Fargo Marathon
Fargo, ND
31 May 2025
“Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” – Dean Karnazes, American ultra runner
Välkommen till Fargo! Fargo-Moorhead, känt som "Twin Cities of the North", ståtar med ett betydande skandinaviskt arv, särskilt norskt, vilket firas genom olika kulturella sevärdheter och historiska landmärken. Även om svenska kanske inte är väl representerat, får den skandinaviska kulturen mig att känna mig hemma. Oj då.
A nod to the area's small Swedish population through the inclusion of a few words in the Swedish language.
The Fargo Marathon has always been known for its flat, PR-friendly course — besides the inclines emerging from a couple of underpasses, it’s got that. The historic shady, tree-lined neighborhoods offer not just physical relief but mental comfort, too.
Running a marathon is never just about covering the miles — it’s about everything that unfolds in between: the aches and pains, the mental breakthroughs, the unexpected weather shifts, and the quiet deals and promises you make to yourself as you near the wall. For me, the Fargo Marathon was my 75th time lining up for this wild, addictive ritual. You might think I’ve got it all down by now. Spoiler alert #1: I definitely don’t.
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| Warning sign about the weather |
This year; however, the usual aura of excitement was tempered by the haze of smoke drifting in from the Canadian wildfires, carried by the winds out of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Factor in North Dakota’s unseasonably warm, summer-like temperatures, and you’ve got a perfect storm for what runners like to call...character-building conditions.
There was even buzz about raising the dreaded black flag and canceling marathon weekend altogether.
Marathon officials issued a number of statements before the weekend suggesting, “Air quality is expected to be poor starting at 6 a.m. on race day. If you are susceptible to respiratory issues, please be prepared with whatever measures you would use in terms of inhalers, etc. Please make sure to pace yourself and listen to your body. Consider a shorter distance. It may not be the day for a PR.”
Still, I stayed optimistic. With the air quality in mind, my main goal was to finish strong without risking my health. If the running gods happened to be in a generous mood, maybe I’d even sneak in a PR. Spoiler alert #2: they weren’t.
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| Marathon course map |
First, I want to take a moment to honor Mark Knutson — the driving force behind the Fargo Marathon. From its modest beginnings to its transformation into a beloved community celebration, Mark was its heart and soul, bringing the entire city together year after year.
In July 2023, Mark tragically lost his life after being struck by a vehicle while cycling near Detroit Lakes, MN. His loss was deeply felt across the running community.
Mark’s vision shaped the race into more than just a marathon. He brought live music to the course, paired local bands with homeowners, and collaborated with artists to infuse the event with a vibrant, festival-like atmosphere. Thanks to him, runners didn’t just experience a race — they felt a celebration.
Today, the marathon continues under the leadership of race director Chip Hazewski. While Mark is no longer with us, organizers work hard to uphold the spirit and organization he instilled. His presence still echoes in every cheer, every note of music, and every step along the course.
In 2024, Mark was honored with “Mark’s Mile” — a stretch of historic 9th Street transformed with music, decorations, and energy, paying tribute to the man who helped make the Fargo Marathon what it is today.
My wife and I flew into Minneapolis on Thursday and made the long drive to Fargo. What’s typically a 3.5-hour trip turned into a frustrating 4.5-hour crawl thanks to the heavy traffic on I-494 leaving MSP. It felt more like navigating Los Angeles freeways during the peak hours — stressful, slow, and thoroughly exasperating.
On Friday, we visited several notable sites in the area, including the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, which houses a museum featuring a permanent exhibit of a replica of the Norwegian Hjemkomst Viking ship.
The Expo
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| Expo entrance |
The college’s auditorium, while central to the Fargo-Moorhead area, is smaller for large-scale events compared to the Fargodome. Although we didn’t experience any logistical challenges, parking around the area was somewhat limited and police traffic control was called in to direct traffic and pedestrians.
Since my wife and I are members of the 50 States Marathon Club, Fargo was chosen as the destination for the group’s quarterly reunion. The reunion event offered a special opportunity for members to come together, share their accomplishments, and connect with fellow marathoners pursuing — or having completed — the goal of running a marathon in every state. Along with the inspiring stories and experiences exchanged among club members, race director Chip also made a few brief remarks about the weekend’s events.
In a humorous first for me, representatives from Essentia Health handed out boxes of “Poop Like a Champion” ultra high-fiber cereal — proudly branded as “The #1 brand for #2s.” Given that Essentia Health is a primary sponsor of the marathon, it made sense they'd promote health-focused products to runners, even with a cheeky twist.
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| Cereal box |
Let’s do this
There’s something special about waking up on race morning in Fargo — the quiet nerves, that familiar knot of hope and fear every runner knows. The calm of a Midwestern dawn, the buzz in the shadow of the Fargodome coming to life, and a quiet voice inside whispering, “Today’s the day.”
The morning calm came with an eerie twist — a hazy veil of smoke drifting across the plains into North Dakota and Minnesota. The sky was dull and muted, the sun cloaked behind a soft orange shroud. Not exactly the picture-perfect start I had in mind when dreaming of a BQ or a PR.
Living in California, I know wildfire smoke. The smoke engulfing Fargo didn’t feel dangerous, but the sun’s orange ball shape cast in the light and the heavy stillness in the air were impossible to ignore. Still, the morning’s temperature was cool — and for a marathoner, that’s always a small victory.
Standing at the starting line of any marathon is a moment where anticipation, camaraderie, and the raw truth of endurance come together. It marks the point where all the hours of training converge into one meaningful run — a run that counts.
Even so, I stood at that starting line with the same fire I bring every time. My legs were steady. My heart was open. And I believed.
The first half. The Fargo Marathon has traditionally started and finished inside the Fargodome, a venue that has become synonymous with, and a hallmark of, the race’s identity. However; last year, organizers shifted the start and finish lines outside, relocating them to 17th Avenue North. I have to admit, it was a bit disappointing to learn of that change. It was special to start and finish inside the building.
A few minutes after the presentation of the colors and national anthem, the marathon began. I was a bit surprised the Canadian anthem wasn’t included, especially given how many runners make the trek down I-29 from Manitoba. Both anthems were played in 2017.
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| Start line |
I lined up with the 3:50 pace group, led by two runners representing Beast Pacing. One of the pacers announced they'd be running faster than an the requisite 8:45 pace since they were using the mile markers instead of GPS (perfectly acceptable), aiming to build a five-minute cushion by the halfway point — effectively running at an 8:23 pace (not acceptable). To me, that felt a bit “un-pacerlike.” It was too aggressive, and I knew that pace would inevitably cause runners to drop. I stayed within sight of the group for the first six miles, more or less, then decided to let them go on their merry way as the group gradually diminished in size. What their finish time was, I’m not sure.
The first six miles take runners through the charming neighborhoods of North Fargo to the Edgewood Golf Course flanking the Red River, one of the few rivers in North America that flow north.
Pacing was key to my race. I locked into a rhythm for the first eleven miles, keeping my splits steady, eyeing the BQ cutoff time. I was about to cross the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge into Moorhead when things started to shift — not in the way one would hope during a marathon, like finding a second wind or getting a boost from the crowd. No, this was the unwelcome return of a familiar pain, a tight, nagging sensation deep in my inner thigh: adductor-related groin pain.
It crept in gradually at first — a dull ache in my left inner thigh, subtle enough to ignore. But with every stride, it grew sharper, more insistent, until it started to affect my form just before the half marathon split.
Around Mile 12, I spotted the 3:50 pace group heading toward me on the out-and-back section of the course. The turnaround was just past the half marathon timing mat, so I estimated they were running at least five minutes ahead of pace, just as the pacer had mentioned back at the starting line.
As I crossed the half split with a time of 1:56:30, I noticed myself subtly shifting my gait, favoring one side to ease the discomfort. Naturally, that quick fix only set me up for more trouble later on.
The second half. I’d dealt with this pain many times over the years during training and sometimes during a marathon. I’ve been working hard on core strength training over the past year and have shown noticeable improvements. I tried to stay relaxed and focused, dialing back the pace just enough to keep moving without letting the discomfort take over.
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| The bell tower |
By Mile 15, as runners made their way through Concordia College and circled the iconic bell tower, it became clear the pain wasn’t letting up. The tintinnabulation of the bells offered a brief distraction from the discomfort, but once the chimes faded, the ache was right there waiting for me.
As I entered the Minnesota State University campus shortly after exiting Concordia College, it was evident this wasn’t going away. My pace began to noticeably fade. My goal shifted: forget the BQ or PR, just finish strong and smart. I leaned into my fueling, focused on staying upright, and drew energy from the crowd, giving a high-five to the college mascot, and enjoying bands and entertainment along the course. Every cheer and every note of music gave me just enough of a mental lift to push through.
My pace stayed steady as I made my way back into Fargo — until Mile 17, when I made a rookie mistake. I took a GU and chased it with what I thought was water, only to realize too late it was a cup of electrolytes. I hoped my stomach would handle the mix, but within a mile, it made its opinion known. Cramps hit hard, and I had to veer off course to a porta-john at a nearby construction site.
I braced for the worst with my mile splits, but surprisingly, I felt much better afterward. My pace was slower, but at least it was consistent as I entered the charming, tree-lined streets of South Fargo.
The mental battle. At Mile 19, we passed through a moving tribute: Mark’s Mile. The stretch along 9th Street was lined with columns, each adorned with decorations and topped with glowing LED lights — a heartfelt nod to Mark and the spirit he brought to this race.
The cheering crowds, homeowners offering cooling relief with impromptu showers using garden hoses and sprinklers, an Elvis impersonator, lively bands, and kids eagerly dishing out high-fives. The collective will of strangers cheering strangers all came together to give the the second wind I needed. That surge of energy carried me through the final miles into downtown Fargo, right past the famous Fargo Theatre.
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| Passing the Fargo Theatre |
By this point, my legs were heavy, my energy fading, and that ever-persistent groin pain had become a steady companion. Every stride carried the dull ache of miles already logged. But somehow, the fatigue was no longer the enemy — it was just part of the experience. Familiar. Expected. Almost welcome.
I felt like I was moving faster, as if the roar of the finish line was drawing speed out of me. But when I glanced down at my Garmin, it politely disagreed. My pace hadn’t quickened. If anything, it was holding steady — stubbornly so. But that didn’t matter. The numbers were secondary now. This stretch was about resolve, not pace.
With each step, I knew I was inching closer to something bigger than just a finish time. This was about endurance, both physical and emotional. It was about honoring every early morning run, every ache, every setback.
Downtown Fargo appeared like a welcome beacon. I passed the famous Fargo Theatre marquee, the final stretch opening up before me. The pain was still there, but it had been absorbed into the rhythm. I wasn’t fighting it anymore — I was running with it.
The final push. After passing the Masonic Temple at Mile 25 off 3rd Street North, I noticed a shift — runners around me began to surge, finding that final burst of energy. I wasn’t immune; my legs responded, and my pace quickened as I made the final left turn onto 17th Avenue North toward the finish. But even with the finish line gantry visible in the distance, it seemed frozen in place, never quite getting closer.
Then, my right calf began to cramp — an abrupt protest to the sudden effort. I eased off just enough to keep it under control, walking the fine line between pushing and preserving.
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| Crossing the finish line |
As I approached the finish line chute, I heard my name echo through the PA system, blending with the rush of cheers, music, and pure emotion crossing with a time of 4:28:11. I didn’t cross the line with a victorious sprint, but with deep gratitude — gratitude for my body’s resilience, for the grit that kept me going, and for the city of Fargo, which reminded me exactly why we keep showing up to do this wild, wonderful thing called marathoning.
RACE STATS:
Distance: Full marathon (Garmin measure 26.25 mi).
Date: 31 May 2025
Bib No.: 1731
Weather at the start: 53°F, Hazy, smoky skies
Average cadence: 158 spm
Gun time: 4:28:46
Chip time: 4:28:11
Average pace: 10:15 per mile
Overall rank: 712 of 1545
Gender rank: 475 of 904
Division rank: 18 of 63
Age graded score: 56.56%
Age graded time: 3:37:22
Mile splits: 8:37, 8:38, 8:39, 8:50, 8:40, 8:58, 8:48, 8:52, 8:47, 8:57, 8:57, 9:17, 9:22, 9:37, 10:33, 10:24, 11:10, 10:47, 15:44, 11:54, 11:38, 11:01, 12:53, 11:38, 11:49, 11:32, 8:39 (remaining 0.25)
LIKES / WHAT WORKED:
• Flat(ish) and fast course.
• Tree-lined streets and parks.
• Smooth packet pickup at the expo.
• The spectators that came out to cheer strangers.
• The property owners spraying runners with cold water
• Bands and music along the course.
• Very well-organized event from packet pick-up, the aid stations along the course.
• Super friendly volunteer support.
• Easy parking race morning.
• FINISHING!!
DISLIKES / WHAT DIDN’T WORK:
• Wildfire smoke and poor air quality.
• Small, but significant climbs. Just a minor inconvenience.
• Race direction and atmosphere don’t match past years.
• Slightly lacking in late-race support.
Frequently referred to as 'America’s Best Small-Town Race,' the Fargo Marathon combines Midwestern charm, strong community engagement, and a fast, flat course. In recent years, however, the event has received a combination of enthusiastic praise and thoughtful critique following Mark’s passing.
I ran smart, I ran strong. I was chasing a BQ or PR. Or, was it a BBQ? It didn’t happen — and that stings — but crossing the finish line is still a hell of a feat on tired legs, hazy air on a course I remember from eight years ago.
The spectators helped. Fargo shows up. Whether it was the cowbells, the music, or just a simple “You’ve got this!” from a stranger — they made the miles go down smoother.
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| Walleye sandwich with a cold Grain Belt |
Fargo spectators are elite-tier. They clap for everyone. They yell your name (even if it’s not on your bib). One guy shouted, “Looking good!” which was either a lie or he needs new glasses. Either way, I appreciated it.
And yes, someone handed out donuts. Did I take one? No, even though a glazed old-fashioned had my name on it. Did I think about it? Absolutely. Well, maybe not.
The post-marathon food and drink options weren’t as varied as in previous years. It seemed like most of the post-race festivities and libations had shifted to the nearby Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants.
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| Caught in the chipper |
My wife and I opted to skip the post-race festivities. Instead, we returned to our hotel to clean up, then made our way to Lucky 13 Pub, where I enjoyed a delicious walleye sandwich and a cold Grain Belt beer while watching most of the other patrons immersed in their weekly bingo games. Afterwards, it was a trip to Culver’s for a turtle sundae.
Before we headed out of town, we visited the Fargo Visitor Center, where the original wood chipper prop from the film Fargo is on display.
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| Turtle sundae - yum |
Final Thoughts
Pain and pleasure aren’t opposites in the world of marathoning — they’re companions, inseparable like the rhythm of each breath we take. One defines and deepens the other. The lows make the highs more vivid, and the joy found in the journey draws its power from the struggle it took to get there. Pain gives purpose to the pleasure; pleasure derived from the cheers of the spectators and the encouragement of other runners, fuel the will to push through the pain.
Sometimes, the best race stories you experience aren’t the ones where everything goes perfectly, but the ones where nothing goes according to plan, and you keep going anyway.
The starting line is more than just a painted line on the ground or an adorned overhead gantry — it’s a symbol of dedication and intent. The finish line stands for the fulfillment of a runner’s potential. Together, they create a journey that reveals the deep connection between effort and achievement. More than anything, they honor the spirit’s capacity to face adversity, rise beyond it, and discover joy along the way.
Here’s to Fargo. Here’s to the smoky skies, the stubborn heavy legs, and the stubborn muscle aches and pains. Here’s to #75 and whatever unhinged idea #76 brings with it. Spoiler alert #3! Santa Rosa Marathon.
As long as the good Lord lets me, I’ll continue to lace up my shoes, embrace the moment, and run my heart out. Who knows, the Santa Rosa Marathon may bring out the best in me.
Would I recommend the Fargo Marathon? Absolutely. It’s a standout Midwestern race set in a charming and welcoming city. That said, it currently feels — based on what I’ve read, heard and my 2017 experience — like it’s rolling a bit on past momentum, still finding its groove in the post-Mark era. While it may not fully capture the unique spark it had under Mark’s tutelage, it remains a meaningful and memorable experience.
Will I be back? Perhaps — but I’d like to see the race’s future direction reflect the same passion and commitment that its runners bring and that the Fargo community so warmly embodies. It’s still an awesome race, but it’s not the same race.
“When you run the marathon, you run against the distance, not against the other runners and not against the time.” – Haile Gebrselassie, Olympic gold medalist and considered the greatest distance runner of all time.
As always, it’s onward and upward.
