Bike and run race is still on

Cloquet’s first and perhaps only summer race event will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 18, when the Frozen Forester Pine Valley Bike and Run begins. Think mountain bikes, not road bikes, and come prepared to deal with the great outdoors in Cloquet’s woodland park whether you’re running or biking, or both. Competitors can choose from four races, including an 18.8K bike-and-run duathlon, a bike-only 13.3K race, a 5.5K run-only and a 1.2K Family Run.

Event director Tim Krohn said he feels he can run the small race safely despite the coronavirus pandemic.

“By social distancing and the fact that it is an outdoor, mostly solitary activity, I think it can still be done safely,” he said. “Folks have been using the trails safely all spring and summer.”

Start times are staggered. The elite bikers will begin between 9 and 9:15 a.m., followed by bikers who keep both wheels on the ground. Family Fun riders will go next.

Runners will start between 10 and 10:30 a.m., with the fastest runners going first.

Participants will time themselves.