluids or stop briefly at tables to get them. HOWEVER, what you lose in time is far outweighed by what you gain in the experience of this marathon. A few standouts worth mentioning in particular: 1) The race director and volunteers: Dick and team do a wonderful job, and the small field allows a level of personal attention you can't get at a mega-thon. 2) St. Olaf's women's cross-country and track and field teams- yes, I mentioned volunteers under #1, but I repeat here for a reason. These girls go above and beyond, getting up before 6 on a Sunday morning to record the lap times of each of the marathon participants. They were also the best cheering section at the start/finish of each lap. My counter, Julia, made a handwritten sign that was very sweet, completely unexpected, and a first for me in 21 marathons. 3) The other runners- the unique race format ensures that you'll have multiple opportunities both to encourage and be encouraged by the entire field. 4) The finishers' certificate- I rank this #1 of my marathon souvenirs, above any medal or plaque. The lap times recorded by your personal counter becomes your marathon finisher's certificate, a simple but personal and unique record of your 150 laps. Yes, I'll return to do it all over again some year! Thank you Dick, Dennis, Rob, St. Olaf's women's cross-country and track and field, and everyone behind this marathon!