All time best runners in Minnesota?

To Ghost's 4 questions:

1. Did G.B. and other elites train through Minnesotan winters ?

Yes we train through winters. A typical day is 10-20 degrees, the bike paths get cleared pretty well so if you're in the twin cities you're mostly not hindered by the snow. The system of bike paths are the greatest part of training here. Three million people are within a mile or two from a bike path that connects dozens of miles of paths. Most larger city areas don't have any great accessible places to run. It's tough to get fast intervals in the winter though because there's still a little bit of packed snow on the paths, mostly longer tempos/fartleks or intervals in the range of 2-4 miles are the workouts a person can do. Lots of indoor tracks, but they are all with the Universities/colleges so it can be tough to get time on them.

2. How bad are the Minn. winters for training (dry cold)?

It gets very cold at times, you'll definitely have your fair share of sub-0 days. You have to wear a lot of clothes and it makes it tough to run fast. Could be good though because it prevents a person from training too hard too early in the season, allowing for a peak later in the spring and summer when the big races are (unless you're training for Boston)

3.In summer, Minnesota has, I imagine, lots,of trails in the woods. Are mosquitos a problem in summer ?

Mosquitoes aren't bad in the cities, not sure if this is due to the city driving around spraying anti-mosquito stuff in the air, but they aren't a problem. Outside of the cities around lakes and woods they are bad, but some bug sprays completely keep them away.

4. What did G.B. do after his running career finished ? Not sure

Thank you.

The two best are Gary Bjorklund and Mark Nenow, case closed.

Yes, then you have the great MN runners who weren't as great on the one day they ran the Olympic Trials but were great in between: Steve Hoag, Mike Slack, Dick Beardsley, Mark Nenow, Steve Holman ...

mjmlmc wrote:

also would like to take the time to point out that Minnesota should get its own region at NXR

The boys team results at NXN the last 2 years would disagree.

hahaha

My teams gonna be there in 2 years

The list is weak. Some state Mead doesn't count. That's stupid. Steve Holman was glossed over and not stated early on list. Holman is the only Minnesotan with sub-1:45/sub-3:32 800m/1500m personal bests. Holman was a multiple MN state hs champion. Holman did make one or more World Championship 1500m final. I do realize he never made Olympic 1500m final.

Well there is Garrett Heath

Personal best(s)

1500m: 3:34.12

Mile: 3:53.15

5000m: 13:16.31

10,000m: 27:56.11

I believe Stillwater HS has more sub 4 slums than any other HS in the country, perhaps the world excluding some Kenyan HS.

Garrett Heath, correct me if I’m wrong, is the only person in the world who has defeated both Farrah and K Bekele in the same race. Great Edinburgh CC.

I would say Scott Jurek is list-worthy too, possibly the best ultra runner in the world mid 90’s to early 2000’s.

Minnesota, I think, can claim the 2nd and 3rd fastest white 400 runner of all time, Steele and Potter. Side note, Andrew Rock now lives in MN. (Not sure what the Borlees have run).

Obsa Ali the 2018 NCAA steeplechase champion.

Signed with Flynn Sports and won the 3000 m steeplechase in the pro debut with 8:28.49.

He finished in the top 10 at NXN twice and those were his only 2 years he did XC in HS. During one of those years he played soccer in the fall too.

Fun fact: He went to the same High School as Steve Holman

Heather Kampf: Road mile PR of 4:19.7 in 2016.

800: 2:00.04

Wouldn’t be surprised if AJ Green ends up being up there when he graduates college

Emma Bates the 2009 MN state runner up got 2nd in the D1 nationals race in 2013 and 3rd in 2014

ex sota wrote:

Carrie Tollefson and Kara Goucher top the women's list, probably by a wide margin. Kara's WC medal takes it.

Kara Goucher is from NY

Gabe Anderson Grunewald would be a sentimental favorite.

Leslie Seymour.

Lifetime Minnesotan.

Sam Scott will be on the list soon. He ran a 15:10 at Nike Heartland, won almost every race last XC season, and he is only a sophomore.

Noah Breker (rising senior) just ran a 8:54!!!

Pat Porter, was born in Minnesota

Kara Goucher is most certainly NOT from NY. Not sure where you got that from. She was a legend for Duluth East.