From the Ely Echo Twitter:

"Following the announcement of the closure of the Pebble Spa, the Ely Marathon is put on pause. Both are managed by the same company.

We are deeply saddened to share that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the 2026 Ely Marathon is on pause until further notice.

All preregistrations will be refunded via check this week.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to every runner, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter who has been part of this incredible journey over the past ten years. The Ely Marathon has always been about more than miles — it’s been about community, adventure, and heart.

We’ll keep you updated as we navigate next steps. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for running with us."

I'm no marathon runner, but my wife and I have fond memories of our one and only BWCA trip together that included a couples massage at Pebble Spa after we finished our trip. What a treat.

I had been planning to spend the next year getting in shape enough to run the portage marathon next year, but with it being cancelled, this is clearly a sign that I should have a second helping of lunch today instead. Hopefully it'll make it back someday.

This was also on my 2026 race calendar. Hopefully the cancellation doesn't become permanent.

Bummer when a local biz goes bust & this had to be canceled. Out of curiosity, what does the portage marathon consist of? That has to be interesting.

bankrupt because North Dakota landlord

odi Summit
ELY — It was a message that took both customers and staff by surprise. On Oct. 29, the Pebble Spa Facebook account posted a notice that the business would soon be closing all of their locations.
“This isn’t how we imagined our story ending, and we truly hope this is not goodbye forever,” wrote business owner Wendy Lindsay, of Ely. “We are holding on to hope, to love, and to the incredible community that has surrounded us all these years.”
“The closure was not due to lack of effort, mismanagement, funding, or loss of passion,” Lindsay later told the Timberjay, “but rather an uncontrollable legal event that forced a chain of actions outside our control.”
Lindsay said the decision was not made lightly. She said the closure stemmed from a legal situation involving their North Dakota landlord, which then forced her family into personal bankruptcy.
“This process had ripple effects on all connected businesses,” she said. “We learned of the final outcome only days before sharing the news with our team, and we moved as quickly as possible to communicate honestly once we had clarity.”
Lindsay said their separate company, Stone Soup Events, which puts on the Ely Marathon, is also affected, but they are not ready to release details yet.
The business has been a fixture in Ely since 2003. Over the years, it expanded, opening locations in Virginia, Duluth, Rochester, and North Dakota, as well as offering franchising opportunities.
The goal of the business was “to work with other small businesses to promote healthy lifestyles as well as providing the best spa experience available in the Northwoods.”
The business will be closing its doors on Nov. 25.
“Until then, we’ll continue to care for you the best we can.

scat: "Bummer when a local biz goes bust & this had to be canceled. Out of curiosity, what does the portage marathon consist of? That has to be interesting. "

Portaging a canoe on your shoulders (with certain conditions; you can't just have a fake paper-mache one) while running the half or the full marathon, for the true maniacs among us. https://www.elymarathon.com/portage

Thanks Pinetree for the info on the business. You always seem to find out stuff and get the real story. Appreciate it!

T