Lift Bridge Race Moves to Stillwater

06 Apr Lift Bridge Race Moves to Stillwater

Stillwater City Council has approved a move for the June 24 Lift Bridge Road Race, a Run Stillwater event, to new courses within the city and bringing the finish line to Lift Bridge Brewing Company, title sponsor of the event.

The race includes 10-mile, 10K and 5K distances through residential Stillwater. Runners will see the iconic Victorian homes of the city’s south hill area and run past the Washington County Historic Courthouse. The 10-Mile and 10K courses include the McKusick Lake trail area before weaving through neighborhoods to the finish line. Course maps are available on the Run Stillwater website.

“This is the only race within residential Stillwater to have three distinct distances with U.S.A. Track & Field (USATF) certification,” said Stacy Einck, race coordinator for Run Stillwater, Inc., which manages the race. “The courses show runners a new dimension beyond downtown Stillwater. And residents can cheer on participants all along the routes from their front yards. It makes for a great community event.”

The new location includes Lift Bridge Brewing Company, title sponsor of the event, hosting the finish line at the company’s Tower Dr. brewery and taproom. The location provides easy access for participants with plenty of parking around the commercial business area near the brewery at Highway 36 and Washington Ave. in Stillwater.

“We cannot wait to host all of the runners, their friends & families, and – of course – help to replenish those lost complex sugars and healthy carbs with some delicious hometown beer!” said Brad Glynn, co-owner and vice president of marketing at Lift Bridge Brewing Company. “Our event and collaboration philosophy is to create memorable experiences that have a backdrop of building community and being socially conscious. Working with Run Stillwater and hosting the Lift Bridge Road Race checks all those boxes.”

The event supports many non-profit organizations in the area as part of the organization’s Volunteer for Donation program available to nonprofit organizations at all Run Stillwater races. Nonprofit groups can sign up for a volunteer slot on the Run Stillwater website to staff a water stop, for example, and receive a donation directly to their group. “Our volunteer program is a great way for smaller groups like scout troops, booster clubs and youth organizations to raise money while enjoying time together,” Einck says. “We’re honored to support them this way and all the work they do.” More than $50,000 has been donated since Run Stillwater was established in 2012.

The Lift Bridge race has been run out of Bayport’s Lakeside Park since 2014; on the St. Croix River three miles south of Stillwater. Organizers say the move ties the race closer to title-sponsor Lift Bridge Brewing, as well as its namesake, Stillwater’s historic lift bridge.

The Lift Bridge Road Race is one of five races in the Run Stillwater race series and is the only fully residential race – a feature Einck says adds dimension to the already diverse courses offered in the series. In addition to the Lift Bridge race, the Run Stillwater race roster includes the May 27 Stillwater Half Marathon, July 29 St. Croix Crossing Half Marathon, August 12 Gopher to Badger Half Marathon and September 16 Stillwater Log Run.