2024 WAPOA’s Grandpa's Run for the Walleye

The 27th Annual Run for the Walleye was held on July 6, 2024!

Run for the Walleye Chairperson, Dave Fischer, gave a big thank you to all the volunteers for helping make the 27th annual Grandpa’s Run for the Walleye a tremendous success. Over $10,000 net income was raised to support Fish Habitat and Water Quality on the Whitefish Chain.

We had perfect weather this year, and the turnout was high. The race continues to have broad appeal to runners and this year’s participants were from twenty-six (26) states and two foreign countries. One of the reasons is we have had our courses certified by USA Track and Field Minnesota, runners are chip-timed, and our race results are registered with that group.

There were 614 5k/10K participants and 97 Kids Sunfish Dash for a total of 711 signups. The youngest runner in the 5K/10K was seven (7), the oldest was eighty-four (84). Over 50 volunteers are needed to support and conduct the event. This year, as in past years, WAPOA Board members, WAPOA members, and friends of WAPOA and their family members all pitched in to help. They volunteered to help advertise the event, pre-register participants online, stuff race bags with bibs and T-shirts pre-race day, register later entry runners on Friday night and Saturday morning prior to the race, enter all the racer’s names/addresses and bib numbers into the data base, set up and man the start and finish lines, mark the route, set up and man the water stations along the route, present awards, pass out goodie bags to Sunfish Dash participants. Numerous tasks were completed pre-race day by Dave, and after the race was over as well. Also, it is important to recognize the excellent support WAPOA got from the City of Crosslake and its employees. WAPOA could not put on the event without their assistance.

The annual Grandpa’s Run for the Walleye is a BIG event. Dave has served as Chairperson for the past 11 years. He has always done an amazing job planning, coordinating, and keeping it all together to make race-day go smoothly for the volunteers, and most importantly for the race participants.

USA Track and Field Minnesota gives out Runner of the Year awards in the various types of races and age groups. Kathy Peterson of Outing set the new 5K State Record for Female 80+ at the 2023 Run for the Walleye. She broke it this year! We received this note from USA Track and Field Minnesota: “Another year, another age record for Kathy Peterson. Another dozen or so qualified for Minnesota Runner of the Year, too.” Congrats to Kathy!

WAPOA THANKS all the participants and volunteers that participated and supported the 2024 Run for the Walleye. Information about the 2025 Run for the Walleye will be sent to previous runners, all WAPOA members, and others in early 2025.

2024 was Dave Fischer’s last year as the RFW Chairperson. His “race shoes” will be hard to fill!

We are currently looking for a Race Director (paid position) and a second individual who would become a WAPOA Board member and assist the Race Director in pre-race and post-race activities. If you are interested or know someone who may be interested, please contact WAPOA President, Tony Coffey.

The next RFW will be held on Saturday, July 5th, 2025.