Run Minnesota Fashion Show – Gbaoso Collection Aug 18

Run Minnesota Presents: Gbaoso Fashion Show, August 18, 2025

Run Minnesota is pleased to present this first of its kind event connecting running, community, and fashion. On Monday, August 18th, Gbaoso, an exciting collection designed by Wealth Ndego for the Minnesota running community will launch. 

Guests can enjoy local beer, exclusive discounts, see the first peek at the new streetwear collection, and connect with fellow runners. They will also get to enter the raffle for the chance to win an entry into the sell-out City of Lakes Half Marathon and the fast Victory Races.


Gbaoso Fashion Show

This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of Fleet Feet, LifeSource, and Dual Citizen Brewing. We also look forward to hosting our partners on site at the event including Mile in My Shoes. 

📅 Date: Monday, August 18
📍 Location: Dual Citizen Brewing
⏰ Time: Doors Open 6:30 PM

Admission is free, but pre-registration is encouraged to secure your spot.


Register

Bid for What You Can’t Buy – Online Auction 7/15 – 7/22

City of Lakes Online Auction Open – Bid for the Run

We’re excited to announce that the Run Minnesota Silent Auction is officially open!

This is your chance to score exclusive race-day perks, premium gear, and one-of-a-kind experiences — all while supporting our mission to make running in Minnesota more inclusive, accessible, and community-driven.

Whether you’re racing the City of Lakes Half Marathon or just love supporting the Minnesota running community, there’s something for everyone in this year’s auction.

Running City of Lakes Half Marathon?

  • VIP Parking Spot – Get the ONLY Reserved parking spot on race day. No fighting for a spot, pull-up to the best spot at the race with easy in/out when you are ready

  • Private Porta Potty – No lines. No sharing. All yours.

  • Honorary Membership with Minnesota Distance Elite – Includes team singlet, strategy session with Head Coach Lundstrom, warm-up/cool-down, VIP access to City of Lakes Half Marathon, and race-day photo with the pros racing.

  • Mile in My Shoes Race Day Experience – Get a personal cheerleader to keep you going strong all race long! You will see them 4x on the course and they will be cheering JUST FOR YOU

Can’t Make City of Lakes? These Items are for Everyone

  • Training with Coach Danny Docherty – Personal training session with our head coach to prep for City of Lakes, return to running, or prep for any Fall race with the insights of a local legend

  • Fleet Feet 3D Scan, Custom Fitting, and Your Pick of Brooks or New Balance Training Shoes – get the right shoes for you with expert guidance 

  • Lululemon Fit Session + Run Outfit – Personalized styling and performance gear

  • Pryes Brewing Gift Card – enjoy local beer of your choice from this favorite brewery

  • Kendra Scott Jewelry – Classic style for everyday wear

  • Exclusive Intern-Designed Item – From our upcoming collection (launches in August – you’ll get it first!)

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your race experience or snag something special for yourself (or a runner you love), this auction is a great way to give back to the running community while treating yourself.

🕖 Bidding is open now and ends JULY 22nd at MIDNIGHT
Don’t wait — place your bids today and help keep Minnesota running strong.

👉 Start bidding now: 

https://bit.ly/rmnauction 

Meet the Summer 2025 Interns for Run Minnesota

Meet the Summer 2025 Interns

Run Minnesota is excited to welcome three incredible interns to our team this summer! Each brings unique talents and fresh energy to help us grow, engage, and inspire our community.

This summer, our interns are bringing big ideas and fresh energy to Run Minnesota! In this first-ever program at Run Minnesota, our interns have the opportunity to apply the skills gained in their degrees to contribute to our thriving community. Each intern brings their own unique skills and perspective to help Run Minnesota move forward.

🌟 Bella Buenting is focused on enhancing the member experience through engaging content. Bella recently graduated from Drury University with her Bachelor’s in Marketing and Management while also competing as an NCAA triathlete. She is starting her master’s program at Arizona State University this fall.

🌟 Gabby Magistad is leading our efforts in email marketing, promotions, and advertising. She is a rising junior at Drake University in Des Moines and is originally from Stillwater. Gabby is pursuing a double major in Marketing and Finance with minors in Spanish and Advertising.

🌟 Wealth Ndego is putting her design skills to work by creating a brand-new collection of Run Minnesota merchandise. She is an Apparel Design student at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Wealth is passionate about using designs as a means of storytelling, self expression, and cultural connection.

We’re thrilled to have Gabby, Bella, and Wealth on board this summer—be sure to say hello if you see them out at events or in your inbox!

Announcing Katrina Gaisford as Official Events & Training Photographer

Run Minnesota Announces

Katrina Gaisford as OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER FOR Events and Training PROGRAM

Run Minnesota is excited to welcome Katrina Gaisford Photography as the official photographer for our events and training programs.

Katrina Gaisford is a professional sports photographer known for her ability to capture the energy, emotion, and intensity of athletes in motion. With years of experience and a keen eye for detail, Katrina specializes in running photography, showcasing the passion, dedication, and resilience of runners across all levels.

Her dynamic photography style captures not just action shots, but the authentic human stories behind every runner. From training runs to race day finishes, Katrina’s work reflects the heart and spirit of the Minnesota running community.

This partnership brings a powerful visual storytelling element to Run Minnesota’s events and programs. Her images will help highlight the strength and spirit of our athletes, and we’re proud to feature her as a key part of our team.

Explore her portfolio and learn more at www.katrinagaisford.com.

Stay tuned for Katrina’s stunning photos from upcoming races, fun runs, and training sessions — and get ready to see yourself and your fellow runners through a bold new lens.

Welcome, Katrina, to the Run Minnesota family!


Volunteer for the Event Council

Volunteer to Join the Run Minnesota Event Council!

Love running, but also love bringing people together outside of the racecourse? Here’s your chance to shape the social side of Run Minnesota! 🎉 We’re forming an Event Council and are on the lookout for passionate volunteers to join us.

What the Event Council Will Do:

  • Attend monthly meetings to brainstorm and collaborate.

  • Help identify exciting events across Minnesota for Run Minnesota members to attend.

  • Plan and coordinate social gatherings and volunteer opportunities for our community.

  • Partner with the Board as needed to help create, coordinate, and provide great fun events for all Run Minnesota members to attend.

  • Create fun non-running activities to bring members together and make running even more enjoyable!

Being part of the Event Council is a fantastic way to connect with other members, foster community, and make Run Minnesota an even more vibrant space for everyone.

Who Should Apply:

We welcome everyone to apply to join our volunteer event council. This is a great fit for you if:

  • You’re passionate about making connections and bringing people together.

  • You live in Minnesota – anywhere! We welcome and encourage volunteers from across Minnesota.

  • You have a knack for planning fun events and activities or just want to see more events for runners and non-runners alike to connect without having to log more miles.

  • You want to give back to the running community and help make it more inclusive and welcoming.

  • You love being part of a team and collaborating with others.

We also welcome people of all backgrounds to apply! The Event Council is intended to reflect the very diverse nature of Run Minnesota membership to ensure that we create and provide social events where all feel welcome. This starts with having a volunteer Event Council that reflects the Run Minnesota community. So, apply and help us make events that are fun and welcoming for all!

Perks of Volunteering for the Event Council

As a valued member of our Event Council, you’ll receive:

  • A free one-year membership to Run Minnesota.

  • An exclusive Event Council sweatshirt or your pick of one Run Minnesota apparel item from our online store.

  • Opportunities to network and connect with other members in the running community.

  • The chance to showcase your event planning skills and make a positive impact on our community.

  • The ability to go to the events you plan for free!

  • The satisfaction of giving back to the running community and making a difference in the lives of others through fun and community-centered events.

How to Apply for the Run Minnesota Event Council

Email us at hello@run-minnesota.org with:

  1. A short explanation of why you’d love to join the council.

  2. One idea that you would like to share with Run Minnesota – this could be an event, a social outing, a volunteer opportunity, a community partner, anything!.

Help us build a community beyond the miles we log together with fun and meaningful opportunities for everyone to build lasting friendships and memories. 🏃‍♀️☕🎉

Applications are open now, so don’t wait! We can’t wait to hear your ideas. 💡 

2025 Spring Training

WELCOMING EVERYONE WHO IS PREPARING FOR AN UPCOMING HALF MARATHON or 10k

PROGRAM DATES: March 1 – June 21
16 WEEK TRAINING CALENDAR

The Spring Session of our Training Program is designed to prepare you for a fun and successful marathon or half marathon. Offering the option to train with a group or train independently. Training plans include multiple mileage options designed to meet the needs of everyone from beginning runners to more experienced runners, twice weekly workout emails from your coach and a training shirt.

Official Twin Cities Training Program for Grandma’s Marathon & Garry Bjorklund Half.




Register for our Training Program


Special Perks

All training participants receive:

  • a Run Minnesota shirt ($35 value)
  • runner education sessions during the course of your training program. Dates, times and topics TBD

Spring in-person training participants receive:

  • $10 off their Get in Gear Medtronic Half Marathon registration
  • guaranteed entry (runner pays) for Grandma’s Marathon or Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
  • Start Line VIP Tent access for Grandma’s Marathon

What past participants have to say

“I enjoyed meeting all the wonderful runners of all abilities cheering everyone on to their goals. Happy to have no judgement for not being as fast as anyone else.”

“I loved the coaches, the TLs, the other people I ran with – I made so many new running friends and it made it so much nicer to run for hours on end. I loved that its broken up into pace levels because then I didn’t feel intimidated. Everyone is so great.”

“I say this all the time but I could NOT have completed the marathon without Run Minnesota Training. I loved every class even when the workouts were hard and I was hot because I knew I wasn’t alone.”

” I couldn’t make the group runs because of my work schedule so I signed up for the Sprint Tier. Following the training plan in Final Surge was great and the biweekly emails from the coach really helped me understand the training .”

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Information Session: March TBD, 2025
  • First Group Run: March 1, 2025
  • First Tuesday Group Run: March 11, 2025
  • Grandma’s Marathon: June 21, 2025
  • End of season party: June 21, 2025, Duluth, MN

REGISTRATION

Registration is open to everyone preparing for an upcoming half marathon. Run Minnesota members save 20%. 

REGISTER HERE

Scholarships

We offer sliding scale registrations if your income doesn’t allow you to pay the full fee for Run Minnesota Training Programs. Please fill out the form here and we’ll reach out to you. 

Discounts for groups and members

Run Minnesota Members receive 20% off training. The discount is automatically applied when you’re logged in to your membership account.

Is your group looking for a plan to follow? Discounts are available for the Sprint Tier for groups! Contact Sarah at hello@run-minnesota.org

Want to learn more before signing up? Attend our information session or an open run below


  • There are no upcoming events.

Program Fees & Descriptions

SPRINT TIER – ONLINE

$150
$
120
00
Run Minnesota Members save 20%

  • Training plan with multiple mileage options for various fitness levels
  • Twice weekly workout emails from a certified coach
  • Training shirt

Designed for someone who simply wants a training plan to follow. Maybe you’re an individual who wants to train independently or maybe your schedule just doesn’t fit with our scheduled group runs.

TEMPO TIER – IN-PERSON

$275
$
220
00
Run Minnesota Members save 20%

  • Tuesday & Saturday supported group runs. Runs include water stops, route planning, coaches and team lead access.
  • Training plan with multiple mileage options for various fitness levels
  • Twice weekly workout emails from your coach
  • Training shirt
  • Pizza party on last Tuesday group run and complimentary beverage at end-of-season party
  • Indoor Running at the U of M Fieldhouse on 8 Tuesdays

Designed for those interested in running with others! Whether you’re looking for camaraderie, accountability or in-person coaching expertise – this package is for you.
GROUP RUNS!

Meet Our Coaches

Bryn started to run when she joined the track and field team in middle school which carried through to her time at Carroll University where she participated in both track & field and cross country. During her senior year of undergrad she was presented with an opportunity to coach high school distance and decided to make the swap from athlete to coach (and never looked back). Bryn is currently the head coach for the DeLaSalle cross country program and loves being a part of something bigger than herself. Shortly after becoming a coach Bryn started her journey as a student of the craft by pursuing certifications through USATF.  She is a certified USATF Level II Coach with a specialization in endurance and actively working on obtaining her Level III certification.

Denise is excited to have the opportunity to coach and run with you! A native of Rochester, MN and now residing in Monticello, Denise began her running career as a sprinter on the high school track team.

A mom of two, Denise had a busy lifestyle as her kids were growing up. However, with her summers off, she found she had time to run a few miles on the treadmill everyday. This casual hobby soon turned into a passion.

Denise completed her first marathon in 2017 (ask her to tell the story!) in Disney World. A couple of months later she set her sights on one day running Boston, and she finally was accepted to run in 2021 and 2022.

Danny is an elite runner and coach. A native of St. Paul, he attended Loyola University Chicago where he ran cross-country and track and field at the Division I level. He currently ranks as the #5 All-Time performer in the 10000m at Loyola.

Danny was the USATF Minnesota Runner of the Year in 2019, 2022 and 2023 and qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials in 2020 and 2024. He recently finished 64th at the Trials in Orlando with a time of 2:20:41.
 
Danny has attained multiple coaching certifications including a USATF Level 2 Youth Specialization, a USATFCCCA Endurance Specialization and a Lydiard Foundation Level 2 Certification. Passionate about helping others reach their goals and building community, Danny values teamwork, integrity and joy in his role as a coach.

Coach Daniel took up running at the age of 40 when his doctor recommended “a little aerobic exercise.” Since then, he has run everything from 5Ks to 50Ks but specializes in a yearly spring and a yearly fall marathon. His continuing personal goal is a sub 3-hour marathon. 

Following a long career in teaching, Daniel began coaching the Edina Boys Cross Country Team and also received his UESCA coaching certification.

Daniel is excited to coach with Run Minnesota as a past participant of the MDRA marathon classes.

Introducing the Springboard Campaign: Fuel the Future of Running in Minnesota

At Run Minnesota, we believe running should be a joy and a healthy outlet available to everyone across our state. For over 60 years, we’ve been a driving force in making running accessible to all, fostering vibrant communities through races, training programs, and resources.

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve welcomed thousands of new runners over the last decade through scholarships and free community events. But as we continue to grow, we face new challenges that threaten our ability to maintain this momentum. The pandemic and rising costs have left us with a significant funding gap. 

Welcome Kathy Harrell-Latham

Picture of Kathy Harrell-Latham

The Start of a New Chapter

Run Minnesota is pleased to announce the selection of Kathy Harrell-Latham as our new Executive Director.

Kathy brings a wealth of leadership experience developed throughout her career as a consultant, an entrepreneur, and a member of an executive team.  She plans to build into the future with her depth of experience in strategic partnerships, program management, and growth strategy.

“I am honored to have been chosen as the Executive Director of Run Minnesota,” Kathy shared. “I have always believed in the power of running not just as a form of exercise, but also as a way to build healthy, inclusive communities.” 

 

 

Kathy is an avid runner who loves all distances. She is currently working her way towards completing 50 marathons in all 50 states and all World Major Marathons.   Kathy took on these big challenges to continuously improve her running while also connecting with people from all backgrounds and abilities. She is passionate about learning continuously and sharing that knowledge to make running accessible to everyone.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Kathy to our team,” said Tom Goudreault, Run Minnesota’s Board Chair.  “She has a strong record of innovation, operations, and development experience, and we are confident that her vision will guide Run Minnesota to new levels of success and impact.”

Please join us in welcoming Kathy to Run Minnesota.

Membership Updates

Membership Updates November 2024

To Our Run Minnesota Members

We are deeply grateful for your continued support. Your commitment to our organization has been instrumental in our ability to provide high-quality programs and services to our community.

 

Updates to Membership Benefits

After long and careful consideration, we have decided to discontinue the annual training logbook and race calendar, effective immediately. 

In recent years, members have turned to technology to track their runs, which has led to a significant decline in demand for a physical logbook. The increasing costs of printing and shipping, combined with the decreased demand, have made this benefit unsustainable for Run Minnesota to produce.

 

Gathering information about Minnesota races for our logbook has presented significant challenges. Many races do not have their event details for next year ready in October, which impacts our ability to include them in our publication. This disproportionately impacts smaller races in greater Minnesota and diminishes the effectiveness we aim to achieve. 

To better support Minnesota races, we are shifting our focus to our free race listings and resources on our online calendar at run-minnesota.org. With more flexible deadlines, we can help races promote their events on a timeline that suits their needs. This approach ensures that all races, regardless of location, resources, or marketing capabilities, can gain visibility and effectively connect with participants. The Minnesota Race Calendar is the most viewed page on run-minnesota.org. Information can be added and updated at any time.

This change in membership benefits reflects our commitment to our mission, sustainability, and the evolving needs of our members. While some may find the discontinuation of the logbook and race calendar disappointing, this change allows us to focus on initiatives that better serve the diverse needs of our community.

Your membership is invaluable in supporting our website, which serves as a vital and accessible hub for running in Minnesota. Here, you can easily find information on upcoming races, connect with local running groups, discover nearby stores, and locate convenient indoor running facilities—all conveniently organized under the resources tab. 


RESOURCES

Thank you for your understanding. We greatly appreciate your membership and hope you continue to find value in the other benefits of membership and the support we provide to the running community.