Skaters in the Brainerd Online Inline Race. Brainerd Dispatch photo. INLINE IN EARNEST
Skaters have races in Wisconsin and Minnesota this month By Greg Marr Inline skating's sudden surge in popularity a few years ago had race
organizers dreaming of a day when an inline race would be as popular as the community 10- or 5-kilometer run. It turned out, however, that the everyday inline skater was just that a recreational skater not all that interested in racing. What's survived from the first rush of organized community inline races is a stable of solid, well-run popular events scattered throughout the spring, summer and fall, usually featuring more challenging distances of a half-marathon on up.
This month offers two in the upper Midwest, a somewhat unique community-based half-marathon (most longer distance events traverse the countryside) and a challenging countryside half or full marathon.
The brainerddispatch.com Online Inline Half Marathon is, fortunately, friendlier to skaters than it is to linguists. The mouthful of a name came when Terry Holm approached the Brainerd Dispatch in Brainerd, Minn., about the possibility of assisting in an as yet unnamed new inline race two
years ago. The Dispatch was looking for a way to promote its Web site and the term "Online Inline" flashed through the mind of the Dispatch's publisher, Terry McCollough a sponsor was found, and a race was born.
The Online Inline snakes its way for 13 miles through and around Baxter, Minn., right next to Brainerd, at 7:30 a.m. on June 14.
"It's flat," says Holm. "There's one little rise but other than that, it's flat."
What Holm did to make it more fun was add in a lot of turns.
"The challenge is the turns. You're going this way and that all the time. The racers seemed to like it."
The course runs through residential neighborhoods and countryside, giving racers plenty of opportunities to build up speed and enjoy the pleasant surroundings before having to slow for another turn. Skaters do need to pay attention, however, because the route is not entirely closed.
"It's part open and part closed," says Holm, noting that local officials do give one lane of the roadways to the racers. Holms has praise for the cooperation of local officials.
For a relatively new event, the race drew a decent crowd of 262 participants in its first running last year. Holm hopes to hit 350 this year.
Helmet and wrist guards are mandatory and knee and elbow pads are highly recommended. Holm points out that the race is for inline skates
only no roller skis, ski poles, baby strollers, baby joggers, automobiles, skateboards, bikes, bandits, pets or wagons.
Men and women compete in either Pro/Advanced and Fitness/Recreational divisions.
Skaters can register via mail, in person, or, of course, online by visiting the Web site. Via mail, registration closes June 8. Online and in-person is accepted until June 12. There is no race day registration.
Fees are $25 until June 8 and $35 after. Entry forms can be obtained at the Web site (www.brainerddispatch.com/onlineinline/) or from Brainerddispatch.com Online Inline, P.O. Box 974, Brainerd, MN 56401. Packet pick up is at the Lake Region Christian School in Baxter from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday.
An $8 pasta feed is a good place to check out your competition the evening before the race from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lake Region Christian School.
Holm can be reached at 218/829-0022; tjholm@uslink.net
Over in Wisconsin the next Saturday, June 21, skaters can compete in a race with an entirely different feel. The Big Granite Inline, now in its third year, offers a half or full marathon on its 13.1-mile course. What's different is it's held in the rolling countryside south of Ashland. Flat it is not. In fact, Russ Korpela, the director, suggests beginning skaters are best trying a different event first.
"I describe it as every race course has its own personality," Korpela says. "The North Shore is a point-to-point, straight, go as fast as you can event. Ours is different, much more technical. You need a complete set of skills with our corners, hill climbs and challenging downhill. It's best suited for the more technically competent skaters."
The Web site, www.biggranite.com, says "all registrants should have
experience and be comfortable with skating more challenging hills. All skaters should use extra caution. This caution includes reinstalling skate brakes on four-wheel skates, if they have been removed, and wearing elbow and knee pads."
Stand up signs on the course tell of the approach of sharp turns, cone turns and other difficult stretches. The Web site clearly alerts potential racers to what they'll find:
Mile 2: Left turn. The angle to this intersection makes this a hard left turn.
Mile 7: Long downhill descent. See safety note above.
Mile 8: Hard right turn after long run out from bottom of hill. On second lap skaters will be turning into two-way traffic. It is critical to slow down on this corner on the second lap!
Mile 9.5: Sharp left-hand turn. Stay wide right to make this corner. Approaching traffic making hard right turn.
Mile 10.5: Cone turn around.
Mile 11.5: Sharp right-hand turn. Approaching traffic making hard left turn.
Mile 13: Stay far to the right. Approaching skaters making hard right after long run out bottom of hill.
Mile 13.1: Cross timing mat to start second lap.
Korela isn't trying to scare anyone past participants have high praise for the course he's just being wisely cautious and realistic. There were some crashes in the event's first year that were not repeated last year. He
wants to keep it a fun, safe event.
Korpela came up with the course almost by accident. He was driving south of Ashland to visit his mother when he noticed there seemed to be a lot of good blacktop. He drove around and found almost 13 miles of new asphalt a nice feature for an inline race.
"The race was born from that trip," he says. The entire course has been newly paved in the last two years.
Korpela came up with the Big Granite after checking out the North
Shore Inline Marathon and Grandma's Marathon, both events he highly admires. With the Big Granite and his other event, the Whistlestop Marathon (a running race), Korpela sought to bring in the best features of the North Shore and Grandma's.
"Both the North Shore and Grandma's have the highest quality of customer service. We have a high-quality shirt, all skaters get a finisher's medal and we've added in little perks like a pasta feed that's included in
the entry fee and we include a poster with registration."
The Big Granite is a midsize race in the world of inline racing, with around 400 participants. Korpela would like to see it grow, but for now the size makes it easier to provide personal service.
"We're small enough to almost provide one-on-one service but we do have enough features that I think will attract more people. I'm making new friends and getting to know a lot of the people on a first name basis.
We have a unique course, friendly volunteers, and have fun and music after the race."
Fees were $35 to Dec. 31, and $45 to May 31. Fees are now $55 to June 14. There is no race day registration. Packet pick up, expo and the pasta feed is at the Bay Area Civic Center in Ashland, a different location than previous years. Water is offered at mile 4.5, mile 10.5, mile 17.5 and mile 23.5.
Competitor race as Pro/Advanced Open, Masters Open (35 or older),
Veteran Open (45 or older) or in a Fitness/Recreation division.
As in the Online Inline, helmet and wrist guards are mandatory and elbow pads are recommended. The Big Granite is also an inline race only; no roller skis, etc.
Finishers will have access to water, energy drink, bananas, bagels and donut holes. The post-race party is also at the Bay Area Civic Center, where tired skaters can indulge in beer, soda, brats and other
concessions. The party will feature live music from 11 a.m.
Korpela suggests people check in at the Web site for updates and changes in the days leading up to the event. Korpela can be reached at 715/233-0224 or eplus@charter.net. The mail contact is Big Granite
Inline Marathon and Half Marathon, 525 Oakpark Circle, Menomonie, WI 54751.
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