Despite the predicted rain and snow in our forecast, there was still a sea of green this morning.
The 12th Annual St. Fennessy 4K runners must have had enough luck for good weather for the race.

Hundreds of people were ready to run with the winds at their backs for this St. Patrick’s Day themed race. Of course the people running were also supporting the Young Athlete’s Foundation. Runners throughout the Northland and beyond are preparing for Grandma’s Marathon. Zach Schneider says shorter races like this one, are a great way to prepare for running those 26 miles this summer.

“This is just the start of a year-long calendar that we have with the Young Atheletes Foundation. Fitger’s 5K is next month, middle of April, down in downtown Duluth,” Schneider said. “Then the Park Point 5, Miler, middle of July, right after Grandma’s Marathon weekend, down on Park Point.”

Now the St. Fennessy 4K runners don’t really see this race not as a competition, says long-time volunteer Candy Furo. She says the race is more about bringing families and the community together.

“You got to start out with the shorter races and work your way up to the half, and then, finally the full. After you do that, then you can say, ‘I quit. That’s enough running. I’ll just volunteer,’” Furo said. “Don Fennessy, who was also on the board with me, and now his daughter was on the board and now works for Grandma’s. So it’s like a real family event, so you want to be part of it, and yes, the community gets involved.”

John Curley and Tiffany Kari Cizmas were the first to cross the finish line. They led the way for 565 participants running in this one-of-a-kind race.

John Curley, has now won the men’s race two straight years and three of the past four. He finished the race in 12:11 and was just eight seconds off the event record of 12:03 set by Scott Behling in 2015.

Kari Cizmas, meanwhile, won this year’s women’s race with a time of 15:38 after finishing as the runner-up at the 2021 Saint Fennessy 4K.

The event also featured a 2K run-walk option. 29 total participants competed, Jensen Stigsell (15:39) won on the men’s side. On the women’s side, Jessica Anderson (14:52) won.

This one-of-a-kind race is not only great fun for the whole family, it supports the Young Athletes Foundation. The funds raised from the event go towards the non-profit’s community grants, scholarships and even donating running shoes.