Lace Up: Preparing for Fargo’s Biggest Race of the Year

Fargo’s biggest race of the year is still a few months out but runners are already preparing.
 
This is the 12th year for the Fargo Marathon and come May 21st, runners from across the Red River Valley and the country will be toeing the line.

If you’re still considering running this year’s race there’s still time to lace up those shoes and hit the roads.
 
Brandon Quibell is coming off a tough workout and he has a few more ahead.
 
“The next couple weeks me and my coach have talked about doing longer tempos…a little more speed stuff on the track,” says Concordia Track and Field Athlete, Brandon Quibell.
 
Brandon is training for his first ever half marathon. A race that holds a few firsts for Brandon.
 
“My first ever 5k was actually I think the first or second Fargo Marathon,” says Quibell.
 
But you don’t have to be a track and field star to make your Fargo Marathon debut.

The marathon’s executive director says the fan support can get anybody to run.
 
“We’ve got bands out on the course, we’ve got people having parties on their front lawns. They’re out there for three, four, five six hours cheering on runners from all over the country,” says Fargo Marathon Executive Director, Mark Knutson.
 
“Runners can expect to run along this path behind the Hjemkomst Center. A change to last year’s course.”
 
“We’ll take people into Moorhead through Oak Grove High School over the Oak Grove bridge.”
 
And the best part about it?
 
“Flat too so that’s a plus,” says Quibell.
 
And if you need one more reason to lace up your shoes. The Fargo Marathon is the only race in the country to start indoors at the Fargodome.
 
“As a runner myself the last thing i want to do before I have to run a marathon is stand out in the cold wind and rain for 15 minutes waiting for the national anthem, waiting for everybody to get lined up,” says Knutson.
 
The marathon is expected to attract between 21,000 and 23,000 runners.

Many of those runners are from out of state.

In fact for the past five years, all 50 states have been represented.