This morning, Tom Tisell crossed the finish line with his arms raised above his head, his sweat-soaked jersey stuck to his skin. The 41-year-old had made history as the winner of the inaugural Minneapolis Marathon, which began and ended in downtown Minneapolis. It was a great day for a race, as temperatures hit the mid-70s and a cool breeze from the Mississippi River fanned runners taking in a lot of sun on a clear day.
Tisell, of St. Paul, finished in 2:42:57. “It’s the first one ... definitely a highlight,” said Tisell, who completed his 29th marathon and his third this month. “It’s hometown. I work downtown Minneapolis. I run this race a lot. It’s home. It feels good. Easy to sleep in your bed and wake up and come on over and head on home when you’re done.”
Soon after speaking to reporters, Tisell dissappeared among the thousands of spectators and runners who took part in the event, sponsored by Team Ortho, which also included a half-marathon and 5K run.
Jessica Pink, of Hopkins, became the first female winner of Minnesota’s newest marathon with a time of 3:04:16, completing a sweep for local runners. After the race, the 29-year-old needed a brief reminder about the historical significance of her victory. “Yeah, this is the very first Minneapolis Marathon isn’t it?” she said when asked about winning the first-time event. “Yeah! Woo Hoo! Sounds good to me. ... Love it.”
There were no laurel wreaths for Tisell or Pink, grand prizes or postrace press conferences. No Olympians supported by big sponsors. The first Minneapolis Marathon felt more like an everyman’s race. Pop music blast through speakers positioned at the finish line. Inspirational quotes were posted along the race route, which commenced at downtown Minneapolis’ Depot and concluded across from the Guthrie Theater. Kids rolled down the hill at Gold Medal Park, while their parents cheered on the runners.
The Minneapolis Marathon had a much more casual flavor than the state’s most famous 26.2-mile races: Grandma’s (Duluth) and the Twin Cities marathons. After the race, participants convened at the Depot for a postrace celebration...
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