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Hundreds of people braved sub-zero temperatures for the 9th annual Kidarod outdoor adventure race for kids and families today at Thompson Park in West St. Paul.
“The Kidarod originated in 2015 and is inspired by Alaska’s famous sled-dog race, except with kids doing the work and husky sled teams watching the fun,” said Ashlee Mueller, director of events with the YMCA. “It combines climbing, pulling, sliding, hiking/running, and fun obstacles into an unforgettable two-mile winter adventure.”
The YMCA teamed up with Dakota County Parks to bring this event to the East metro and West St. Paul for the first time.
“The original Kidarod at Fish Lake Regional Park in Maple Grove has grown each year, and fills up with more people wanting to participate than we can accommodate,” said Mueller. “So hosting a second Kidarod in the East metro is a result of lots of lots of interest in this unique and epic adventure experience.”
The Maple Grove event, Kidarod West, will happen in February.
Kidarod East 2023 in Pictures
Here are photos from the event, thanks to photographer Sam Amundson:
All photos by Sam Amundson: Sam is a freelance photographer specializing in sports, nature, portraiture, and photojournalism. He’s currently a junior at Two Rivers High School where he runs cross country and plays baseball. Sam lives in St. Paul, Minn., with his parents and sister.
Map of Kidarod East
Here’s a look at the Kidarod course:
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