Anika Rievaj Won Silver at NorthShore Marathon
The Windermere athlete secured a second-place finish in the roller ski category at the 30th annual race.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Running
Anika Rievaj claimed a silver medal in the female roller ski category at the 2026 NorthShore Inline Marathon near Duluth. The event, which serves as the largest inline skating race in North America, hosted nearly 2,500 total participants.
Why it matters
Roller skiing is a popular summer cross-training method for winter athletes looking to maintain conditioning. The NorthShore course provides a unique environment for these competitors to test their skills along the Lake Superior shore.
Anika Rievaj finished 2nd in the roller ski category, while Mark Rievaj placed 11th in the half marathon and 19th in the marathon. The event drew nearly 2,500 participants for its 30th edition.
The players
Anika Rievaj
She is an athlete from Windermere who uses roller skiing as part of her competitive cross-training regimen.
Mark Rievaj
He is a Windermere-based athlete who competed in both the half marathon and full marathon categories during the 2026 event.
The details
Participants navigated a mostly flat course that follows the Lake Superior coastline, aided by a beneficial tail wind. Athletes on the course demonstrated significant pace, with some segments covering 20 kilometres in approximately 30 minutes.
Timeline
The 30th NorthShore Inline Marathon took place in 2026.
The Big Picture
The NorthShore Inline Marathon is the largest inline skating race in North America, setting the competitive standard for regional roller sports. This event continues to serve as the definitive benchmark for roller ski and inline skating performance in the United States.
Anika Rievaj's podium finish highlights the effectiveness of summer roller ski training for winter sports endurance. For other competitors, the 30-minute pacing observed over 20-kilometre stretches offers a metric for evaluating performance on flat, wind-assisted courses.
The takeaway
Maintaining physical conditioning through cross-training allows winter athletes to remain competitive in diverse racing categories throughout the year. Utilizing events like the NorthShore Inline Marathon helps these athletes measure their progress against a large, diverse field of peers.
Further reading
For more on the regional racing circuit, visit the Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Columbia Valley Pioneer.
