Minneapolis Marathon 2009
May 31, 2009

Photo-History of the Marathon Course
by Dr. Rodney Chang, the Running Photographer 

The Depot Renaissance Marriot  hotel, sponsoring hotel and Starting area for the race. It's the 
historic train station that for over a century connected passengers to the East and West coasts.

The hotel lounge

Passageway to elevators to the hotel rooms.

Checking into Room 369 

Home for the weekend

Manager has runners' breakfast ($7) ready at 4:30 a.m. She tries to do the 
Hawaiian greeting hand sign, the "Shaka." 

And gets it right!  "Shaka, everybody!"

Starting staging area; about 1400 full marathoners (1200 made it) and 2,500 half marathoners. High 60s 
at start, will end up at 84F in early afternoon.  View towards the Starting Line, looking south.

View of back of massing runners, looking north.  We're just outside the Depot off Washington Ave and 5th Ave.

See Start banner in the distance.  Interestingly, organizers had portable potties lined up parallel with back 
time corrals.  So some stand in line to use the potty, others stand ready to start in their time corral.

Approaching the Start

Hawaii's lone entry for the inaugural Minneapolis Marathon makes it to the starting line!

Passing Mill City Museum close to the Starting Line

We get to Gold Medal Park, where the Finish Line is.  25 miles+ before returning to the park.

We loop around the park; the electric line structures are odd forms I have never seen before.

The buildings record changing eras of the city's life and history.

Famous Stone Arch Bridge is a National Engineering Landmark and part of the St. Anthony Falls Heritage 
Trail.  It offers pedestrians, bicyclists, and joggers magnificent views of the waterfalls.

Ditto different times in the life of the city of Minneapolis

2 mile marker

Running along the Mississippi River, which start just north of Minneapolis and flows all the way 
south to New Orleansand into the Gulf of Mexico.  It is the largest river of continental United States.

Beautiful skyline as I cross a bridge over the Mississippi River.

Just off the bridge

3 mile marker view

and 4 miles view is nothing to write home about

We run along a cobble stone, shaded street which added a quaint feel to this part of the course; note the Miss. River.

I love running pass heavy duty industrial scenery!

Keep on Running

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