Minneapolis
Marathon 2009
May 31, 2009
Photo-History of the Marathon Course
by Dr. Rodney Chang, the Running Photographer
Lovely industrial plant along the way
Crossing Stone Arch Bridge to go back to downtown
To me, these electrical metal supports have so much character-
they'll always
remind me of Minneapolis.
View from Stone Arch Bridge
A great shot! - waterpower from the falls made Minneapolis the
nation's milling capital from 1880 to 1930; hence the
importance of the railroad
to ship product between New York to Seattle and Portland. The Mississippi
River historically
served as the important shipping route down to St. Louis and all the way south to New Orleans. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers operates the dams and locks.
5 mile mark is right on Stone Arch Bridge
Back to the ruins and Gold Medal Flour mill. Because of
hydroelectric power from the Mississippi River, Minneapolis
was once the largest milling processing center in the U.S.A.
6 miles and temperature is rising. Was 72F the day
before, then 71F the day after, but 84F for race day! A couple
days later it dropped momentarily to the 60s again. Shucks, I cramp in hot
weather and do best in cooler climate.
A cool shot of the Weisman Art Museum on the University of
Minnesota campus across the river.
See my take on it as a digital artwork in the Art section of this marathon feature.
.
This bridge connects the campuses of U. Minnesota with the
Mississippi River flowing between them. Note that when students
cross over they are tempted to experience art deal to the unusual architecture
of their campus art museum.. The most interesting
exhibit I got to experience during my visit the day before the race was a
transgenic human/petunia plant hybrid; see it in Art
virtually wrapped in gold foil by yours truly.
The red brick highrise to the right of the museum is student
dormitories. By the way, cars travel on
the lower level of this bridge and pedestrians, bicyclists, or skateboarders use the higher
level.
Back along the river made famous in Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Downward slope here
7 miles
No time for lunch in the park
Nice neighborhood
8 miles at which leading half marathoners are heading back.
Charming homes along this part of the course, facing the river.
This is the predominant scene for miles and miles of the
course's loop along the river, then returning
to the finish in downtown at Gold
Medal Park, close to the Depot hotel. Sort wished the course planners
would have given me more varied city views. Like pass Mall of America, the
art museums, & the Metrodome,
Here's where the half marathoners turn back (to the left); us
full marathoners turn right at the stop sign,
keep on chugging along Ol' Miss.
I take the right turn "of no return;" note the half marathoners, on the right, heading back to downtown.
lst scene only the full marathoner gets to experience
Runner behind taps me and asks if I want my photo taken too; noticing I'm photographing the course.
Friendly faces at an aid station
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