Trail Run History |
Treasured Haven Farm |
Cross Country Running Adventures |
320-358-3581 |
Treasured Haven Farm hosted it's first 5K Trail Run, known as the Treasured Haven Farm Veggie Run, on August 14, 2010. We also had a 1 Mile Fun Run and a Toddler Trot for the kids! The 5k course was well received even considering the farm had received over 7 inches of rain the preceding three days! It was truly an adventure mud and trail run for its inaugural debut! All of our farm courses are privately developed on the farm itself, and not on public roadways! We do have one gravel road that the course crosses for some of the runs over 5k so that we can access the western half of the farm for more challenges, terrain, and distance. We also award engraved wooden plaques or other awards created right here on the farm for our overall gender and age group winners! The courses and trails have been under development by the Johnson Family on Treasured Haven Farm since 1997. The farm has private wooded trails, field drives and crossings, many open areas including fields and gardens, with ravines, streams, numerous hillsides, and a creek that help create some interesting and challenging adventure features for our premier cross country runs of distances beyond the 5k. Surfaces vary from mowed field grass, private dirt field roads, woodland dirt trails, to more rough terrain for adventure runs. The farm and courses surely will challenge your body and refresh your spirit! Our family has always been avid runners and supporters of running cross country and track, with all five of the Johnson children participating in those sports for the local High School and state and regional USATF. Mom, Peg, was even the first girl team member from the local high school to participate in Cross Country Running when it was made available back in 1977. Also one of our daughters, Britta, who now serves as our assistant race director, went on to run Track and Cross Country, and coach, at the College Level. In 1997, we started blazing our first few feet of trail through a portion of the woodlands and ravines to create a walking and running path to connect two parcels of land. Our trail system continues to expand each year through more areas of the farm and is also used for woodland management, wildlife viewing, and trail rides in some areas. We do have a program for use of the trails to any school team who wishes to train on the off road trails away from the stress and danger of road traffic, and also offer teams fundraising opportunities for helping with farm projects and the gardens. Our family's goal was to "someday" host a real race on our farm, and in August of 2010, we realized that goal with all five of our children there to be part of that great day. Our three oldest were able to come to participate from their homes currently in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Alabama, Since our farm changes so with the seasons, and we have much interest in participating in these farm events, we have decided to offer seasonal races to allow more participation and experiences on the farm. We host a Spring Run through the fresh, green countryside of the farm with new wild flowers in the woods and new crops in the fields, a Summer Veggie Run that includes a portion of the race through the gardens in addition to the woodlands, and a Fall Harvest Run bursting with the fall colors of the woods. A Winter event is also being considered for future years. |
In 1997, the trails began with five young kids, mom and dad, all grabbing the gloves, rakes, a few hand saws, and starting to clear the way! It was a true family effort initially encouraged by mom and the oldest two girls, Elise and Britta, who were on the Cross Country Running Team for school. That summer and fall, every chance she could, mom (Peg) would spend hours in the ravines clearing away all the small brush, sticks and branches as "therapy". A year and a half earlier, she had been diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma and was working hard to regain her health and be there for her five children. She felt the energy of the earth surrounding her was so healing and the trails in the ravines were the perfect place to meditate and focus on health.. Everyone all had the goal that someday we would hold a "real" race on the farm trails and mom would be alive to see it. After years of work, and many more trails created, in 2010, that dream became a reality... and mom was indeed there, very alive and well! |