Day 538 – US – Minnesota [Red Wing to Wabasha]

24/09/21

52km

  From Red Wing (Minnesota) to Wabasha (Minnesota)

North America

By the Mississippi River on a beautiful day – and in the footsteps of another world runner, Tom Denniss

Leaving Red Wing at dawn under these stunning skies

Today, unlike yesterday, I set out to run by the river and I actually saw it! I reached Lake Pepin shortly after passing Frontenac, the largest lake on the Mississippi River. A big one, 3km wide and 35km long – it’s a long time I haven’t been near such a large body of water. This Lake is known as the birthplace of waterskiing, as a sign informed me. And interestingly (or not) Lake Pepin is also the birthplace of Laura Ingalls (in real life). Remember the Little House in the Prairie anyone?! That had me laugh a little – and even later as I realised (like Tom had informed me) that I was indeed running on the Laura Ingalls Highway. What a tribute!

Who would have thought… Laura Ingalls Highway!

I mention Tom (Denniss) the 3rd world runner ever (2012/2013). Our paths crossed earlier when I reached Lake Detroit. And it’s now the second day in a row that I am running on the exact same path he ran over 9 years ago. I managed to retrieve his blog post of the day he ran where I ran today (http://www.tomsnextstep.com/jun-29-2012/). I even think we stopped by at the same place for lunch: The Slippery in Wabasha, by the River – with all the memorabilia from the “Grumpy Old Men” movie! (an oldie featuring Jack Lemmon). Tom ran this in June during scorching hot temperatures. I can only imagine how tough it would have been, for there was no shade at all on the road… I am lucky to run it in autumn weather.

The Pearl of the Lake – Lake Pepin, historic steamboat

The weather today was beautiful. Chilly and cool.. It just got a little windy as I approached Wabasha and I actually made it to the Slippery Restaurant as the first drops of rain came in. I stayed there for a while, enjoying the atmosphere of the local venue and with great views over the river.

Grumpy Old Men movie set – Wabasha, Minnesota

Tomorrow I was supposed to run to Winona. Alas when I searched for a hotel online – and to my dismay: all the places were fully booked. There’s a festival here this weekend. I had to adjust my route. I’m running south to St Charles tomorrow, then I will run to Winona on Sunday, when all the hotels are free again. It’s supposed to be a truly beautiful place, by the lakes and river – I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this.

[ps: my run is recorded in two parts today – 49.61 km to the pub / then another 2.1 km to the hotel after the lunchbreak. The video below is that of the main run only]

Enjoy the video of today’s run: https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8yR8J7NO

Check my daily run GPS data on or

Here is the map of today’s run: