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More than 60 long-distance runners from all over the tri-state region pounded the trails of the Blue Mounds State Park Saturday during a multi-distance cross-country race.
The “Pound the Mound” event was originally for spring of 2020 but was postponed to May 15, 2021, due to the pandemic.
Runners competed in 10-mile, 20-mile and 30-mile distances, and signups were limited to 25 runners per race, due to pandemic distancing restrictions.
“We hope to grow that number in the future,” organizer Heather Namminga said. “I think all things considered, we were able to put on a great event in the park Saturday.”
She said her Sioux Falls running group chose the Blue Mounds State Park for its geographic challenges and opportunity for some distance.
“Blue Mounds is a wonderful place to hold an event like this,” Namminga said.
“The course is a 10-mile loop. There are not many places in this area that have that many continuous miles of trail so it really lends itself well to a trail race.”
According to positive feedback from participating runners, she said the park was a good choice.
“Many of them said the course was beautiful and they were surprised by how challenging it was,” she said. “The trails have a lot of gradual inclines and also some really technical areas along the Burr Oak Trail.”
While many welcomed the mild spring weather Saturday, the runners were caught off guard by the heat.
“Saturday’s sunshine with temps in the 70s added to the challenge of completing the course, but every runner who started was able to complete the course,” Namminga said.
The first-place finisher in the 30-miler was 36-year-old Jon Zuk of Hayfield, Minnesota, with a time of 4 hours, 48 minutes and 12 seconds.
The first female runner to finish 30 miles was 42-year-old Andie Bennett, Sioux Falls, 5:28:36.
In the 20-miler 39-year-old Wyatt Urlacher, Brandon, won with a time of 3:30:52.
The female 20-mile winner was 44-year-old Glenda Bittner, Sioux Falls, in 3:50:51
Overall winner of the 10-miler was 43-year-old Kari Brown of Garfield, Minnesota, with a time of 1:25:20.
The male 10-mile winner, 37-year-old Justin Perreault of Farwell, Minnesota, came in behind Brown with a time of 1:30:41.
“We had people from all over the area — runners from Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and even Colorado — come to Luverne to run the race,” Namminga said.
“Many families stayed and camped at the park for the event and some had hotel rooms in town. It is a great way to bring people from all over into the community for a fun weekend.”
Park Manager Chris Ingebretsen said the campground was busy that weekend. “An event like this is a nice way to get people into the Blue Mounds,” he said.
More than a dozen volunteers helped at two aid stations and at the start and finish line area, and they helped organizing parking in the morning.
The Luverne Area Chamber, Friends of Blue Mounds State Park, Take 16 Brewery, Bluestem Catering, the Park and Trails Council of Minnesota, race course planner and marker Kyle Raverty, Blue Mounds State Park staff and others helped with Pound the Mound.
Namminga said race proceeds were donated to Friends of Blue Mounds State Park, and she hopes to donate more next year.
“We are planning to make it an annual spring race in Blue Mounds State Park,” she said.
Full race results are found on ultrasignup.com and information about next year’s Pound the Mound will be posted on the group’s Facebook page, Pound the Mound @bluemounds Hiking Trail.