The Battle for the Twin Cities
Presented by Mill City Running and Saint City Running
Thanks to all who participated in the inaugural bracket in the Twin Cities and braved a crazy month of weather! Thanks to our friends at Mill City Running and Saint City Running for their support. We can’t wait to bring the bracket back to the Twin Cities in 2024!
Congrats to Connor Reck, Bridget Bergheger, and Gracia Sich for taking home the wins!
2022 Twin Cities Segments
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The opening round is a loop of Lake Nokomis (~2.5 miles), starting on the bike path near the corner of Cedar Ave. and the W Lake Nokomis Pkwy. Runners will go counterclockwise, staying on the bike path the entire way, until they hit Cedar Ave. At Cedar Ave. they will turn left and run back to the starting point. For a link to the Strava file click here: https://www.strava.com/segments/33318808
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The second round is a 1.5 mile uphill segment that starts on the SW/right side of the High Bridge, goes over the bridge, and then continues up S Cherokee Ave, all the way to the stop sign on Annapolis Ave. The route on Strava can be found here: https://www.strava.com/routes/3030202993470924066
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For round three runners will have to do a classic out-and-back along the bike path on W River PKWY trail starting and finishing at the Stone Arch Bridge, and turning around Underneath the Washington Ave. Bridge. https://www.strava.com/routes/3032406931431269588?v2=true
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The final round will play out on the LRT. Runners will start at Cedar Lake and head all the way to Louisiana Ave. The full 2.3 mile route can be found here: https://www.strava.com/routes/3052430642600343148
FAQs
How Do I Record and Submit My Run?
All runs must be recorded with a GPS watch or phone and synced via Strava or Garmin. All runs must be recorded on “Race” mode or must show elapsed time (as opposed to moving time) and then emailed to run@trialsofmilesracing.com. Our team will verify all results to ensure accuracy.
Can I Run the Segment Multiple Times?
During the competition window you are free to run the segment as many times as you choose. We will not consider the time “FINAL” until you have emailed it to run@trialsofmilesracing.com or you indicate to us that it is a final/submitted time. Please keep in mind that once you email us your time, that time is final and we can (and likely will) publicize that time. If you think you may attempt the segment again later in the week, do not submit!
Can I Run the Segment with a Friend or a Pacer?
Competitors are free to run their segments alone, in groups, or with a pack of pacers. As long as you complete the segment on your own two feet, within the required time period it will count.
What Happens if My GPS Data Gets Messed Up? How Do You Prevent Cheating?
Virtual racing is not perfect. People's data is going to get screwed up and times are going to be slightly off. We've done this enough times to know how to deal with these issues and keep things fair. Rest assured, these fields are incredibly deep and nobody is going to be able to game their way to victory. Throughout the competition our team will also make whatever tweaks are necessary to ensure the integrity of the competition.
How Do You Make the Brackets?
There is no seeding in this competition and placement in the brackets is done using an online randomizer. As a result there is quite a bit of luck in terms of how far you can go in this competition. Please also keep in mind that most people aren't super fit in January and a lot of people plan to use these segments as workouts. Even if you're going against someone significantly faster than you, if you run hard you might be surprised by the result. Strange things happen in these races!
What are the Prizes?
The overall male and female winners of the race will each take home a free pair of shoes from Mill City or Saint City Running (shoes must be in-stock). We expect to have some additional prizes for winners of the first two rounds. We will update this page when we have that information.
