2021 Award Announcement

Run Minnesota Recognizes two individuals for their impact on the MN Running Community

Minneapolis, Minn. – Run Minnesota annually recognizes achievements for the Pat Lanin Distinguished Service Award and Run Minnesota Volunteer of the Year. The award winners will be recognized at the Run Minnesota Annual Meeting on April 23, 2022, in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Sarah Agaton Howes

2021 recipient of the Pat Lanin Distinguished Service Award

Sarah is an Anishinaabe artist and CEO of an Ojibwe lifestyle Brand Heart Berry, community organizer, and one of the organizing members of the KwePack, an Indigenous women’s running group created to promote healthy lifestyles of its members by running, racing, socializing, and volunteer activities.  Sarah Agaton Howes is relentless in spreading the word about the power of native women running together and has inspired other indigenous running groups around the country. Through KwePack, she has established running in the Duluth/Fond Du Lac area and improved the health of the community.

Jill Jewell

2021 Run Minnesota Volunteer of the Year

Jill has been a dedicated volunteer for a number of years and previously served on the Run Minnesota Board of Directors. As the 2021 Chair of the Foundation committee, Jill led the effort for promoting, selecting, and notifying the winners for the MDRA foundation grant. She has been involved as a participant, ambassador, volunteer, and leader with all of Run Minnesota’s activities and she was instrumental in the Run Minnesota branding from conception to implementation.

Pat Lanin is the founder of Run Minnesota and pioneer of the Minnesota running scene.

 More information on Run Minnesota awards can be found at run-minnesota.org/awards