WOMEN ON THE RUN

Going Farther Together

In2003,

Dr. Renee Schwandt was a vibrant young OB-GYN practicing at Essentia Health in Fargo. When she unexpectedly passed away at the age of 38, her sister, Sue Knutson, was determined to find a way to not only preserve Schwandt’s memory, but to carry on her mission to empower and strengthen other women.

Schwandt, an avid runner, believed all women should be strong, but with a soft heart, a kind soul, with grit determination and a true love for all people.

Enter Go Far Woman — a race and expo celebrating the strength, determination and beauty of women and girls. In fact, their motto is: “There is no force equal to a woman determined to rise!” Knutson, who started the event in 2013 in honor of her sister, will kick off Go Far Woman’s fifth birthday on August 18 and 19 at Scheels Arena, and expects more than 2,000 participants, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Essentia Health NICU. The event, which focuses on women and girls, features a half marathon, relay, 10K, 5K as well as a girls-only youth run. In addition, the event offers a baby diaper dash and toddler trot, which are open to both boys and girls. Men are welcome, but usually appear in the form of a supportive friend or partner.

And although the goal of the race itself hasn’t changed, the event will unveil some new branding this year with the help of Knutson’s daughter and Go Far Woman graphic designer, Courtney Blinn. Traditionally the event colors focused on varying shades of pink and purple, but Knutson soon realized that not all women embrace and love those colors. She says, “We wanted to expand and not pigeonhole women into pink.” Blinn adds, “One of our goals is to be more diverse,” so this year’s colors are stronger and more varied than in the past. Knutson joked that she got her to start running several years ago when Blinn was required to run the mile for school. Now, Knutson, who also helps run the Fargo Marathon (fun fact: her husband Mark founded it in 2005 and proposed to her at the finish line in 2010) and Blinn, who does graphic design for that event as well, are both avid runners with the goal of empowering other women just as Schwandt did.

But Knutson and Blinn aren’t alone in delivering the race’s mission. In 2014, they found an ally in Rebecca Marshall, a former track and field coach, who started a running group called Moms on the Run. Marshall initially purchased the franchising rights with the intention of starting the group in the town where she was living in Minnesota, but her husband’s job brought them to Fargo instead. Generally, the training program is an 18-week session ending with a race, and Marshall’s hope was to find a race at the end of summer. When she researched races in Fargo, she found Go Far Woman, which was a perfect fit.

Moms on the Run focuses specifically on the Go Far Woman event and teaches race preparation methods such as training basics, nutrition, form, injury prevention and running education. This year marks the fourth year the group has participated in the race and Marshall says of Knutson, “It has been wonderful to work with her. And even though I direct a fitness group and she directs a race, it's been awesome to have that common bond of empowering and strengthening women across the FM area.”

This year the three women will join together with many others to see Schwandt’s vision through again, pushing themselves to face new challenges. Knutson says, “Her memory continues to live on every time we step up to that start line and every time we cross that finish line.” And every year she can feel her sister pushing her. “In my mind, I can hear her cheering me on.”