One notable thing was lacking from Saturday’s 30th annual Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run — the freezing temperatures that normally accompany the race.
Near-record setting high temperatures greeted Borderland Saturday, with a high of 43 degrees reported in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Even at race time in the morning temperatures were already in the 30s, leading several male runners to shed their shirts in favor of finishing the race bare chested.
But the warmer-than-normal temperatures were welcomed by many, including a good number of spectators cheering on the runners. And it shows that, if nothing else, northern Minnesota winters can be unpredictable.
“It was perfect. I thought it was going to be in the negatives,” 5k winner Tyler Lehman said of the weather Saturday.
Lehman, Littlefork, said that while he does not normally run, he was also able to snag a win at the Loman Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving.
When asked about the key to his success, he replied, “Keep pushing and don’t stop.”
Brian Davenport, who won the 10k, said that he and a group of members of a Minneapolis-based running club come specifically for the challenge that the usually cold temperatures provides.
“We have bragging rights about it being 30 below when we ran,” said Davenport.
This was his third year competing in the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run. “We do lots of marathons — everything from marathons to 5Ks,” he said.
However, Davenport noted that Saturday’s warmer temperatures helped with his speed, because he did not have to layer on extra clothing.
Davenport, 35, the top male winner for the 10k, finished in 35 minutes, 33 seconds. The top female winner for the 10k was Jennifer Jones, 34, who crossed the finish line in 40:56.
Lehman, 17, finished the 5k race in 19:38 and was the top male winner for that race. Hailey O’Donnell, 16, was the first female to finish the 5k, with a time of 23:22.
One of the event’s founders, Pat McKibbage, was on hand to welcome the runners at the start of each race.
“The track today looks well sanded and they shouldn’t have any trouble today with the warmer temperatures,” McKibbage said.
“It just shows the work of a lot of good sponsors; a lot of good, dedicated volunteers; a good community, International Falls, a great community; and it just shows that the runners like this race because of the numbers that just keep coming back year after year,” he told The Journal.
Winnipeg-area residents Mike Gwynne and Eric Fast are both seasoned veterans of the race and began coming here with a running club from that area. Gwynne said he’s done about 27 races and Fast has competed in 13.
“We enjoy the whole festivities — not just the race, but the people and the activities, the beach party and the runner’s reception,” said Gwynne.
“We run for the health of it,” said Elaine Oster, who chose the 5K instead of the 10K this year. Last year’s 10k had her and fellow Fort Frances runner Kathy Lampi rethinking the length of time they wanted to spend outside. “We just run because we enjoy it,” Lampi added.
“It’s going to be too warm, you don’t know what to wear,” said Oster.
Confusing clothing, indeed. Clothing became optional for a few young men, who crossed the finish line sans shirt. A few young women wore costumes. A scant few wore layers, parkas, gloves, and the other winter apparel typical for the race. But running pants and a light-weight jacket — what runners might be seen wearing in May or October — were more common.
But no matter what they wore, most runners found that the warm temperatures made for a nice way to spend the morning.
“It sounded like a good opportunity to just see what the run was all about,” said Rainy Lake Medical Center CEO Brian Long, who competed in the 5k for the first time. “I think it’s great for the community. It’s a good opportunity to get to know more of the community members for me, and get a flavor for one additional community event during the Icebox Days. It’s a dramatic difference from the bass tournament during the summer, but it’s a great opportunity to get out and get involved in the community.”
Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard 10K run results
Time Last Name First Name Sex
35:33 Davenport Brian M
35:58 Smith Kyle W. M
36:32 Benchina Michael M
37:33 Brintz Zach M
38:16 Furlan Aldo M
38:35 Snyder Scott M
38:42 Willmott Edward M
39:16 Boatman Jim M
40:56 Jones Jennifer F
41:36 Roussy Jason M
41:45 Sladek Sullivan Serena F
41:59 Fedor Bill M
42:05 Kretschme Jake M
42:07 Aitken Robert M
42:10 Bahr Bob M
42:12 Gerard Joseph M
42:13 Brown Ryan M
42:28 Ogilvie Dennis M
42:43 Kretschme John M
43:57 Larson Bruce M
44:17 Engels Curt M
44:21 Patten Anne F
44:25 Anderson Erik M
44:42 Lunde Joel M
45:00 Ladner Lee M
45:05 Johnson Sheila F
45:09 DeGagne Scott M
46:03 Wilken Paul M
46:22 Malkovich Tracy F
46:51 Rogozinski Nicole F
46:58 McLean Ross M
47:43 Areson Peter M
48:01 Ostrom Donna F
48:09 Peterson Ellyssa F
48:25 Bulgar Paul M
48:33 Loney Dan M
48:36 Howard Bill M
48:47 Johnson Edward M
48:50 Williams Nathan M
48:51 Turenne Mike M
48:52 Jaeger Patty F
48:55 Wirth Paul M
48:59 Leduc Jaime F
49:01 Mckay Catherine F
49:18 Boatman Brittney F
49:52 McKinnon Sharla F
50:23 Spooner Meghan F
50:29 Hallarn JoAnne F
50:36 Beal Rich M
50:39 Krohn Tim M
50:43 Swensen Loni F
50:50 Tabor Gary M
51:37 Emond Marty M
51:47 Von Vett Caleb M
51:59 Shumaker Cale M
51:59 Shumaker Tom M
52:10 Hasbargen Angie F
52:14 Myers Tony M
52:19 Moran RJ M
52:32 LaSala Phil M
52:37 Kallerman Danni F
52:44 Sola Rand M
52:46 Larson Benjamin M
52:49 Myers Matt M
53:16 Young John M
53:19 Nelson Missy F
53:33 McKinnon Cindy F
54:18 Bergstrom JoHannah F
54:20 Tremblay Terri-Lee F
54:23 Stewart Amy F
54:25 Fick Mike M
54:37 Kalar Pete M
55:09 Peterson Jeff M
55:18 Gustafson Dale M
55:20 Magisano Carla F
55:29 Oster Lonna F
55:35 Wyder Jayne F
55:56 Jahn Dovey F
56:01 Feilen Chris M
56:11 Petsnick Angela F
56:15 Hanson Sarah F
56:21 Hewshaw Robert M
56:54 Fox Lavana F
56:57 Friesen Laura F
56:59 Ringhofer Alexandra F
57:41 Shack Natasha F
57:42 Chase Marilee F
57:53 Piekarski Doug M
58:16 Dorostkar Parmin F
58:39 Sopotiuck Norina F
58:44 Lessard Jim M
58:47 Beal Ron M
59:06 DeGagne Jeannine F
59:07 Ladner Chuck M
59:08 Aitken Hilary F
59:27 Wegner Carl S. M
60:10 Phillips Nancy F
60:12 Fischer Josh M
60:13 Fischer Anika F
60:21 Chase Patricia (Tricia) F
60:27 Whight Laura F
60:43 O'Loughlin Kimberly F
60:47 Connor Bob M
60:50 Bath Rae F
60:51 Bath Jeff M
61:09 McTamane Naomi F
61:37 Paulus Kasey F
61:46 Wolter Eli M
62:24 Garrity Ray M
63:12 Johnson Colleen F
63:33 Soderholm Megan F
64:33 Duhame Dreena F
65:20 Jourdain SR Armond M
65:52 Braaten David M
66:03 Davini-Johnson Anne F
66:20 Kern Frances F
66:29 Lynch Shannon F
67:15 Lessard Kristine F
68:07 Lund Alison F
69:00 Coburn Carol F
69:01 Oveson Anton J. M
69:03 Grossman Jaymes M
Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard 5K run results
Time Last Name First Name Sex
19:38 Lehman Tyler M
20:09 Thompson Erik M
20:42 Hasbargen Bryan M
20:51 Fedor Bill M
21:18 Phillips Nancy F
21:18 Nefzger Tim M
21:20 Kietchmer John M
21:32 Scherr Shawn M
21:33 Christenson Zack M
21:47 Bruton Adam M
21:58 Sobczynski John M
22:19 Boatman Niklas M
22:20 Engels Curt M
22:50 McGuire Aaron M
22:51 Loney Dan M
23:04 Ulrich Wyatt M
23:22 O'Donnell Hailey F
23:30 Magnuson Ed M
23:38 Dutton Ashleigh F
23:52 Vork Tyler M
23:55 Larson Garrett M
24:02 Prigelmeier Chad M
24:16 Platta Dan M
24:17 Easton Jodi F
24:20 Cox Drake M
24:22 Ricard Rick M
24:25 Belanger Linda F
24:37 Jensen Jake M
24:41 Cape Edward M
24:53 Garlie Rick M
25:05 Branstad Anne F
25:39 Dueck Conrad M
25:43 Johnson Darrick M
25:52 Belanger Chad M
25:57 Fort Tyler M
26:08 Friesen Wes M
26:43 DeLack Paige F
26:46 Evans Nicole F
26:47 Prigelmeier Keenan M
26:54 Dahl Amy F
27:06 Christianson Marshall M
27:07 Christianson Sandy F
27:13 Maras Joanna F
27:15 Paulus Chad M
27:17 Auran Lisa F
27:20 Mason Terry F
27:21 Anderson Tiffany F
27:30 Ecklund Cory M
27:31 Crane Katie F
27:38 Krueger Matt M
27:54 Cox John M
28:12 Burmeister Kyle M
28:39 Litwiller Lance M
28:43 McCart Jeremiah M
28:58 Brokaw Billy M
29:02 Barrick Jane F
29:05 Wold Kristen F
29:10 Bilben Regan F
29:25 Long Brian M
29:38 Peterson Ric M
29:41 Cowman John M
29:41 Becket KariLynn F
29:51 Cowman Dean M
29:56 Sirotiak Lisa F
29:58 Paulson Tammy F
30:02 Lefor Jennifer F
30:04 Boelk Keith M
30:09 Olson Becky F
30:10 Shikowsky Erin F
30:16 Pine Adam M
30:22 Lee Zachary M
30:25 Bergstrom Darren M
30:33 Wright Alan M
30:46 Witherspoon Cheri M
30:53 Vandermeer Rebecca F
30:58 Hudson Heather F
31:03 Paulson Kymn F
31:04 Van Drunen Rachel F
31:05 Bobst Liz F
31:06 Hyatt Brendan M
31:07 Winkler Kai M
31:10 Zimba Chelsey F
31:11 Briggs William M
31:14 Erickson Greg M
31:15 Bilben Jan F
31:16 Winkler Renate F
31:17 Tibbs Cheryl F
31:18 Hein Elizabeth F
31:39 Fitzgerald Caitlin F
31:48 Thompson Bev F
31:51 Moffenbier Angelica F
31:57 Sullivan Cary M
32:01 Gates Haylee F
32:02 Woods Leona F
32:22 Nefzger Sue F
32:23 Mellstrom Janelle F
32:29 Wallin Julie F
32:54 Hausauer Amy F
33:02 Shabot Becky F
33:07 Roy Kim F
33:12 Paiko Shelley A. F
33:27 Cowman Deb F
33:35 Fox Kaayla F
33:58 Ostroot Dick M
33:59 Turenne Nikki F
34:04 Braaten Susie F
34:19 Jaeger Liz F
34:23 Beaudry Kim F
34:24 Beaudry Victoria F
34:27 Smith Deanna F
34:28 Deschamps Laura F
34:39 Berg Lindy F
34:55 Booth Neila F
35:29 O'Keefe Beth F
35:30 Auran Amy F
35:31 Litwiller Stacey F
35:32 Shumaker Penny F
35:35 Braaten Allan M
35:48 Lampi Kathy F
35:58 Oster Elaine F
36:15 Fritz Michael M
36:44 Deters James M
37:19 Ringhofer Nita F
37:21 Kantos-Fritz Kallie F
37:45 Diem Richard M
37:49 Kennett Tammy F
37:51 McCormick Robin M
37:58 Ehrman Julie F
37:59 Ehrman Bryce M
38:35 Kohler Holly F
39:02 Brisbin Jason M
39:16 Faith Heather F
39:37 Hamburgar Michelle F
39:38 Carlson Jennifer F
40:11 Gerard Michael M
40:12 Joyce Dan M
40:21 Zack Mary F
41:49 Stewart Mary Ann F
42:03 House Hollace F
42:55 Dearing Owen M
42:56 Dearing Christine F
43:18 Parker Denise F
43:38 Davis Glori F
44:07 Prigelmeier Shawnda F
44:28 Flaschberger Carolyn F
47:32 Emery Katherine F
48:54 Halberg Kent M
48:55 MacKay Alastair M
49:06 Cameron Kim F
49:08 Ellison Felicia F
49:09 Lamphere Debbie F
50:04 Hanzuk Brenda F
50:06 Thomas Ken V. M
50:48 Thomas Linda F
50:49 Journey Mike M
51:04 Wirth Heather F
53:33 Fast Eric M
53:49 Gwynne Michael M
55:55 Hibbison Roberta F
55:56 (Patterson) Trusty Linda F
55:57 (Patterson) Morgan Terri F
55:58 (Patterson) Long Georg F
55:59 (Patterson) Bennett Kathy F
57:37 Brown David M
57:38 Brown Lori F
57:39 Brown James K. M
