University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers to Host Two Open Races
10/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
MINNEAPOLIS -- Local runners and cross country fans alike have two upcoming opportunities to experience cross country running firsthand at the home of the Golden Gophers, Les Bolstad Course, in Jack's Twilight Run on Friday, Oct. 21 and Rocky's Run on Sunday, Nov. 6.
Join the Gophers in one or both of these open six-kilometer races and toe the line on Minnesota's home cross country course. Rocky's Run will take place on the same course where the Big Ten Cross Country Championship will have occurred just one week earlier. Both events will feature race-day registration only.
"Jack's Run is going to be fun," University of Minnesota women's cross country head coach Sarah Hopkins said. "It's a little bit flatter and a little less challenging than our normal course, so I think it is a good opportunity to run some cross country in not quite as much of a crazy situation and you get to run a 6K, which is a totally different race than most road races. It provides a different stimulus, and it's fun to get out there and experience cross country and know what it feels like compared to running a 5K on the roads.
"For Rocky's Run, it is the Big Ten course. The Minnesota Distance Running Association (MDRA) has it as one of their team circuit races, so there are a lot of people at that one. It's a great opportunity to test yourself and see how you compare to the best in the Big Ten. It's a challenging course, so it's good training."
About Jack's Twilight Run: 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21
This year marks the ninth annual running of Jack's Twilight Run. The 6K race will feature a spectator-friendly looped route through Les Bolstad Course.
Jack's Twilight Run honors the late Minnesota equipment manager Jack Johnson. Johnson will always be a part of the Minnesota women's cross country and track programs. After serving as the Golden Gophers' equipment manager for over three decades, Johnson passed away in February 2006 after a battle with cancer.
Participation in the race is free, but donations are encouraged. A Jack's Run hat will be given to those donating $20 or more. All proceeds from the race go toward the Jack Johnson Scholarship. The race is open to the public with same-day registration only.
About Rocky's Run: 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8
Rocky's Run was founded in 1981 to honor former Gopher runner Rochelle "Rocky" Racette, who died in a car accident that fall at the age of 22. While at the University of Minnesota, Racette was an All-American in track & field and cross country and champion of the Big Ten and Drake Relays 5,000-meter titles. The annual race is staged by the many members of the running community who knew and loved her. Racette's legacy lives on through the memory of those who knew her, and through Rocky's Run and the scholarship for which it raises money.
The race is open to the public with a registration fee of $10 and race-day registration only. The terrain is rolling grass with many turns. It is accurately measured, and spikes are permitted. Experience running on grass will help on this course.
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