Race Discovery
Norwegian Foot March & Trail Run
Norwegian Foot March & Trail Run logo

Norwegian Foot March & Trail Run

Arden Hills, Minnesota, United States View on map
Apr 17, 2027 (America/Chicago local time)
Trail running

About this race

The Norwegian Foot March is an annual event presented by the Vessey Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA). For the fourth year, it is adding a 30K and 5K Trail Run option open to all military families, Junior and Senior ROTC programs, and the general public. The event's proceeds will benefit the AUSA Troops of Tomorrow initiative, the Minnesota VA Food Pantry, and military programs throughout Minnesota.

History of the Norwegian Foot March

The Norwegian Foot March was first held in 1915 as a test of strength and endurance for members of the Norwegian military and to expose new soldiers to the conditions they could expect in the field. Those who completed a 30km distance with a backpack load of 11kg within 4.5 hours earned the Marsjmerket, the Norwegian Armed Forces Marching Badge. On the day after the event, the soldiers should be able to fully participate in regular duties. Over the past several years, the event has gained popularity among U.S. military units, which use the march as an opportunity to support charitable causes.

SCHEDULE

Friday

  4:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Packet Pickup, Business Expo & Static Display
  Arden Hills Army Training Center, 4761 Hamline Ave S., Arden Hills, MN 55112

Saturday

  7:00 - 8:45:  30K Foot March Packet Pickup & Check-In

  9:00: Foot March & 30K Trail Run Start

  9:30: 5K Train Run/Walk Start

  Noon: Foot March & 30K Trail Run Awards Ceremony

FEES

  • Foot March: $50
  • 30K Trail Run: $50
  • 5K Trail Run: $30

Everyone receives a t-shirt with their registration (no guarantee of shirt/size on race day; it is on a first-come, first-served basis)

Registration closes on April 16, 2025.  

NORWEGIAN 30K FOOT MARCH STANDARDS

The uniform that all participants will wear while on the course is as follows:

  • Military members will wear their service's combat fatigues. Any camouflage pattern is acceptable, and uniforms will all be in accordance with applicable regulations. Civilians may wear any appropriate civilian attire and must also wear boots.
  • A ruck weighing no less than 11 kilograms or 24.3 pounds. Note that the ruck will be weighed at the finish line, so anything you can consume over the course of the race (water, snacks, etc.) will not count for weight.
  • A water source. There will be aid stations along the course with water and food, but you must also have at least one quart (one canteen) worth of water at the start of the race. Any type of container is acceptable (canteen, bladder, bottle, etc.).
  • Any necessary cold or wet weather gear. You may keep this in your ruck during the race, but it will not count for weight and must be taken out when the ruck is weighed at the finish.

Click Here for updated Norwegian Foot March details.
 

AWARDS

Various awards will be given to top finishers and top age group finishers in the 30K, 5K Trail Run, and 30K Foot March.

Click Here for more details on the awards being presented.

TIMING AND RESULTS

The event will be chip-timed by Pickle Events

Results will be available during the race at:  www.pickleevents.com

COURSE MAPS

Click here for the course maps

Pick your distance

Trail running

30K Foot March

A foot march, more commonly known as a ruck march, is a relatively fast march over a distance carrying a load in a backpack or ruck sack. It is both a common military exercise and a civilian activity.

Apr 17, 2027 30K 9:00 AM
$50.00
Open

30K Trail Run

This event is an option for participants running the 30-kilometer race without a weighted backpack or military rucksack.

Apr 17, 2027 30K 9:00 AM
$50.00
Open

Running

5K Trail Run

This event is an option for participants who wish to run a shorter course event without military rucksack.

Apr 17, 2027 5K 9:30 AM
$30.00
Open

Typical race-day weather

Based on 4 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Arden Hills, plus the 3 days either side.

Temp (°C)
Minimum temperature (race-week average) 0.9° / Maximum temperature (race-week average) 12.8°
Feels Like (°C)
Minimum feels like — heat index / wind chill (race-week average) -4.4° / Maximum feels like — heat index / wind chill (race-week average) 11.7°
Peak wind (km/h)
Strongest wind of the day (race-week average)
21.6
Precip (mm)
Precipitation over the day (race-week average)
1.8mm
Humidity
Mean relative humidity (race-week average)
65.3%
Sunrise
Sunrise at the start line on April 17, 2027 (CDT)
Sunset
Sunset at the start line on April 17, 2027 (CDT)
Daylight
Hours between sunrise and sunset on race day
13h 36m

The sun rises at 6:24 AM and sets at 8:00 PM local time (CDT) in Arden Hills on April 17, 2027 — 13h 36m of daylight.

Course

No course map published yet.

The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.

Reviews

Done this event?

If you've participated in this event, share your experience with other runners

Other races near Arden Hills

Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months

Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.

  • Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
  • Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
  • Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
  • Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 1 Arden Hills event

Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.