08/23/2026
Eagan parkrun #384 was a top notch people and weather day! Rachel Toft was visiting us from England, she wrote a wonderful post run report.
Hi there
It was lovely to meet you all yesterday. Here is my run report:
Today we visited Eagan parkrun for the first time while visiting Minnesota from our home in England. We had tried twice before to make it to Eagan over the past seven years, but on both occasions we were thwarted by bad weather. So it was a real relief to wake to a beautiful, warm morning, with clear skies and just a light breeze.
As soon as we parked the car, we met Francine, who gave us a very warm welcome and told us about the route and some of the other parkruns in the area. We also met her daughter, who kindly lent me a tutu so that I could join in the tradition of wearing one whenever parkrun falls on the 22nd.
There was a fantastic turnout today, with 80 people walking or running in the sunshine. We were the only tourists from England, although there was also a visitor from Mexico, along with lots of first-timers who were completely new to parkrun. We also met a group from the Burnsville Cross Country team and members of the Stepping Out Running Club, who were visiting from their group home in Hastings.
I chatted with Julie from Stepping Out, who explained that the clubβs clients run or walk alongside staff to support them. I loved the logo on their T-shirts, which was designed by some of the club members, and especially their motto: βWe run where eagles soar.β
That phrase really resonated with me. We have just returned from a canoeing trip in the Boundary Waters, where we were fortunate enough to see numerous beautiful bald eagles soaring above us and watching over us from the trees along the shore. Eagles are such a powerful symbol of wild freedom, strength and resilience, having recovered from the brink of extinction after their numbers were devastated by the use of chemicals in farming. To βrun where eagles soarβ feels like an invitation to be limitless, bold and powerful. What more could we strive for in our running dreams?
The three-lap route passes through a beautiful native prairie ecosystem, alongside lakes and bogs, with welcome shade from taller trees in places. There are a few small hills to contend with, but they are short and not too steep. It was wonderful to see participants encouraging one another, whether they were running fast or taking a slower walk. Everyone was supported by the fantastic team of volunteers, who gathered near the finish to cheer, whistle and ring bells to keep us all going.
I was at parkrun today with my wife, Nick, who had both knees replaced last year and had been unable to run for many years. Two weeks ago, she walked Como Lake parkrun, and today she ran the entire route for the first time on her new knees. It was a truly remarkable achievement and made the morning even more special for both of us.
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Eagan. We received such a warm welcome and met so many friendly volunteers, runners and walkers. Thank you all so much for making our first visit such a memorable one!
Best wishes,
Rachel Toft
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