With the help of an old WWII bulldozer, athletes, parents, coaches, and inginuity, the original course trail was blazed. Two stream crossings on the course presented a challenge, but thanks to hard work and determination, two bridges were constructed to allow access to the back woods.

In the Fall of 1983, the first invitational race was held with 11 teams in attendance. The start of the race was on the varsity baseball field headed straight out the back of the outfield. As the teams took off down the cource, they would need to make a sharp right hand turn through a small 5-6 foot wide opening in a fence line. The image reminded then Lakewood XC Head Coach, Mike Evans, of the Hole-in-the-Wall that the infamous Jesse James and his gang would hide out in. Thus the race got its name and was an instant classic.

Once upon a time a beaver decided to make a den just down stream from the second bridge. One year it caused a flood that swept away the second bridge! It was decided that it was time for a brand new permanent constuction. With the help of parents and coaches, two new steel bridge frames with wooden decking were constructed.

In 2011 Coach Sowards and Coach Cullen Cantwell, wrote a successful grant application through the City of Marysville TPA to purchase an IPICO chip timing system. With the addition of chip timing, instant and accurate results were now possible.

In addition to the new timing system, a finishline arch was brought in to help make the finish feel more fitting of the size of the meet. It also allowed for better viewing of the race clock as finishers approached the line.

2014 saw the Hole In The Wall make its debut on the internet with it's own meet website. With the help of Three Finger Designs, the meet now had one central location for anyone wanting to ascertain information on the event. From race times and meet results, to a Twitter feed and travel information, nearly every topic regarding the meet could be found in one place.

2014 also saw the first promotional video created for the meet using footage from the 2014 races. Curious Eyes Company came on board to film and produce a short video. With the help of a quadcopter and captivating cinematography, the experience of the race could now be seen by everyone, everywhere.

In 2016 the Hole In The Wall Invitational had a major revision to the start of the race. With the construction of the new Lakewood High School right in the middle of the previous start/end of the 1st and 2nd loops, the course was re-routed into the stadium at the North East corner. This also eliminated the often eventuful 180 degree hairpin turn at the enterance to the stadium.

With the continual addition of high quality and national caliber teams to the Hole In The Wall start lists, it was time to dedicate a race to those "elite" teams. 2021 held the first Elite, by invitation only, races and they did not disappoint.

A new finish line arch was in need to keep up with the high quality of the meet. Running though this awesome feature is the cherry on top at the end of a hard 5k. Athletes and spectators have thoroughly enjoyed this visual upgrade to the event.