As the email I received today reminded me, it’s less than a month to the inaugural Stillwater Marathon, 20 Mile, Half Marathon and 12K. I will be running the half with a friend from Texas and I’m anxious to see what race organizers have planned for the first year.

Two notes from the email:

• A 5-7 mile training run is planned for Tuesday, May 12 at 5:15PM. The run is open to runners of all abilities and there is no fee or membership required to participate. The note wasn’t exactly clear, but I believe the run will start and end at Anytime Fitness Stillwater.
• Parking on race day will be tricky, so make sure to read the information in the race packets. Runners will be directed to remote parking lots and bussed to the start, so allow plenty of time to get where you need to be.

Packet pick-up will be open on Friday from 4-8PM and on Saturday from 10AM-8PM at the Stillwater Area High School. All races start at 7AM on Sunday morning.

Last weekend I paid my third visit to the Oaks Golf Club in Hayfield, Minnesota (which is located about 30 miles southwest of Rochester). Just like the last two times, I played with the Miller family. And also just like the last two times, wind played a huge part in the round.

The people of Hayfield seem to crave two things with their golf: carts and fast rounds. I’d see big caravans of carts and think they allowed fivesomes or sixsomes, but in reality, people there just like to drive carts solo. If you walk, be prepared to play ready golf or you will get run over.

The course was in good condition and some of the rough was already somewhat long. The course isn’t very long (under 6,500 yards from the tips), but remember that wind impacts nearly every shot here and there are really only two flat greens out of the eighteen. The walking weekend rate was $31.50.

7MM Oaks Photo Gallery