Minocqua will host the sixth annual No Frills Marathon Saturday and a state marketing grant is helping bring in new participants. It also is helping with the area's bottom line.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Krystal Westfahl says the event began as a marathon along the Bearskin Trail from Tomahawk to Minocqua.
Last year she says they got a state Joint Effort Marketing grant to try to bring in half-marathon participants and they focused on bringing more half-marathon runners this year. The Department of Tourism provided a $3,250 dollar grant this year as well....
"....the event effects our region, not just the Minocqua area. We start the event in Tomahawk and run the Bearskin Trail. It has a great economic impact, about $55,000 to $100,000 we receive in our area just from the participants of this marathon..."
The race is also the last event you can do to be a qualifier for the Boston Marathon so Westfahl says they get many runners interested in making sure they do the run. She says registration is Friday night at Minocqua Brewing Company where a meal is provided for participants. The marathon starts Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Tomahawk end of the trail. The half-marathon begins at about 7:30 a.m.
More information is available at the Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce.
