Family dominates in Lost Forester race

More than 50 people took part in the annual and unusual Lost Forester trail races last Saturday, Aug. 24 at Pine Valley Recreation Area in Cloquet.

The 5.5K race had 29 finishers and one who did not start. The race course was the most standard with weather that was sunny, warm, and humid. In a surprise finish, a 9-year-old, Dean Ervaets, came in first at 23 minutes, 40 seconds. Others who ran with Ervaets said he sprinted the whole way.

Then the race was all about the Gilbertson family.

Brothers Caleb, 14, and Carson, 12, Gilbertson finished second and third in 23:49 and 23:56. The first adult didn't cross the finish line until 25 seconds later.

The first-place female finisher was Claire Gilbertson, 10, in 32:08, followed by her mother, Rebecca Gilbertson, 46, at 32:57. In third place was 18-year-old Lauren Montague in 35:07.

The 15K was plagued by runners missing trail markings and not running the correct course, race organizer Tim Krohn said. Only one out of four runners completed the marked course: Glenda LaTour, 59, in 2:05:35.

The toughest race was the so-called 12.5-miler. The day grew hotter. Out of the 18 who signed up, 13 started, and seven finished by collecting all the needed data cards. Nine miles were run on ski and mountain bike trails, with another 5 off-trail through the woods.

"The total mileage was a bit of a mystery," Krohn said.

The top three runners were Charles Biberg, 31, in 3:14:15; Peter Carlson, 44, 4:48:53; and Devin Koerinen, 30, 5:37:14.

"A normal 13- to 14-miler is completed in two hours, plus or minus," Krohn said, adding that one runner told him the race was harder than a half-triathalon.

The races support Blue House Uganda, a Minnesota nonprofit for orphans and vulnerable girls in rural Uganda that helps people grow in a safe, caring environment, and receive an education.

Find more results at http://www.ultrasignup.com.