The 2024 811 5K Run/Walk turned out to be a great success bringing Minnesotans together to raise awareness for safe digging. This year’s event was held on August 10, 2024, at Bde Maka Ska’s Thomas Beach in Minneapolis and included participants from the Twin Cities and the surrounding suburbs, a damage prevention-focused vendor fair, and the highly anticipated Kid’s Race.

The annual 811 5K celebrates “8-1-1 Day,” a day typically observed on or near August 11 (8/11), and calls attention to “8-1-1” – the national phone number used to submit free locate requests prior to breaking ground. Whether digging in the backyard or excavating at job site, it’s the law for Minnesotans to contact Gopher State One Call (GSOC) either by phone or by going to GopherStateOneCall.org before digging. These locate requests are used to notify local utility companies, which will then come out and use the APWA color code to mark the dig site for underground utilities with flags or spray paint.

Hosted by numerous companies committed to underground utility safety, the 811 Day 5K is a family-friendly event that welcomes damage prevention professionals and their families, neighbors, and our four-legged friends for a 5K focused on community. Immediately following the main race, children under five were encouraged to join the annual Kid’s Race – a free, short-distance sprint. Both participants and passers-by explored a variety of utility-focused sponsor booths, providing a great opportunity to ask questions about everything from safe digging to solar panels and collect fun giveaways.

Not only fun and informative, this event also raised money for a great cause. All of the proceeds of the event – including the $18.11 registration fee – went to Twin Cities Firefighters Operation Warm, an organization that provides children in need with new, warm winter coats.

Thank you to all of the sponsors that made the 2024 811 Day 5K a great success: CenterPoint Energy, Dakota Electric Association, Michels, MP Technologies, Northern Natural Gas, One Call Concepts, Primoris, Rhino Marking & Protection Systems, USIC, Vannguard Utility Partners, and Xcel Energy.