2026 Jared Anez Eagle Lake Race Series

Welcome to the 9th annual Jared Anez Eagle Lake Race Series! 

The morning's events include: Half Marathon, 5K Run/Walk, Kids Fun Run, and Bean Bag Tournament!  Ice Cream Truck will also be on site again this year! 

     NEW FOR 2026: Additional race t-shirt purchases will be available to order online through July 18th. On computers: go to menu and click "STORE." On phones: choose "STORE" from the dropdown menu and then click "EDIT."   A limited number and sizes of t-shirts will be sold at packet pick-up and on race day. 

        (*Reminder: t-shirts are included with your 1/2M or 5K registration.)

Half Marathon: 13.1 miles. This is included in the Glacial Lakes Championship Running Series and each official finisher will be awarded points in the series along with a finisher's medal and gift. The course will be supported through 3 hours; after the 3 hour cut off, you are considered a self-supported pedestrian and are not guaranteed an official finish time. All in-person participants are eligible for overall and age group awards. Participants will receive a race T-shirt with their race packet (guaranteed if registered by July 18). 

7:00 AM Half Marathon Start

5K: Participants are welcome as runners or walkers; strollers or wagons are welcome. No pets, please. Participants will receive a race T-shirt with their race packet (guaranteed if registered by July 18).

8:15 AM 5K Start

NO Virtual Half Marathon or 5k options for 2026. Please consider donating or purchasing a race t-shirt as a way to show your support.

Kids Fun Run: Kids 10 and under are welcome to run or walk the Kids Fun Run at 9:00 am - it's FREE! Each participant in the Fun Run will run through the finish line arch and receive a ribbon. The Kids Fun Run will start and end near the race finish line. You may sign up for the free kids fun run but registration is not required.

BEAN BAG TOURNAMENT: For those who want to participate in the day's events without running, this is for you! Each 2-person team should register before August 1 if possible, but we will also take same day registration before 8:00am.  2-Person Team Entry is $30.  Tossing begins around 8:15 am. If there is unfavorable weather, the bean bag tournament will be held indoors in the Big Red Gym. 

     Jared Anez was a father, husband, local agriculture business owner, school board chairman, and an active member of the Willmar community who passed away unexpectedly in March of 2017. Jared was passionate about education, family, faith, and a healthy, active lifestyle. These values are demonstrated daily by Jared's wife, Kami, and their 6 children, Sam, Savannah, Harley, Jonas, Sullivan and Lawson and we are grateful for everything they bring to the Willmar community. We are honoring Jared's legacy and the Anez Family's commitment to education and community with this race series.

     We are proud to celebrate Jared's legacy by funding scholarships from race proceeds for high school students pursuing post-secondary education in a STEM-related field. Last year, for the graduating class of 2025, the Jared Anez Memorial gave $11,000 to the Willmar High School and New London-Spicer High School Scholarship Programs! A total sum of $88,000 in scholarships has been given over the last eight years. We couldn't make this contribution to high school students each year without the donations from our community sponsors, donors, volunteers, and all of the participants who choose to run and toss with us! Thank you to all of you!

Join fellow runners on August 1, 2026 for the 2026 Jared Anez Eagle Lake Race Series. It's a fantastic 5K, Half-Marathon featuring a flat and fast course in Willmar.