Griak Meet a Celebration of XC

The Gopher men's "pack" floats over the parched grass to
win the men's title. L to R Marcus Paulson(8), Derek Storkel(10)
Andrew Larson(6), and John Simons(9). Photo by Gene Niemi

One Saturday every September cross country takes over the Les Bolstad golf course in Falcon Heights.  The Griak Invitational brings together high schools, universities, and colleges from all over the US and Canada in what has become an annual celebration of the sport.

Instead of golfers, University of Minnesota staff ride the golf carts around the course, taking care of the chores that need doing,  leading the racers, and driving "clean up" behind the last runner in each race.  The race medical staff uses them to transport injured or sick runners back to the finish line medical tent. They even gave Goldy Gopher a ride so he could attempt to lead the crowd in cheering on the participants.

Fairways  and the course driving range host a veritable tent city of teams that bring blankets, tarp, or full tents where the teams spend the time before and after the races.  A jumbotron screen is set up near the finish area awards stand that broadcasts video of each race as well as results during the awards ceremonies.  There is an announcer's stand near the start where the play-by-play of each race is broadcast, and post-race interviews are conducted with winners.  These are boomed out to anyone in the vicinity over a set of loudspeakers lined up behind the start area.

Large cards on sticks are lined up between the start area and the awards stand with "fast facts" about the race.  Course maps are displayed on the back of the awards stand with a large picture of Roy Griak, the Gopher coach who the event is named after, and, who at 89 years old can still be seen driving a golf cart to various parts of the course to meet with runners, coaches, and acquaintances.  The team and individual trophies are laid out on long tables next to the award stand with a picture of Griak on the team awards. In back of the awards stand are several large white wooden boards on which race results are posted and where participants, coaches, family, and spectators vie for position to view each race's results after they are  posted.

The same crowd lines the finish chute and flows in a constant stream along the course to cheer on the participants and watch the progress of each race.  Old friends who haven't seen each other since, perhaps, the last Griak meet they attended or longer catch up on each other's lives.  Parents of the participants encounter one another  and compare notes on their children's progress.  

Coaches keep track of their teams and chat with one another before and after the races, giving their perspectives on how it went for their respective teams, going over results' sheets.  Runners transform themselves from warm up clothes, to racing uniforms, to shirts bearing inspirational sayings, or shorts and body paint.  University personnel sell race programs at the entrance to the start finish area near the driving range.  A large concession stand sells food and beverages; smaller ones sell T-shirts and other event memorabilia.

It is a small "city" that assembles and dismantles itself in a period of days.  There is a posted sign noting "absolutely no dogs allowed," but a few have managed to sneak onto the grounds to the delight of all dog lovers, but probably not to the groundskeepers.  The "nerve center" of packet pick up, information for the coaches and teams is staffed by volunteers and operates out of the golf pro shop next to the main golf club house.  

Police and traffic cones keep the bus and car traffic flowing on Larpenteur Avenue on the South end of the golf course as teams come and go, dropping off and picking up in the driving range parking area as the day begins well before the first race at 9 AM and after the final awards ceremony around 5 PM.  Appropriately enough for distance running, this celebration is an endurance event, not a sprint.