“I started in 2010, but it wasn’t really a race.
It’s like an underground, no timing chip or anything.
I was running in the winter looking for something else to do and just started running on the river.
I jumped on to see if it could be done and it was pretty cool.
And then I thought: ‘I want to show other people what this is like!’
It’s like the ultra runners world view: do something different. So that’s when I thought, ‘let’s do it on a full moon’.
The most difficult is along the edges, especially the Minnesota side where there are springs, so the key is getting on. I always figured if I could get on then the middle is gonna be thicker ice; further away from the springs coming out of the rocks.
Getting participants
Back in the day I was the president of the upper Midwest Trail Runners. Ultra running in the Midwest was just starting to come around.
There were fewer people (participating). We all kind of knew each other so I put a Facebook post out and said: ‘text me if you want to do it (the race). I’ll put your name on the list. Show up at this time.’
We first started meeting at my house and then we started meeting at my office downtown.
I think the first year I did it there were maybe like 8-10 people. There was one year when I had 30 people.
Depending on the year, it’s been everything from 16 to two and a half (miles).
We always did it on the full moon, so that means it was pretty spontaneous. A week before, I’d send out a message.
Another reason why I run it: some of the best views are along the river.
When you come south past Arcola coming into Stillwater, there are cliffs on both sides.
In the dark, you have these cliffs…it’s what I imagine running in Alaska is like.
It’s quiet. You feel like there’s no one else in the whole world.
Editor’s note: You can read more about the first full moon river run via the link below:
https://buttonrunning.blogspot.com/2010/01/full-moon-river-run_31.html