2026 Jared Anez Eagle Lake Race Series

Sections in yellow need updating for 2026  

 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!  

              New for 2025: Ice Cream Truck and a Tribute to Tim Cayler 

                                        

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 19). 

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 19).

8:15 AM 5K Start

Virtual Half Marathon and Virtual 5k: Virtual race submissions will not be eligible for awards or Glacial Lakes Championship Running Series points. All virtual Half Marathon finishers will receive their race medal in the mail after their race submission.

 

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 2024, the Jared Anez Memorial gave $10,500 to the Willmar High School and New London-Spicer High School Scholarship Programs! A total sum of $77,000 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!