It's race season in Carlton County

When you think of the Cloquet Fourth of July festivities, your thoughts most likely fall to the parade, the fireworks display and, of course, the Sawdust 5K and its sister race, the Lavonna Mile.

The ninth annual Cloquet Sawdust 5K will start off the day's festivities at 8 a.m. at Pinehurst Park. Participants will make their way through the western roads and hills of Cloquet and finish right back at Pinehurst, probably a little more tired than when they began. On the bright side, they are welcome to take a plunge into the swimming pond when they finish.

Cloquet grads Jeff and Alyson Leno created the race in 2011 and helped it grow into a staple of Cloquet's Fourth of July celebration.

In the first year, the race had an estimated 220 racers.

Jeff Leno said that was a great number for a first-time race, but the race kept growing. Last year, the numbers doubled, attracting around 500 participants between the 5K and the Lavonna Mile.

The Lenos didn't stop at a 5K, they eventually started up a distance running group named the Milltown Milers. Members of the Milers have run in the Sawdust and even partaken in the Ragnar, a relay of about 200 miles run over the course of two full days.

Jeff said he has met a lot of different people through the group, including Jim "the Jimmer" Hagerl. In honor of his friend, who passed away on April 4, 2018 from brain cancer, Leno added the "Jimmer Challenge" to the Sawdust. Because Hagerl enjoyed the extra challenge of repeating the 5K loop after he had finished, the Jimmer Challenge pushes Sawdust runners to run the course in reverse, bringing them to 10K, or 6.2 miles.

Speaking of extra miles, the Lavonna Mile is back this year, beckoning to runners who will start off the Fourth of July Parade by dashing along Cloquet Avenue. The race honors Lavonna Prevost, who was struck and killed on a walk on Oct. 22, 2017. Those who choose to participate will line up at Avenue B and will run to The Jack bar in front of everyone who shows up for the parade.

The final question for Leno concerned anyone who may be on the fence about running a 5K.

"Don't be intimidated" Jeff said, "Just come out and do it. If you have to walk, big deal. You can always just sign up for another one and try not to walk as much."

And when you think about it, that's what local 5K races are all about: getting out there, having some fun, and getting a little better every time.

Jordan Allen

[email protected]

When you think of the Cloquet Fourth of July festivities, your thoughts most likely fall to the parade, the fireworks display and, of course, the Sawdust 5K and its sister race, the Lavonna Mile.

The ninth annual Cloquet Sawdust 5K will start off the day's festivities at 8 a.m. at Pinehurst Park. Participants will make their way through the western roads and hills of Cloquet and finish right back at Pinehurst, probably a little more tired than when they began. On the bright side, they are welcome to take a plunge into the swimming pond when they finish.

Cloquet grads Jeff and Alyson Leno created the race in 2011 and helped it grow into a staple of Cloquet's Fourth of July celebration.

In the first year, the race had an estimated 220 racers.

Jeff Leno said that was a great number for a first-time race, but the race kept growing. Last year, the numbers doubled, attracting around 500 participants between the 5K and the Lavonna Mile.

The Lenos didn't stop at a 5K, they eventually started up a distance running group named the Milltown Milers. Members of the Milers have run in the Sawdust and even partaken in the Ragnar, a relay of about 200 miles run over the course of two full days.

Jeff said he has met a lot of different people through the group, including Jim "the Jimmer" Hagerl. In honor of his friend, who passed away on April 4, 2018 from brain cancer, Leno added the "Jimmer Challenge" to the Sawdust. Because Hagerl enjoyed the extra challenge of repeating the 5K loop after he had finished, the Jimmer Challenge pushes Sawdust runners to run the course in reverse, bringing them to 10K, or 6.2 miles.

Speaking of extra miles, the Lavonna Mile is back this year, beckoning to runners who will start off the Fourth of July Parade by dashing along Cloquet Avenue. The race honors Lavonna Prevost, who was struck and killed on a walk on Oct. 22, 2017. Those who choose to participate will line up at Avenue B and will run to The Jack bar in front of everyone who shows up for the parade.

The final question for Leno concerned anyone who may be on the fence about running a 5K.

"Don't be intimidated" Jeff said, "Just come out and do it. If you have to walk, big deal. You can always just sign up for another one and try not to walk as much."

And when you think about it, that's what local 5K races are all about: getting out there, having some fun, and getting a little better every time.

County races

Whether you plan to run your fortieth 5K or your first this summer, make sure you leave room for at least one Carlton County race. Here are a few of the highlights:

Cloquet Sawdust 5K

July 4, Pinehurst Park, Cloquet

Registration: $25,

guaranteed shirt

Race day: $30, shirt not guaranteed

You can go the extra 3.1 miles by participating in the Jimmer Challenge: run the 5K, turn around and run back for a total of 10 km or roughly 6.2 miles.

Lavonna Mile

Date: July 4, 18th St. & Avenue B, Cloquet

Registration: $10 with shirt, free without shirt

The Lavonna Mile will start off the parade as runners race down Cloquet Avenue in front of parade spectators.

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Races...

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Cloquet Color Run

July 13, Pine Valley Park, Cloquet

Distance: 2.5 k and 5 k

Cost: $15/age 12 & under; $20/ages 13-18; $25/over 18

Preregistration: online, ends July 11 (ends July 1 for guaranteed shirt)

Race day: same cost, no shirts

Check-in: 7:30 a.m.

Race time: 9 a.m.

5 Sisters 5K

July 13, Moose Lake Area Historical Society, Moose Lake

Cost: $25

Preregistration: online by June 28 for free T-shirt

Race-day: no shirt guaranteed

Check-in: 8 a.m.

Race time: 9 a.m.

Moose Lake Triathlon

July 20, Moose Lake City Park, Moose Lake

Distance: 16.3 miles (0.4 mile swim, 12.5 mile bike, 3.4 mile run)

Cost through June 30: $65/Adult, $35/age 17 & under, $90 per relay team

Cost starting July 1: $75/Adult, $45/age 17 & under, $115 per relay team

Registration: online and race day, all receive T-shirt

Start time: 8 a.m.

Carlton Daze 5K

July 26, Four Seasons Sports Complex, Carlton

Preregistration: $25

Race-day: $35

Race time: 6 p.m.

Free races for kids (age groups 2-5 and 6-8) at 5 p.m.

Minnesota

Voyageur Trail Ultra

July 27, Carlton High School, Carlton

Distance: 50 miles

Registration: online $60; $25 for July 13 Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon volunteers; ends July 24; no race-day registration

Race time: 6 a.m.

Race takes place on the woodland trails between Carlton and Duluth

Brickyard

5K Run/Walk

Aug. 3, Hugh Line Park, Wrenshall

Preregistration: $20, guaranteed T-shirt.

Race day: $25

Race Time: 9 a.m.

This race is part of Wrenshall Brickyard Days.

Kristin Burkholder 5K

Date: Aug. 10, Esko High School sports complex (football field)

Cost: individual 5K run or walk $20 before July 31, $25 after; family 5K run or walk $50 before July 31, $60 after

Registration: closes July 31

Race time: 9 a.m.

Free kids race at 8:45 a.m.

Pine Valley Bike, Run, Family Fun 13K Duathlon

Date: Aug. 11, Pine Valley, Cloquet

Distance: 13K duathlon (7.5K bike, 5.5K run), 7.5K mountain bike race, 5.5K fun run, 1.2K fun run for families with kids ages 10 & under

Cost: $25 per individual event; $50/duathlon team

Registration: closes Aug. 10

Race time: varies with event

Introduces Cloquet's new mountain/fat bike trail to the Northland and is a fundraiser to extend the mountain bike trail to the planned 5 miles. Burgers and brats to follow.

Check out http://www.northland runner.com to find even more race listings.