Minneapolis Marathon 2009
May 31, 2009

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

Still in the acres of  historic Ft. Snelling

The fort is a is a massive stone fortress that sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, at the southern boundary of the two cities. The fort was established in 1819 to protect fur traders from warring Indians, and the towns grew up in its wake. Today, activities continue on as if it were still the early 1800s: Military drills are conducted by guides in period costumes and blacksmith, carpentry and crafts demonstrations take place.

My favorite photo of Ft. Snelling.  Note windows boarded up.

Back into the trees - must have been good training grounds for troops for the many different 
wars over the active duty life of the fort. Little known fact:  Personnel was brought here to 
train in Japanese for decoding airwave messages during WWII..

Wonder what kind of trees these are - oak or ash (obviously not maple with its characteristic leaf shape)?

15 miles, only 11.2 to go!

We're still running along the Mississippi River.

"Old man river, ... just keeps flowing along..."

One of many sanctuaries of the river.  Lovely, isn't it?

I will do something with this and put it in the Art section.  Look at that carpeting floating 
duckweed in the foreground!  The River is in the background.

Morning light pierces through the tree canopy, providing nice natural highlights along the course.

16 miles

Father and son on a deck out on the Mississippi.

17

Running under the arch support of an overhead bridge

An aid station next to the trail's rest stop.  Something about remembering Indians who were imprisoned here.

Seemingly endless woods

18

A classic shot begging to be turned into digital art.

19 miles

And 20....

and 21 in another uneventful place....

Keep on Running

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