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Marathon Details - Run for the Lakes

North America Marathons > USA > MN > Nisswa > Run for the Lakes

Run for the Lakes

Brainerd Jaycees Run for the Lakes & Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K

Nisswa, MN USA

May 3, 2025

http://www.runforthelakes.com

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Marathon Results

By Year:

2024 2023 2022 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

Beautiful USATF flat course winding through forests and lakes.

Contact Information

Name:	Sarah Stenerson
Address:	PO Box 384 Brainerd, MN 56401
Phone Number:	218-330-2604
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (9)

Course 3.6

Organization 4.4

Spectators 3.0

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Number of comments: 9

Dave Graves from Volga, SD (5/24/2018) "IF a marathon could be relaxing..." (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Beautiful course and a well-run event. Most of the course is service roads connecting cabins in the northern woods. So quiet all you could hear was the frogs croaking. Small lakes abound and towering pine trees grace most of the course. Bonus is we were blessed with a sunny, calm day. At any points there was traffic, i.e. a county road, law enforcement was there to ensure runner safety. Although I finished fifth from last, the aid station workers and cheerleaders stayed throughout. No one closed shop early and were very supportive. Great pasta feed before the race. If this wasn't my marathon retirement year, I would definitely go back.
T. C. from Duluth, MN (4/28/2015) "Northern MN Experience" (about: 2015) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you want to experience running through the North Woods of MN around beautiful cabin-lined lakes then this is the race for you. Also, this race is run early enough in the spring that you can guarantee cool temperatures, a big plus if you tend to get over heated easily. The course is more rolling and hilly than Grandma's or Whistlestop but none of the hills are particularly steep or long. I had fun opening up my stride and zooming down the back side as a reward for my climbs. This resulted in a big PR for me! I didn't know what to expect going into the race. As a first-timer, I was most concerned about running on open roads that might have traffic on them. As it turned out there was very little. The cars that did pass by were usually race officials or zealous spectators trying to beat their runner to the next 'cheer zone.' The busier roads were always blocked by emergency vehicles, fire trucks and traffic cops directing traffic. The second biggest concern I had going into the race was the double-loop. I was worried it might be more difficult mentally covering the same ground twice, that I might get the feeling I wasn't getting anywhere or that I was running in circles. While some runners experience may vary, I found it didn't bother me at all. In fact, I found it helpful to be able to anticipate parts of the course on the second lap, such as an unofficial water stop or a larger hill. While my original concerns turned out to be unfounded, I do have a few complaints. I found it difficult and demoralizing to start a full marathon with the 'halfers' and relay participants. I found it distracting and somewhat startling to be getting passed by runners that were pacing for a different distance. I found myself checking bib colors out of the corner of my eye as they passed to make sure they weren't a competitor. Most of this occurred during the very early miles of the race, but I continued to be haunted throughout being unsure of my overall position until the very end. (In case you were wondering, I ended up finishing in the top 10, but I had no idea until I reviewed the results). Also, it may be a non-issue to some, but I have a pet peeve when they hand out the same t-shirt to everyone from the 5k,10k,half or full marathon whether they finish the race or not. My other gripes were very minor, quickly forgotten, but I will say the spectators weren't very enthusiastic. We need more cowbell! Perhaps the cool temperature put a chill on their excitement, which would be understandable. The volunteers on the other hand were polar opposites. They made up for whatever lack of support the spectators may have had. I agree with other reviewers whole-heartedly: The organizers of this race definitely know what they are doing. For this reason alone I think this marathon deserves to grow. They just did everything right with the budget I imagine they had. There were plenty of aid and water stations with 2 flavors of Power Aide, plenty of food at the finish including a free beer or soda. All this with chip timing on a USATF certified course. An official even showed up at a potential cheat spot. Overall, I highly recommend this event to anyone up to the challenge of training through the winter to get themselves in shape for a race so early in the season. You can count on the cool temperatures to help speed you on your way towards the finish line and perhaps you will be rewarded with even more than that for your efforts, such as a nice big medal to hang around your neck or put on display in the display case.
Daniel Messinger from Miami, FL (4/30/2014) "Nice, cool weatherhillier than expected" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Fun, smallish race with great weather. Lots of little hills but it would be good to report total elevation gain and loss. Nice, friendly town.
S. R. from Minneapolis, MN (4/28/2014) "Good small town race" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Like many races launched in the last decade, this is a half marathon that also offers a marathon distance race and not the other way around. It is a good little race on a beautiful course. I have run the half marathon several times, and highly recommend the shorter race but I am less enthusiastic about the marathon. The rolling course is more challenging than some of the other marathon courses in the area (e.g., Grandma's, Twin Cities, or Fargo) but overall I would say it's a fair but maybe not a PR course. What is tough, as others have mentioned, is the two loop aspect of the course...way more tiring than I expected. There was lots of solitude on the second lap, but the volunteers were amazing. I felt so sorry for them out there in the cold without much to do as marathoners trickled through! Probably my biggest criticism of this race is that it is NOT a closed course yet the runners kind of took over the whole road in the first half...very dangerous. There was increasing traffic as the day wore on...you definitely have to keep your wits about you, which can be tough at mile 22! Also, the camber on some of those country roads was pretty rough on the legs. The marathoners kind of get short changed because there are so few of us. For example, they ran out of blankets before I finished. I came in at 4 hours, so there were plenty of folks behind me. On a blustery, 40 degree day I was freezing when I finished! Since space blankets are not perishable I cannot understand why they didn't have enough. Overall, I would recommend this race if you want guaranteed cool temperatures, a friendly small town atmosphere, and if you enjoy solitude and running through nature...just know that you will be running on roads with traffic most of the way.
A. P. from Rochester, MN (4/28/2013) "Nice race in general" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The organization of the race was great! A great starting atmosphere and great support at all of the stations. Unfortunately, its run as a double loop (why its 3 stars), the first being shared with the half-marathoners. Because of this, the field really cleared out at the half and at times I felt like I was running alone. Beautiful scenic course that really shows off Northern Minnesota. Beautiful weather (start in the 40s, finish in the mid 60s) with snow on the side of the road.
B. B. from Minnesota (5/3/2011) "A Step Down From Last Year" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Run for the Lakess COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I've run this race the last three years and the organization wasn't as good this year. I was pre-registered and was told my finisher's shirt would be sent in the mail. The shuttle bus never showed up, so we were taken to the starting line by volunteers' cars. The race started 15 minutes late. The course was very well marked with cones and the two loop route was just fine. The weather didn't cooperate as it rained the entire race, which is nobody's fault. I feel the post race events should've been moved into the community center if possible versus the tents outside with mud around them. The food was very sparse and every runner seemed to disappear after the race due to the cold rain and lack of direction. If you want to run a small race with a good course and don't mind running without crowd support, I'd recommend it. A few tweaks could improve this race greatly though.
Jim Stellon from Richfield, MN (5/1/2011) "Don't care for the new course" (about: 2011) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Run for the Lakess COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was the third straight year that I've ran this marathon and planned to make it an annual event but with the new, two-lap course, I won't be going back. I really enjoyed the original route and encouraged others to join me on my trip to Nisswa each year. I hope they ditch the two-lap plan and go back to the long loop. Overall, the organization is very good and the participation numbers were up from a year ago. Fan support was a little down this year, but only because it was raining throughout the race and very cold. Those who showed up were great.
B. G. from Minneapolis (4/26/2010) "Some Big Ones Could Take Organization Lessons!" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first time in Nisswa and I was extremely impressed with how well the event was organized. I used it as a training run for a "competitive" offering scheduled next month, and it really fit the bill. Saturday packet pick up was easy and much appreciated, given that I drove up from Minneapolis that morning. The course is what it is - quiet country roads and rails to trails but if you expected something different, you've never visited the area before. The fans were sparse, but if you expected screaming and cow bells, you picked the wrong place. The volunteers were awesome, especially on a cold, rainy morning, and the announcement of each name as we crossed the finish line was fun. Echoing the earlier comment, it would be nice to have something salty to eat post-race. Net, even on a cold, wet morning that this fair weather-runner didn't like, I was impressed. Thanks.
A. D. from Minneapolis, MN (4/25/2010) "Small, up-and-coming marathon" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first experience running this event. I ran the half marathon. There were shuttle buses that took us out to the starting line, which was the half-way point of the marathon. We then ran the second half of the marathon course (loop course). The shuttle buses were timely and convenient and nice and warm on a cool morning. The race course itself was perfect for me, but I like the feel of a small, rural race. It was on country roads and around small lakes. There were a few small hills around mile 16-22 (3-9 if running the half) and the last 5K are on a paved trail (converted railroad bed). The fans were sparse, but again, it's what you prefer. The fans that were on the course were really enthusiastic and the volunteers at the aid stations were great. The organization was fine for an up-and-coming, small race. I was fortunate to be part of the pre-race panel discussion, and I found it to be informal and fun. My only critique would be to offer something salty as part of the post-race food, and to consider rerouting the last mile of the course to avoid that last hill! :) The announcement of nearly every name as we crossed the finish line was a nice, personal touch.



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Dave Graves from Volga, SD (5/24/2018) "IF a marathon could be relaxing..." (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Beautiful course and a well-run event. Most of the course is service roads connecting cabins in the northern woods. So quiet all you could hear was the frogs croaking. Small lakes abound and towering pine trees grace most of the course. Bonus is we were blessed with a sunny, calm day. At any points there was traffic, i.e. a county road, law enforcement was there to ensure runner safety. Although I finished fifth from last, the aid station workers and cheerleaders stayed throughout. No one closed shop early and were very supportive. Great pasta feed before the race. If this wasn't my marathon retirement year, I would definitely go back.
T. C. from Duluth, MN (4/28/2015) "Northern MN Experience" (about: 2015) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you want to experience running through the North Woods of MN around beautiful cabin-lined lakes then this is the race for you. Also, this race is run early enough in the spring that you can guarantee cool temperatures, a big plus if you tend to get over heated easily. The course is more rolling and hilly than Grandma's or Whistlestop but none of the hills are particularly steep or long. I had fun opening up my stride and zooming down the back side as a reward for my climbs. This resulted in a big PR for me! I didn't know what to expect going into the race. As a first-timer, I was most concerned about running on open roads that might have traffic on them. As it turned out there was very little. The cars that did pass by were usually race officials or zealous spectators trying to beat their runner to the next 'cheer zone.' The busier roads were always blocked by emergency vehicles, fire trucks and traffic cops directing traffic. The second biggest concern I had going into the race was the double-loop. I was worried it might be more difficult mentally covering the same ground twice, that I might get the feeling I wasn't getting anywhere or that I was running in circles. While some runners experience may vary, I found it didn't bother me at all. In fact, I found it helpful to be able to anticipate parts of the course on the second lap, such as an unofficial water stop or a larger hill. While my original concerns turned out to be unfounded, I do have a few complaints. I found it difficult and demoralizing to start a full marathon with the 'halfers' and relay participants. I found it distracting and somewhat startling to be getting passed by runners that were pacing for a different distance. I found myself checking bib colors out of the corner of my eye as they passed to make sure they weren't a competitor. Most of this occurred during the very early miles of the race, but I continued to be haunted throughout being unsure of my overall position until the very end. (In case you were wondering, I ended up finishing in the top 10, but I had no idea until I reviewed the results). Also, it may be a non-issue to some, but I have a pet peeve when they hand out the same t-shirt to everyone from the 5k,10k,half or full marathon whether they finish the race or not. My other gripes were very minor, quickly forgotten, but I will say the spectators weren't very enthusiastic. We need more cowbell! Perhaps the cool temperature put a chill on their excitement, which would be understandable. The volunteers on the other hand were polar opposites. They made up for whatever lack of support the spectators may have had. I agree with other reviewers whole-heartedly: The organizers of this race definitely know what they are doing. For this reason alone I think this marathon deserves to grow. They just did everything right with the budget I imagine they had. There were plenty of aid and water stations with 2 flavors of Power Aide, plenty of food at the finish including a free beer or soda. All this with chip timing on a USATF certified course. An official even showed up at a potential cheat spot. Overall, I highly recommend this event to anyone up to the challenge of training through the winter to get themselves in shape for a race so early in the season. You can count on the cool temperatures to help speed you on your way towards the finish line and perhaps you will be rewarded with even more than that for your efforts, such as a nice big medal to hang around your neck or put on display in the display case.
Daniel Messinger from Miami, FL (4/30/2014) "Nice, cool weatherhillier than expected" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Fun, smallish race with great weather. Lots of little hills but it would be good to report total elevation gain and loss. Nice, friendly town.
S. R. from Minneapolis, MN (4/28/2014) "Good small town race" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Like many races launched in the last decade, this is a half marathon that also offers a marathon distance race and not the other way around. It is a good little race on a beautiful course. I have run the half marathon several times, and highly recommend the shorter race but I am less enthusiastic about the marathon. The rolling course is more challenging than some of the other marathon courses in the area (e.g., Grandma's, Twin Cities, or Fargo) but overall I would say it's a fair but maybe not a PR course. What is tough, as others have mentioned, is the two loop aspect of the course...way more tiring than I expected. There was lots of solitude on the second lap, but the volunteers were amazing. I felt so sorry for them out there in the cold without much to do as marathoners trickled through! Probably my biggest criticism of this race is that it is NOT a closed course yet the runners kind of took over the whole road in the first half...very dangerous. There was increasing traffic as the day wore on...you definitely have to keep your wits about you, which can be tough at mile 22! Also, the camber on some of those country roads was pretty rough on the legs. The marathoners kind of get short changed because there are so few of us. For example, they ran out of blankets before I finished. I came in at 4 hours, so there were plenty of folks behind me. On a blustery, 40 degree day I was freezing when I finished! Since space blankets are not perishable I cannot understand why they didn't have enough. Overall, I would recommend this race if you want guaranteed cool temperatures, a friendly small town atmosphere, and if you enjoy solitude and running through nature...just know that you will be running on roads with traffic most of the way.
A. P. from Rochester, MN (4/28/2013) "Nice race in general" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The organization of the race was great! A great starting atmosphere and great support at all of the stations. Unfortunately, its run as a double loop (why its 3 stars), the first being shared with the half-marathoners. Because of this, the field really cleared out at the half and at times I felt like I was running alone. Beautiful scenic course that really shows off Northern Minnesota. Beautiful weather (start in the 40s, finish in the mid 60s) with snow on the side of the road.
B. B. from Minnesota (5/3/2011) "A Step Down From Last Year" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Run for the Lakess COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I've run this race the last three years and the organization wasn't as good this year. I was pre-registered and was told my finisher's shirt would be sent in the mail. The shuttle bus never showed up, so we were taken to the starting line by volunteers' cars. The race started 15 minutes late. The course was very well marked with cones and the two loop route was just fine. The weather didn't cooperate as it rained the entire race, which is nobody's fault. I feel the post race events should've been moved into the community center if possible versus the tents outside with mud around them. The food was very sparse and every runner seemed to disappear after the race due to the cold rain and lack of direction. If you want to run a small race with a good course and don't mind running without crowd support, I'd recommend it. A few tweaks could improve this race greatly though.
Jim Stellon from Richfield, MN (5/1/2011) "Don't care for the new course" (about: 2011) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Run for the Lakess COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was the third straight year that I've ran this marathon and planned to make it an annual event but with the new, two-lap course, I won't be going back. I really enjoyed the original route and encouraged others to join me on my trip to Nisswa each year. I hope they ditch the two-lap plan and go back to the long loop. Overall, the organization is very good and the participation numbers were up from a year ago. Fan support was a little down this year, but only because it was raining throughout the race and very cold. Those who showed up were great.
B. G. from Minneapolis (4/26/2010) "Some Big Ones Could Take Organization Lessons!" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Run for the Lakes COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first time in Nisswa and I was extremely impressed with how well the event was organized. I used it as a training run for a "competitive" offering scheduled next month, and it really fit the bill. Saturday packet pick up was easy and much appreciated, given that I drove up from Minneapolis that morning. The course is what it is - quiet country roads and rails to trails but if you expected something different, you've never visited the area before. The fans were sparse, but if you expected screaming and cow bells, you picked the wrong place. The volunteers were awesome, especially on a cold, rainy morning, and the announcement of each name as we crossed the finish line was fun. Echoing the earlier comment, it would be nice to have something salty to eat post-race. Net, even on a cold, wet morning that this fair weather-runner didn't like, I was impressed. Thanks.
A. D. from Minneapolis, MN (4/25/2010) "Small, up-and-coming marathon" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first experience running this event. I ran the half marathon. There were shuttle buses that took us out to the starting line, which was the half-way point of the marathon. We then ran the second half of the marathon course (loop course). The shuttle buses were timely and convenient and nice and warm on a cool morning. The race course itself was perfect for me, but I like the feel of a small, rural race. It was on country roads and around small lakes. There were a few small hills around mile 16-22 (3-9 if running the half) and the last 5K are on a paved trail (converted railroad bed). The fans were sparse, but again, it's what you prefer. The fans that were on the course were really enthusiastic and the volunteers at the aid stations were great. The organization was fine for an up-and-coming, small race. I was fortunate to be part of the pre-race panel discussion, and I found it to be informal and fun. My only critique would be to offer something salty as part of the post-race food, and to consider rerouting the last mile of the course to avoid that last hill! :) The announcement of nearly every name as we crossed the finish line was a nice, personal touch.

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Marathon Details - Run for the Lakes