Crowne Plaza 2007 Host Hotel
The Crowne Plaza will be the host hotel for the 2007 Saint Paul Inline Marathon. The Saint Paul Inline Marathon has secured a discounted room rate of $109 dollars per night. Rooms are starting to fill up fast, so take advantage of the remaining rooms. Reservations can be made Online Here or simply by calling 1-800-593-5708.

Wells Fargo to Sponsor the 10 Mile Tour
We would like to introduce Wells Fargo as the newest sponsor of the Saint Paul Inline Marathon. Well Fargo in Minnesota provides financial services from 245 stores and employs more than 21,000 team members throughout the state. Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $486 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through more than 6,000 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the U.S., and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest credit rating from both Moody’s Investors Service, “Aaa,” and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, “AAA.”

"Miss and Out" Race Expanded
Due to popular demand, the "Miss and Out" Elimination style race has been expanded to include both a Men's Pro Masters race and a Men's Pro Veterans race. There will be cash awards and prizes for both divisions. Last year Jessica Smith and Joey Mantia brought a huge crowd to their feet with some very exciting racing.

For those of you that attended the first ever "Miss and Out" at the Saint Paul Inline Marathon last year, you know this is going to be a great opportunity to watch some of the fastest skaters in the world going head to head on a unique track in a very exciting race format. To sign up today, please follow this link. Sign-ups ARE limited to the first 20 skaters in each division. Click Here To Register

3rd Annual Metrodome Inline Marathon RESULTS
The 3rd annual Metrodome Inline Marathon held on Saturday April 24th was a tremendous success.

NEW 10 MILE TOUR EVENT!
New to the sport or interested in a skating a shorter distance but still want to be part of the big event? Skate our NEW 10 Mile Tour.

This event also allows children ages 7 to 12, who aren't allowed to skate the full marathon, to participate in a shorter distance while still enjoying the competitive atmosphere of the overall event. Skate on the same course and climb the same hill to the finish as the full marathon...truly the event anyone can do.

ESPN Sports Center, LIVE from the Saint Paul Inline Marathon
The Saint Paul Inline Marathon has been selected to be the broadcast site for the August 21 airing of ESPN's SportsCenter. The marathon represents Minnesota as part of "SportsCenter Across America," as ESPN visits 50 states in 50 days this summer. "We couldn't be more thrilled to present our marathon to millions of ESPN's viewers" said marathon co-founder Mike Cofrin, "this elevates the event to an entirely new level." Organizers are expecting 2,500 skaters, one third of which will be skating in their first in-line marathon. Most of the participants are from the Twin Cities which is "only fitting" according to co-founder Marilyn Franzen "because the sport started here 25 years ago this year." According to Mayor Randy Kelly, "with our ever increasing presence as a world class sports destination, we welcome ESPN as we Skate Saint Paul. In fact, you can count me among the 2,500 skaters!"

An inline marathon is an achievable challenge for skaters from all walks of life: participants range in age from 13 to over 80, most hail from the Twin Cities but the event draws skaters from over 38 states and six countries. "I signed-up for the marathon today, it's my first one" said 42 year old Jim Bastyr of Blaine, Minn. as he chuckled, "but first I need to pull my 9 year old skates out of the closet." In addition to a large number of local skaters, North America's top professional teams will compete.

For inline marathoners, the question is not "if you can do it", but rather, "how long will it take?", according to Franzen, "26.2 miles of fun" is our slogan because people love the experience of gliding through the full marathon distance it's a lot easier on the bones than running." The average skater completes a marathon in 2.5 hours.

The course winds along the Mississippi River on Warner and Shepard Roads in Saint Paul and ends with a sprint up Sibley to scenic Mears Park. The Saint Paul Inline Marathon is ranked the #2 inline marathon in the United States. Organizers have partnered with the Cancer Kids Fund of Children's Hospitals and Clinics to raise funds for the charity.

ASI Photos are done - Check them out!
Find yourself and your friends skating along the mighty Mississippi during the 2nd Annual Saint Paul Inline marathon. Click here to start your search.

My First Inline Marathon - 2004 Inaugural St. Paul Inline

by: Jim Smith
June 5, 2005
Getting Interested - I first took an interest in inline skating while vacationing in Colorado early last summer. While cycling near Breckinridge I passed a small group of lycra clad inline skaters skating in a tight line going about 15 miles an hour on a fairly flat trail. I thought to myself, “that looks like fun, I’d like to try that”. It seemed like a low impact workout compared to running, and they were traveling fast enough that they could cover some decent ground.

I put that thought out of my mind and didn’t think about it again until a week or so later when I got back home and saw a notice for the inaugural St. Paul Inline Marathon on www.skinnyski.com. As far as I could see there were only two obstacles in my way. One, I didn’t own any inline skates, and two, I had never inline skated before...read more