{"id":2927,"date":"2012-01-24T14:10:20","date_gmt":"2012-01-24T19:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/?p=2927"},"modified":"2012-01-22T14:10:34","modified_gmt":"2012-01-22T19:10:34","slug":"explore-minnesota-race-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/2012\/explore-minnesota-race-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore Minnesota Race Series"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.andersonraces.com\/events\/events-detail.php?intResourceID=1121\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" title=\"logo\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.andersonraces.com\/_uls\/resources\/EMC_Logo_FINAL_3_resized.jpg?resize=200%2C200\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a>The new <a href=\"http:\/\/www.andersonraces.com\/events\/events-detail.php?intResourceID=1121\">Explore Minnesota Challenge Race Series<\/a> begins this coming weekend with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.active.com\/running\/st-paul-mn\/securian-winter-run---5k-10k-and-half-marathon-2012\">Securian Winter Run<\/a>\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/2009\/race-review-frozen-half-marathon\/\">my 2009 race review<\/a>)\u00a0festivities. Athletes who participate in 8 qualifying events (including one from each region) will receive a commemorative medal (including commemorative pins for each race). \u00a0Registration for the Series is $50 and appears to be open until December 1, 2012 according to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.active.com\/running\/minnesota-mn\/explore-minnesota-challenge-presented-by-anderson-race-management-2012\">registration page<\/a>. \u00a0The registration fee doesn&#8217;t include event registration for each of the 8 required races, though it does come with some cool perks:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One Year Membership to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.runmdra.org\">Minnesota Distance Running Association<\/a>\u00a0($25 value)<\/li>\n<li>Commemorative Drawstring Backpack<\/li>\n<li>Commemorative Lapel Pin (1 per person per region) for each of the 4 regions.<\/li>\n<li>EM Challenge Winter Hat<\/li>\n<li>Commemorative Lanyard<\/li>\n<li>EM Challenge Finisher&#8217;s Shirt<\/li>\n<li>State of Minnesota Medal upon completion of an event in all 4 regions.<\/li>\n<li>Special discounts at various stores throughout the year.<\/li>\n<li>Special Drawings for Hotel, Store and Race Entries throughout 2012.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/explore.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2928\" title=\"explore\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/explore.jpg?resize=200%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/explore.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/explore.jpg?resize=682%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 682w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/explore.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>The Challenge has divided up the state into 4 regions: Metro, Northern, Southern, and Central. At least two races from each region are part of the series. It appears all of the races are managed by Anderson Race Management the creator of the Explore Challenge in partnership with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.exploreminnesota.com\/index.aspx\">Explore Minnesota<\/a> aka the Minnesota Tourism Board.<\/p>\n<p>The 2012 races are:<\/p>\n<table width=\"509\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<colgroup>\n<col width=\"68\" \/>\n<col width=\"275\" \/>\n<col width=\"84\" \/>\n<col width=\"82\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"68\" height=\"20\">Race Date<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">Race Name<\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Race City<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Race Region<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">28-Jan<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.securian.com\/Securian\/Securian+Winter+Run\">Securian Winter Run<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">St Paul<\/td>\n<td>Metro<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">24-Mar<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/returnoftherobin.com\/robin_run\/robin_run.htm\">Return of the Robin<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Rochester<\/td>\n<td>Southern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">1-Apr<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/foolsfive.org\/\">\u00a0Fools Five Road Race<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Lewiston<\/td>\n<td>Southern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">22-Apr<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.minneapolisparks.org\/default.asp?PageID=1016\">Minneapolis Recycle Run<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Minneapolis<\/td>\n<td>Metro<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">5-May<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.active.com\/running\/buffalo-mn\/wright-county-law-enforcement-torch-run-half-marathon-for-special-olympics-minnesota-2011\">Special Olympics Half and 5K<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Buffalo<\/td>\n<td>Central<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">20-May<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.getyourrearingear.com\/events\/list\/2012\/twin-cities-mn-2012\/\">Get Your Rear in Gear<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Edina<\/td>\n<td>Metro<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">26-May<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/eventful.com\/duluth\/events\/skyline-25k-and-enger-tower-1-\/E0-001-043764673-5@2012052608\">Skyline 25K<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Duluth<\/td>\n<td>Northern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">23-Jun<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.getyourrearingear.com\/events\/list\/2012\/rochester-mn-2012\/\">Get Your Rear in Gear<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Rochester<\/td>\n<td>Southern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">24-Jun<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.andersonraces.com\/events\/events-detail.php?intResourceID=114\">Twin Cities Pride Rainbow Run<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Minneapolis<\/td>\n<td>Metro<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">28-Jul<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.runforblood5k.com\/\">Run for Blood 1\/4 Marathon and 5K<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Minneapolis<\/td>\n<td>Metro<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">28-Jul<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nancyenglishmemorial5k.com\/home.html\">Dr. Nancy English Memorial 5K<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Duluth<\/td>\n<td>Northern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">8-Sep<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.andersonraces.com\/events\/events-detail.php?intResourceID=139\">Bolder Dash Runs<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Minneapolis<\/td>\n<td>Metro<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">15-Sep<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.andersonraces.com\/events\/events-detail.php?intResourceID=141\">Walk of Hope<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Rochester<\/td>\n<td>Southern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">15-Sep<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.andersonraces.com\/events\/events-detail.php?intResourceID=833\">Dash for Dads<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">St Cloud<\/td>\n<td>Central<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">22-Sep<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.specialolympicsminnesota.org\/DaveRyan5k.php\">Dave Ryan 5K and 10K for Special Olympics<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Minneapolis<\/td>\n<td>Metro<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">23-Sep<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">One Last Tri,<\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Scandia<\/td>\n<td>Northern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">6-Oct<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.andersonraces.com\/events\/events-detail.php?intResourceID=929\">Lupus Walk of Hope<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Duluth<\/td>\n<td>Northern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">14-Oct<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.andersonraces.com\/events\/events-detail.php?intResourceID=600\">Scenic Byway Half Marathon and 5K<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Belle Plaine<\/td>\n<td>Southern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"right\" width=\"68\" height=\"20\">20-Oct<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.alumni.winona.edu\/netcommunity\/page.aspx?pid=438\">Warrior Waddle<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"84\">Winona<\/td>\n<td>Southern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>What do you think are you up for the challenge?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new Explore Minnesota Challenge Race Series begins this coming weekend with the Securian Winter Run\u00a0(my 2009 race review)\u00a0festivities. Athletes who participate in 8 qualifying events (including one from each region) will receive a commemorative medal (including commemorative pins for each race). \u00a0Registration for the Series is $50 and appears to be open until December [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5,12,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-calendar","category-course-comments","category-races"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4iaAv-Ld","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1254,"url":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/2009\/race-plan-fred-kurz-10-miler\/","url_meta":{"origin":2927,"position":0},"title":"Race Plan: Fred Kurz 10 Miler","author":"crossn81","date":"April 8, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"My training plan calls for a 15k race this week.\u00a0 The closest I can find is the Fred Kurz Memorial 10 mile race hosted by my running club - the MDRA. The race is only $5 for members and $8 for everyone else.\u00a0 Membership does have its rewards! When I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;10 Mile&quot;","block_context":{"text":"10 Mile","link":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/category\/10-mile\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1277,"url":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/2009\/world-no-tobacco-day-5k\/","url_meta":{"origin":2927,"position":1},"title":"World No Tobacco Day 5K","author":"crossn81","date":"April 28, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Want to help low-income children who suffer from persistent asthma? While running a fast 5k? Check out the World No Tobacco Day 5K Run to be held on May 31, 2009.\u00a0 Smoke Free Dakota County is hosting this first-year event that will run along the Big Rivers Regional Trail starting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;5K&quot;","block_context":{"text":"5K","link":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/category\/5k\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smokefreedakota.org\/userfiles\/file\/WNTD%205K%20LOGO%20-%20small.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1372,"url":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/2009\/race-plan-brian-kraft-5k\/","url_meta":{"origin":2927,"position":2},"title":"Race Plan: Brian Kraft 5k","author":"crossn81","date":"May 21, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Image from Down the Backstretch The next race in the USATF-MN series is the Brian Kraft 5k around Lake Nokomis. It should be a very fast race.\u00a0 Last year it was won in 14:47 by Jeremy Polson and 16:52 by Rasa Troup. My post-collegiate 5k PR is 18:19 at the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;5K&quot;","block_context":{"text":"5K","link":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/category\/5k\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bp2.blogger.com\/_x8gc1jFFweM\/RlMp5LdlmYI\/AAAAAAAAAJ8\/-L5qxKqPh3g\/s320\/KRAFT_81.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":91,"url":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/2007\/races-on-october-20\/","url_meta":{"origin":2927,"position":3},"title":"Races on October 20","author":"crossn81","date":"October 18, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"I will be at the Indianapolis Marathon, but will be running the half-marathon.\u00a0 It looks like an excellent weekend for racing again!\u00a0 Hope to see you there!! This will also be my race for the World-Wide Half Marathon. Norris Insurance 5 Miler begins at 8am in Bunker Hill.\u00a0 This is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Calendar&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Calendar","link":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/category\/calendar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":256,"url":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/2008\/indianapolis-ends-in-a-tie\/","url_meta":{"origin":2927,"position":4},"title":"Indianapolis ends in a Tie","author":"crossn81","date":"May 4, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"After slogging it out for 13.1 miles two Kenyans tied for the win at the 31st Annual Indianapolis Mini Marathon. After reviewing both still pictures and video, race officials declared Kenyans Lamech Mokono and Valentine Orare winners and awarded them both the 1st place prize money. The pair came in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Half Marathon&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Half Marathon","link":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/category\/half-marathon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.500festival.com\/images\/content\/2008%20Mini%20Winners_web.JPG?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":741,"url":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/2008\/race-review-rockys-run-8k\/","url_meta":{"origin":2927,"position":5},"title":"Race Review: Rocky&#8217;s Run 8k","author":"crossn81","date":"November 6, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"The Rocky's Run 5k & 8k brought back a lot of college memories for me.\u00a0 I've done a lot of trail races since college, but this is the first \"cross country\" race.\u00a0 So many things about it were similar to a cross country meet. Location - a golf course, we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;8k&quot;","block_context":{"text":"8k","link":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/category\/8k\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"\/running\/images\/rockyrunAnneTeam.jpg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2927"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2932,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2927\/revisions\/2932"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}