Runner Completed Marathon Carrying a Canoe

Travis Meier ran the Twin Cities Marathon with a canoe to advocate for the Boundary Waters.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Running

Runner Completed Marathon Carrying a Canoe

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Should mining operations be permitted on land adjacent to protected wilderness areas?

Travis Meier successfully finished a 26.2-mile run while carrying a canoe in the Twin Cities Marathon. He is undertaking the effort to protest potential mining operations near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Why it matters

The run serves as a protest against mining development in the region, drawing attention to a long-standing environmental debate in Minnesota. Meier hopes his physical feat will spur public interest in the protection of the Boundary Waters.

Travis Meier covered the full 26.2-mile distance of the marathon while hauling a canoe. This run is the first of 52 similar events planned over 52 consecutive weeks.

The players

Travis Meier

He is an endurance runner who is attempting to complete 52 marathons in 52 weeks while carrying a canoe.

Twin Metals Minnesota

This mining company has been involved in legal disputes regarding potential mining operations near the Boundary Waters.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

This state agency oversees land and water management, including the approval of exploratory drilling plans.

The details

Meier carried the canoe on his back throughout the entire race in Minneapolis to raise awareness for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The endeavor highlights his opposition to mining activities near the protected site, which have been a subject of ongoing legal and regulatory dispute in the state.

September 2023: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by Twin Metals Minnesota.
November 2023: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources approved an exploratory drilling plan.
October 2026: Travis Meier completed the marathon in Minneapolis.

The Big Picture

This protest aligns with the contentious history surrounding the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness protection status. It follows years of regulatory and legal challenges regarding whether mining should be permitted in the vicinity of this federally protected land.

Meier's goal of finishing 52 marathons in 52 weeks sets a grueling pace that requires constant travel and physical recovery between events. His presence on course with a canoe highlights the logistical challenges of portaging over long-distance running routes.

The takeaway

Meier illustrates that unconventional methods can be used to bring attention to regional environmental policies. Readers interested in similar advocacy can observe how personal athletic challenges are increasingly used to raise awareness for specific land-use issues.