St. Paul Winter Carnival parade still a go; half marathon cut in half

Last update: January 23, 2009 - 11:29 PM

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The St. Paul Winter Carnival's King Boreas Grande Day Parade will run its entire route today, but the arctic weather is causing festival officials to shorten the Securian Frozen Half Marathon.

The race beginning at 9 a.m. will cover 6.5 miles instead of the 13.1 miles originally planned. The Frozen 5k at 9:15 a.m. will remain a 3.1-mile race. Both races begin at 6th and Jackson streets in downtown St. Paul.

Runners are being told to bundle up, cover as much skin as possible and brace for below-zero temperatures and windchill readings that could be as low as 25 below, said Chris Bauer, a race spokeswoman.

It won't be much warmer for the Grande Day Parade at 2 p.m., but "we won't call it off," said Kathy Bjerke, chair of the board for the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation. Extremely bitter conditions could lead to a shortened route, she said, but as of now all 123 units will make the trek from 4th and Broadway to and around Rice Park and back to Cedar Street via 5th Street.

Any changes to the parade route or carnival activities will be posted on the festival's website, www.winter-carnival.com.

TIM HARLOW

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