Wo-Zha-Wa Run

The last few years I was the race director for Wo-Zha-Wa there was a photographer taking lots of photos. No one knew who he was. I finally tracked him down a few years later and found out that he had a treasure trove of photos which he shared with me.

Here's a link to my Flickr Album that has 345 photos from the 2015 run including photos of two marriage proposals that were made at the finish line. Enjoy. Download. Share. I miss those days.

2015 Wo-Zha-Wa Run September 19, 2015 - Photos by Durwood Schulz - 48th Annual Wo-Zha-Wa Run - James L Schneider, Race Director

A big thank you to Kyler Royston at JustAGame for stepping up 5 weeks ago to make this happen for the 52nd time. Check his page at Wo-Zha-Wa Run 2019.

Just signed up for the 5K at this year's Race for the Future at the Wo-Zha-Wa Festival in Wisconsin Dells. Plan to compete (slowly) for the 48th time in 51 years. Prices go up after this Wednesday so be frugal and do your sign up thing now. (There's a bar near the finish line this year!!! See you there...if you wait for me.)

Race for the Future The Race for the Future is on Saturday September 15, 2018. It includes the following events: 5K Family Fun Run and 1/2 Marathon.

WOW! WOW! WOW! Just got an email from Bill Marten with the following results from the very first Wo-Zha-Wa run. This adds to my partial records from that day. Thanks, Bill.

"Vedder Wins Dells Marathon
Wisconsin Dells – The first annual Wisconsin Dells Jogging Marathon was held here Sunday as part of the Dells’ fall festival and James Vedder of Portland, Oregon, a recent graduate of the UW law school, finished first in the open class.

The marthon was run along a 14 ½ mile course on Hwy. 127 from Portage to the Dells and Vedder was timed in one hour 21 minutes. Gordon Gaulkner of Madison was second and Bill Marten of Madison was third.

In the handicap division where you get a one minute handicap for every year over or under 20 years of age, 57-year-old Dr. William Andberg of Anoka, Minn., took top honors. Madison’s Tom Higgins was second and Steve Miller, also of Madison was third. Mrs. Jeanne Wilde of Stoughton was the top female finisher.

- The Capital Times, Monday, Sept. 23, 1968"

The webpage for the 2018 run in now online at https://raceforthefuture.org/. New course and new group organizing the race. Check it out. You can register on that site.

Welcome Previously the Wo-Zha-Wa Run, now transformed into a community driven event supporting a hometown cause. The Race For the Future features a Half-Marathon and 5K Family Fun Run with start and finish at 200 La Crosse St in Wisconsin Dells. This is a great training run for the fall marathons

We lost a friend and regular Wo-Zha-Wa runner. I added an 80+ category for him 5 years ago. This year I had planned to surprise him with an 85+ category just for him but he didn't register. Now I understand why. It was a pleasure to have met him and I always looked forward to seeing him each year. Our condolences to his family and friends.

Gokey, Phillip Edward MADISON - Phillip Edward Gokey, age 86, died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017, under the tender care povided by the Madison VA Hospital Community

For Sale: I have extra tech t-shirts and pint commemorative glasses from our 50th annual event. Shirts are 2XL (3), XL (26), L (48), M (12). No smalls. $5/glass, $10/shirt, $20 min/order. I cover the mailing cost. Check only. Email me if interested. [email protected]

The Wisconsin Dells Cross-Country team accepts WZW Run donations of $500 to the Dells School District and $2,000 to the Dells X-Country Club. The Wo-Zha-Wa Run has now donated $18,000 over the past 7 years on behalf of our sponsors, Holiday Wholesale & WCCU Credit Union, and you, the runners. Thank you.

Finally resolved my issues with FLICKR. Hopefully this will take you to an album named "2017 Wo-Zha-Wa Run" containing 522 photos from the race. These are published under Creative Commons which means they are free to download and use for non-commercial purposes. Enjoy. Hope you find some you like.

46742688@N07/albums/72157688833680806" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/46742688@N07/albums/72157688833680806

2017 Wo-Zha-Wa Run 9/16/17 Half-Marathon & 4 Mile

Results are now online at www.wozhawarun.com. Photos will be posted to Flikr in the next couple of days. (I've got 760 of them to go through. Hopefully we got a good one of you.)

Wo-Zha-Wa Run - Wisconsin Dells Half-Marathon and Four Mile Run The Wo-Zha-Wa Run, Wisconsin Dells half-marathon and four mile run, is Wisconsin's Oldest Long Distance Run and is held annually in September.

Hitting the road for Wo-Zha-Wa. Yippee!!

Online registration for tomorrow's 50th Annual Wo-Zha-Wa Run closes in 6 hours. (11 pm CDT) Don't wait until tomorrow cause day-of price is $70. Save $20 by registering now. Friends don't let friends register day-of. Share this post with your friends. Thanks and see you tomorrow morning.

Wo-Zha-Wa Run 2017 - Half Marathon & 4 Mile 50th Annual Wo-Zha-Wa Run. Wisconsin's Oldest Long Distance Race. Half-Marathon and Four Mile with start and finish at Wisconsin Dells High School. 265 runners in 2016. 0-19, 5yr age categories to 79, 80+. Half-Marathon course is hilly and challenging. A great training run for the fall marathons. Pl...

We're at 329 registered as of noon on Thursday with about 55% in the 4 mile. Women comprise 58% of the field in both races. Going to pick up your water for the finish line, the McIntosh apples are ordered, last of the t-shirts should be done today, and I'll check out the course one last time this afternoon. We'll be ready for you.

Still time to register online at Active.com until 9:00 pm on Friday night. Mail-in registration is closed. Please share this post with your friends. 326 registered as I write this.

Wo-Zha-Wa Run 2017 - Half Marathon & 4 Mile 50th Annual Wo-Zha-Wa Run. Wisconsin's Oldest Long Distance Race. Half-Marathon and Four Mile with start and finish at Wisconsin Dells High School. 265 runners in 2016. 0-19, 5yr age categories to 79, 80+. Half-Marathon course is hilly and challenging. A great training run for the fall marathons. Pl...

Tomorrow (9/13) is last day to mail in a registration for Saturday's 50th Annual Wo-Zha-Wa Run. Must be postmarked by 9/13. Download registration forms at www.wozhawarun.com. Half-Marathon or Four Mile. Online registration on Active.com is open until 9:00pm on Friday night.

Wo-Zha-Wa Run - Wisconsin Dells Half-Marathon and Four Mile Run The Wo-Zha-Wa Run, Wisconsin Dells half-marathon and four mile run, is Wisconsin's Oldest Long Distance Run and is held annually in September.

Just got back from Wisconsin Dells where I met with X-Country coach, Dean Knetter, and former race director, Mike Sweeney, to go over last minute details of the race. Mike got the course all freshly marked tonight (Have spray can, Will travel) and Dean has his runners all set to handle safety on the course. It takes a great team of nearly 40 people to make this happen and we've got one great team. Always a pleasure to work with good people.

Someone asked about hills? We've got 'em. A long grade the first 4-5 miles and then the course gets an attitude. (735' elevation gain) Sorta like riding a bull in a rodeo except quieter and much more scenic. Everyone who does the Half finishes but don't expect a PR. Later you can tell your friends that you beat the toughest course in Wisconsin and they'll say, "You ran Wo-Zha-Wa!?! You da Boss!"

Couldn't afford a good model but picked up your WZW shirts tonight. These will look a lot better on you and your friends but only if they register. Share this post with them. 7 training days to go.

WE'VE GOT THE RECORD. 302 REGISTERED AS OF RIGHT NOW. Ok, I'll stop shouting...but I'm so darned excited. 350 will happen, 375 is likely, 400 is possible! 7 days to go!

Your Wo-Zha-Wa Commemorative glasses have arrived and I tested one out to make sure they work. Yep, they do. (Aren't you relieved?) Oh, and I ordered the beer and soda for the post-race party at Otto's Supper Club. 13 days to go.

Only 14 training days to Wo-Zha-Wa. 286 registered which is 70 ahead of record pace. (4th largest field ever and climbing) This is going to be a race for the ages...and a darn good time. Still time to get your friends to register for the Half Marathon or the 4 mile. Share this post with them. www.wozhawarun.com

www.wozhawarun.com

The Grey Ghost...50 years ago a little 'old' guy in a ratty grey sweatshirt showed up for the first Wo-Zha-Wa. I'd never run a distance this long before but when I saw him get out of his car I figured I might have a chance of beating him. Then he took off the sweatshirt and his singlet said "Twin Cities Track Club". I was about to run against the man Marathoner Handbook called the fastest man his age in the world two years later when he turned 60. He passed me the first mile and I never saw him until the finish line. He finished 4th and I was 11th. We had been racing a ghost...the Grey Ghost, Dr William Andberg. Owner of nearly every record in the country for his age at that time.

May 25, 2004: Bill Andberg: Relishing 93 years on the run

Come and gettum!! Picked up your plaques (laser engraved...hey, it's our 50th after all) for the top three finishers M/F in each race plus a whole slew of age division medals. Be fast, my friends and one of these could be yours. (Share this post with a friend who would like to add a medal or a really cool plaque to their collection...that's in addition to the one you earn for yourself.)

Are you fast? Or do you have a friend who is fast? And I mean REALLY fast. We haven't broken a race record since 1994!!

We offer a $100 bounty for anyone who wins the race (M/F) and breaks one of these records:
1/2 Marathon (F) - Pam Shepard 1:21:43 ('94)
1/2 Marathon (M) - Dan Martin 1:10:20 ('90).
4 Mile (F) - Ann Limberg 23:36 ('94)
4 Mile (M) - Joe Hansen 20:34 ('92).

If you can't do it, find someone who can and bring them along. They might even split the bounty with you...consider it a finder's fee. Please share this post with your (fast) friends. I want these records BROKEN!!

You and your running friends will want one of these. Thanks to Kevin FitzPatrick of Tortise and Hare Race Management for taking the time to design a custom bib for our 50th. Only 29 days to Wo-Zha-Wa. Sign up on Active.com or download a registration form from wozhawarun.com.

Here's the art proof for your shirts. Tech shirt and safety yellow (closest I could get to gold for our 50th). 32 training days to go. 251 registered as of 8/13 which has us on record pace.

Just approved the artwork. Your commemorative pint glasses will look something like this...except we'll put beer or soda in them when you come to our post-race party. 36 days till Wo-Zha-Wa. I bought 576 of these so in addition to the one you get with your registration you might be able to buy a second one. (You should always have a matching set for when you party with friends after a great run.)

Thanks to everyone who registered by the Early Bird deadline...all 238 of you. If we held the race today it would have the 12th largest field in our 50 year history. Methinks we might be on course for a record breaking year.