2003 NorthShore Inline Marathon Course Report

The NorthShore Inline Marathon course is one of the best courses that you will have the opportunity to skate on.

It is scenic, relatively flat, straight and smooth. However, there are a few areas that you need to be aware of. Several of us skated the course this past Saturday and had a very enjoyable skate. It was 53 degrees at the start, clear skies and just a slight wind out of the west.

Last year “tar snakes” caused problems for some at the start of the course. A tar snake is created when a crack in the asphalt is repaired. The crack is ground out to make it wider and deeper and then the crack is filled with tar. The tar seals the crack plus provides an expansion joint. The tar snakes last year were very new so the tar filler was very soft and sticky. The tar snakes have had a year to cure so now the tar filler is “rubbery” but not sticky. They can still cause a problem for skaters if you allow all 4 or 5 of your wheels to ride on top of the tar filler. You can cross the tar snakes at most any angle but never allow all of your wheels to ride on top of the tar filler.

This photo shows the start line looking west towards Duluth.

This photo shows a typical tar snake, this one crossing the start line. Tar snakes can run across the roadway, in the direction of travel or at angles. The higher concentration of tar snakes run from the start and end at about mile 5.3. There will be tar snakes, to some degree, along the entire course.

The tar snakes are in both lanes. Some tar snakes can be quite long; the one pictured is probably 20-30 yards long.

This photo is looking down on an example tar snake. .

This photo shows me sticking my thumb into the tar. Note that the tar is rubbery and can be easily pushed down.

This photo shows that you can pinch the tar between your thumb and forefinger.

There is a new development this year just 4/10ths of a mile past the start. In the left lane only the asphalt has “heaved” creating a slight bump in the road. We were quite surprised when we skated over this bump at speed not knowing it was there.

This photo shows the bump in the left lane looking at it from the ditch.

This photo shows the Knife River Bridge, 5.9 miles into the race. This bridge has two expansion joints.

This photo shows the expansion joint relative to my foot.

This photo shows how the joints run at an angle to direction of travel. Several years ago Bob Cragin of Cragin Machine Shop designed and built metal “caps” to cover these expansion joints and provide a smooth crossing. The caps are a great addition but a bit of caution is still in order.

At mile 6.7 you will go under a railroad underpass. The asphalt just under this bridge is rough. This photo shows the rough asphalt under the RR Underpass. From just pass the RR Underpass and along most of “Old 61” they have been laying sewer line this summer in the ditch of the inland side of the road.

When we skated the course Saturday we were quite impressed with how smooth and debris free the roadway was. The contractor plus the Lake County and St. Louis County Maintenance Crews have done a wonderful job keeping these work areas clean.

This photo, taken at mile 7.4, shows the sewer work along the racecourse.

Perhaps the best part of the course runs from the RR Underpass at mile 6.7 to the Lester River Bridge at mile 19.7. London Road starts just after the Lester River Bridge. London Road is perhaps the roughest section on the course. It runs from mile 19.7 to mile 23.1 where the freeway starts. London Road has its fair share of cracks, bumps and manhole covers.

This photo shows 40th Ave E, taken at mile 21.8, along London Road.

At mile 23.1 you hop on I-35. I-35 is “grooved” to help improve traction for automobile traffic. The grooves aren’t a problem other than it will cause your skates to vibrate.

These photos show the grooves on I-35.

From I-35 to the finish line the roadway is typical highway and city street construction quality.

Good luck on race day!