Earth Day Run: Snow Slightly Affects Course, Banners to Honor Boston

ST. CLOUD - Our extended winter season has created some changes for this weekend's Earth Day Run events.

Ron Sebring is the Director of Sports Facilities and Campus Recreation at St. Cloud State University.  He says the dome over the football field is still up, so the softball teams and baseball teams can practice.  But, that means the finish line for the various races can't be in the stadium.  He says they've had to slightly change the course for the races, now finishing on the south side of the stadium. He says participants and fans can then move into the fieldhouse when they're done.

Sebring says he's also been field a lot of questions about security, since the attacks at the Boston Marathon.  He says they always go over security procedures, but this year they'll be even more vigilant.  He says they've worked with the St. Cloud Police Department and gone over the routes for the races, making sure emergency personnel have access.

He says they also plan to do a tribute to the people involved with the Boston Marathon.  They will have a couple of banners at this weekend's events, and participants will have a chance to write messages of support.  Those banners will then be sent to the organizers of the Boston Marathon.

The Earth Day Run events start on Friday afternoon.  The big race, the half-marathon, is Saturday morning.