Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The first annual St. John’s Walk Run took place last Saturday on and around the St. John’s on Fountain Lake campus. The event was well planned out, a rousing success and illustrated that there are fun things to do in Albert Lea. Hats off to the race organizers.

If you have not been to the St. John’s Fountain Lake campus you owe it to yourself to make the trip. The campus is located on the site of the old Albert Lea Country Club. The main building was constructed on the site occupied by the old Golf Club clubhouse. The campus design preserves the rustic rural setting of the country club. The main building features a collection of old photographs of the various Lutheran churches located in Freeborn County and a photograph-mural of Katherine Island and Bridge Street taken sometime during the middle part of the last century.

The race began in Eagle View Circle, then out onto Crescent Drive, south to the entrance of Edgewater Park, west on Edgewater Drive and through the park, then north past the Ehrhardt Compound, then west through the land formerly occupied by the Wedge Nursery, and then south back to the start of the Walk Race. The runners were accompanied by two Albert Lea Police Department reserve officers, who also doubled back on the course to accompany the last group of walkers back to the finish. The reserve officers then mingled with the people at the finish and let several young attendees sound the police siren in the squad car. Thanks to those reserve officers.

Participants in the race included Elle Schulz, another female runner and the coach of the Albert Lea girls cross country team. The two young runners appeared in stylish matching running outfits.

Saturday was the 18th birthday of the unidentified female runner, who placed first in the race. What a great way to spend the morning of your 18th birthday, running and winning a 5k. Rumor has it that the entire girls’ cross country team will compete in next year’s Walk Run.

Also running in the Walk Race was Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray, attired in a T-shirt from a half marathon that he completed several years ago. Mayor Murray was solicited by several attendees to give an update of the Albert Lea news, and he handled the task with aplomb, giving the details about several new businesses moving to Albert Lea. Mayor Murray is a tireless and enthusiastic promoter of Albert Lea and in the tradition of former Mayor Randy Erdman.

And a fun time was had by all. Mark off the second Saturday of September 2025 and come out for the second annual Walk Run and walk the beautiful race course. There were more walkers than runners and you get a nifty Walk Run T-shirt. Your entry fee will go toward causes advocated for by St. John’s.

Kent Spellman
Albert Lea