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Tour de Essex - 7k Trail Run

9 AM - Saturday, October 18, 2025
Essex Park, Rochester, MN

Experience the rolling hills of the Essex Park trails at the Tour de Essex. Enjoy the trails used for hiking, running, dog walking, and cross country skiing. These trails are expertly maintained throughout the year by volunteers of the Rochester Active Sports Community (RASC).

The approximately 7K trail run will start on the Essex Park entrance road and then head onto the trails. Running surfaces on the race course are mainly grass and dirt with short sections of gravel and asphalt.

This is a low key, low frills race. No race mementos (e.g. shirts) or awards will be provided. Water will be available on the course. Runners will be timed with results published on the Rochester Running Club and Rochester Active Sports Community web sites.

The entry fee is a very reasonable $20.00 for online registration through Thursday, October 16. The entry fee for race day registration will be $25. RASC and Rochester Running Club members receive a $5 entry fee discount. The entire race entry fee will be put towards trail maintenance expenses at Essex and Quarry Hill Parks. Rochester Active Sports Community volunteers mow the trails during the summer, clear brush and downed trees, and groom the trails for skiing in the winter.

Race day registration will begin at 8 AM at the Essex Park red barn (not the picnic shelter).

The race starts at 9 AM.

If you have any questions, contact John Resman at jresman@gmail.com.

Come on out and enjoy a great fall morning touring the Essex Park trails, and at the same time you'll be supporting the year-round maintenance of the Essex Park and Quarry Hills Park trail systems!

This race is jointly sponsored by the Rochester Active Sports Community and Rochester Running Club.

For the discounted race fee, join the Rochester Active Sports Community or Rochester Running Club.

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2025 Overall Results

A clear sky and high humidity overnight coated the grassy trails with a heavy dew on the morning of October 18, 2025 for the Tour de Essex. The runners had to descend the downhills with caution as they were covered with wet grass and leaves. Nevertheless, under sunny skies and 53 degree temps, the runners still pushed themselves up and down the constant hills at Essex Park.

The pack was led out of the start by Steven Brady who quickly opened up a lead with Jeremy McJunkin following close behind. Steven and Jeremy battled it out for the rest of the race. Steven held Jeremy at bay for over half of the race, and then Jeremy caught up and slowly pulled away. Jeremy crossed the finish line in 29:45 (6:26 mile pace) with Steven just 9 seconds behind at a 6:28 mile pace. Greg Klinger was the third male across the line averaging 8:11 miles.

Shannon Rupp led the women from the start and completed the Tour de Essex in 37:34 with the miles passing by at an 8:08 min clip. The next two women crossing the finish line were Branda Anderson (8:18 mile pace) and Anna Sortland (8:26/mile). This is the 3rd year in a row that Shannon and Branda have finished 1st and 2nd at the Tour de Essex.

A number of runners ran top mile-pace times in the history of the Tour de Essex

30-39 Female
Shannon Rupp - 5th fastest (8:08)

30-39 Male
Steven Brady - 5th fastest (6:28)

40-49 Female
Branda Anderson - 3rd fastest (8:18)
Anna Sortland - 5th fastest (8:26)
Rachel Horsman - 8th fastest (8:50)

40-49 Male
Jeremey McJunkin - 4th fastest (6:26)

60-69 Female
Deb Thomford - 8th fastest (10:29)

70-79 Female
Peggy Menzel - 5th fastest (12:40)
Rosemary Harnly - 7th fastest (14:09)

70-79 Male
Larry Kleppe - 3rd fastest (9:58)
Steve DeBoer - 4th fastest (10:31)

80-89 Male
Ed Creagan - 2nd fastest (13:50)

Thank you runners for participating in the Tour de Essex. Your entire entry fee goes toward the costs of maintaining the trails at Essex Park and Quarry Hill. Rochester Active Sports Community volunteers mow the trails during the summer, clear brush and downed trees, and groom the trails for skiing in the winter.

Congratulations to all the runners as they enjoyed/endured a fall sojourn on the Essex Park trails!

Online registration closes on Thursday, October 16, 2025.

Race day registration begins at 8 AM.