The rest of the 10-kilometer race field rolls out of Birch Grove Community Center. All photos by Tryg Solberg. 

By Tryg Solberg for Boreal Community Media - July 8, 2024

The 43rd Annual Tofte Trek Walk/Run went on as planned the morning of the 4th despite trail conditions that remained wetter than usual. The morning events included a 10km walk, 10km run, kid sprint for youth ages 4-12, and a 1-mile youth race. The races all started at Birch Grove Community Center and took participants along trails and into the woods above the town. The 10km course had over 600 feet of elevation and participants experienced muddy trail conditions that have become the norm this summer on the North Shore. 

There were 158 participants in the 10 km walk/run. Sydney Patterson of Duluth, MN won the women’s 10k run at 49:47. Noah Jahnke of Green Bay, WI won the 10 km run in just under 40 minutes. Eric Patterson of Duluth, MN won first place in the men's 10k walk in one hour and 15 minutes. Ellen Anderson of Tofte, MN, won the woman's 10k walk with a time of 1:18:55. (To see the full results, visit the race site here.)

Approximately 30 kids ran in the mile-long event and the youngest competed in a “sprint”. Tofte Trek organizers shared that the turnout was about as expected given the nice weather on the 4th. Although the mud may slow competitors down, it adds a fun, adventurous element to the race. They added that participants come into the race well aware of the trail conditions that may occur throughout the course. 

Any proceeds that come from the event go towards the Sugarbush Trail Association for trail maintenance and grooming costs.