Local group aims for legacy in Twin Cities Marathon

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

Matt Gabrielson, 30 of Minneapolis, MN will be among the top runners in the Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday.

Five men from Team USA Minnesota are running today -- all vying to be the first Minnesotan to win the men's title.

By RACHEL BLOUNT, Star Tribune

Last update: October 5, 2008 - 8:36 AM

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TWIN CITIES MARATHON

10-mile race 7:10 a.m. Sunday;

Marathon at 8 a.m. Sunday, Metrodome

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No Minnesotan has ever won the men's title at the Twin Cities Marathon. Matt Gabrielson wasn't aware of that until he heard it Friday morning, which gave him another distinction to chase in Sunday's 27th edition.

Chris Lundstrom did know about his state's winless streak, and he took the opportunity to tease his Team USA Minnesota teammate and fellow Minneapolis resident about whether Gabrielson has the bloodlines to stake a true claim if he wins.

"He's originally from Iowa,'' Lundstrom said. "Would that count?''

Should anyone in their training group cross the finish line first, no one is planning to split hairs. Team USA Minnesota is sending five men to the race, including longtime members Lundstrom, who will run his 16th marathon, and Gabrielson, competing in his second. Macharia Yuot, a new member of the team, and first-time marathoners Josh Moen and Antonio Vega also will represent the group.

Chances are they will be chasing top seed Dan Browne, the 2002 winner and a 16-time U.S. distance champion, and Fernando Cabada, who made a splash in his 2006 marathon debut with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 27 seconds. The locals will have the advantage of in-depth course knowledge, cheering sections packed with friends and the enhanced training that comes within a group, factors that could be meaningful over 26.2 miles.

"I do love running the Twin Cities Marathon, and I love the course,'' said Lundstrom, who finished fourth in the 2006 race in a personal-best 2:17:34. "I have a lot of friends and family here, and it's nice to have the support. Coming up Summit [Avenue], every little bit helps.

"It's been incredible training with these guys. This is the first time our whole group has been able to train together. To have five or six guys putting in the work, supporting each other, has been amazing. I hope we can keep this momentum going for the next few years.''

Lundstrom, Gabrielson and fellow marathoner Jason Lehmkuhle -- who will run the New York City Marathon on Nov. 2 -- have been part of Team USA Minnesota since 2001. Lundstrom said that, when the group started, its runners specialized in a wider variety of distances. With athletes training for everything from 1,500 meters to 26.2 miles, it wasn't always easy to work out together.

The team has since evolved toward longer distances. Six of its seven men will run either the Twin Cities or New York City marathons over the next month, and they regularly train over all or part of the Twin Cities course.

Lundstrom said the group still has a good mix. Training with faster runners has made him more confident in his speed, and he hopes his endurance -- built with 140 miles per week on the road -- has helped his teammates improve their stamina.

Gabrielson said the team knows every square centimeter of the course, including the tricky areas where a savvy runner can gain ground. Their camaraderie and good humor also has helped their training, keeping the mood light as the miles pile up.

"It's a nice feeling to know everyone is working as hard as you,'' Gabrielson said. "Minnesota has an outstanding history of marathon runners: Dick Beardsley, Bob Kempainen, Steve Plasencia, Garry Bjorklund, Ron Daws. We've discussed on our runs that we want to be part of that group of great Minnesota marathoners. We want to start our own legacy.''

This year's Twin Cities Marathon also will serve as the U.S. men's marathon championship. If the temperature stays in the 50s as expected, Browne is predicting a winning time between 2:11 and 2:13.

Phil Coppess' time of 2:10:05 in 1985 remains the course record, while Browne's winning time of 2:11:35 in 2002 is the fifth-fastest time in race history.

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