Volunteers make 300 pounds of potatoes into lefse for annual run – Duluth News Tribune

DULUTH — Ever find yourself on a winter run and craving some warm Norwegian potato bread?

The third annual Lefse Run on Saturday combines the tradition of Norwegian lefse with a free fun run with a suggested donation to benefit Safe Haven.

The Wednesday evening before the race, a group of volunteers gathered in First Lutheran Church’s basement to make the over 300 pounds of potatoes into lefse that will be eaten during the race or sold to anyone interested afterward. Volunteer organizer and First Lutheran Church lefse maker Mark Boyce said the run is a descendent of the

church’s old lutefisk dinner days.

“When COVID hit, we stopped having that dinner and we had time to think about what was salvageable from that tradition,” Boyce said. “It took a lot of work to put on the lutefisk dinner and our volunteers were kind of aging out, so we started looking for a new tradition.”

The church is located next door to Duluth Running Co., so the idea of a run was proposed.

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

“And we thought, rather than run towards a T-shirt or medal, lefse would be a better, a more delicious thing to run to, at least in my opinion,” Boyce said. “Then we got Safe Haven on board for the proceeds and it all fit into place.”

Boyce grew up watching his mother make lefse and finally got the chance to make the unleavened, fried potato bread himself when cookbook author

Bea Ojakangas

visited the church ahead of the lutefisk dinner and taught a class in lefse-making.

“I think that’s when I had my first full piece of lefse. Because I grew up with four brothers, we all only got a quarter of it when we made it growing up,” Boyce said. “I’ve stuck with that recipe and brought my own father’s lefse turning sticks to help us prepare so much lefse.”

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

Safe Haven Executive Director Brittany Robb

was trying her hand at the lefse grill in the First Lutheran basement Wednesday evening. She said she’d never made lefse before Monday and she’d found herself intrigued with the process.

“There’s just so much love and care that goes into the process. You have to make the potatoes up, then turn them into balls, then roll them out and fry them up,” Robb said. “To be able to be part of this experience has been kind of magical.”

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

Robb said that she and some other staff from Safe Haven joined in the lefse-making Monday night to learn what goes into the process and to get involved with the run that benefits the work they do to stop the cycle of domestic violence.

“Who would have ever thought of a run inspired by lefse to support survivors of domestic violence? I mean that’s innovation in the most Minnesotan way possible,” Robb said. “It makes me proud to be part of this partnership and part of the community.”

The Rev. Dianne Loufman of First Lutheran

said the church has had volunteers making lefse from age 3 to over 80. Loufman said the run was a fun way to keep tradition alive but find a new way to keep things going.

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

“It’s a way to work with our neighbors, keep the heritage alive and find new ways to connect with the community,” Loufman said. “We’ve got a lot of runners in our church and we have a lot of people who love lefse. And you don’t have to run to buy the lefse, but you’re welcome to either or both.”

• What: Lefse Run to benefit Safe Haven
• When: Check-in, 8:30 a.m., Duluth Running Co., 1025 E. Superior St.; out-and-back 3-mile run, 9 a.m., Lakewalk from First Lutheran Church, 1100 E. Superior St., to North Pier Lighthouse; post-run lefse party, 9:30-11:30 a.m., First Lutheran
• Cost: Free, includes free piece of lefse; $5 or more suggested donation to Safe Haven; $10 for three-piece lefse pack
• More info:

  safehavenshelter.org/getinvolved/events

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

Teri Cadeau is a features reporter for the Duluth News Tribune. Originally from the Iron Range, Cadeau has worked for several community newspapers in the Duluth area, including the Duluth Budgeteer News, Western Weekly, Weekly Observer, Lake County News-Chronicle, and occasionally, the Cloquet Pine Journal. When not working, she’s an avid reader, crafter, dancer, trivia fanatic and cribbage player.