Greetings Runners,
We are just over one week out from the 32nd Annual Superior Fall Trail Race. 315+ volunteers are coming together to put on this year’s race. We are thrilled to have 960 registered runners from 2 countries, 35 states and 175 Minnesota cities – thank you all for joining us!
Below are some important reminders and a few updates:
If You Can No Longer Run:
If you are no longer running there is no need to contact us. We will know you are not starting the race when you do not pick up your race number.
Do Your Reading:
NOW is the time to review all of the information on the event website again, so you are as prepared as possible come race day. We cannot stress enough how important it is to review the information associated with the distance you are running along with taking the time to review other important sections of the website.
100 Mile Info: https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/100-mile-info/
50 Mile Info: https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/50-mile-info/
26.2 Mile Info: https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/26-mile-info/
Maps / Data: https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/maps-and-data/ ** Aid Station Chart, Course Maps, GPS / GPX Files and Crew / Spectator Directions were all updated on 8/20/24 – if you have earlier versions printed or downloaded they are out of date due to the changes covered HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/superior-fall-trail-race-2024-under-three-weeks-to-go/
VERY IMPORTANT – RE; CREW, PACERS, FAMILY AND SPECTATORS:
If you have crew, pacers, family or spectators joining you they need to review THIS https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/crew-pacer-family-member-spectators-information/ page and associated links in their entirety, please make sure you forward this information to them. Runners, you are responsible for your pacers, crews and spectators.
VERY IMPORTANT – CAMPING OR SLEEPING IN YOUR VEHICLE IN THE LUTSEN MOUNTAIN PARKING LOT IS NOT ALLOWED:
Lutsen Mountain graciously allows racers to park in their large gravel parking lot which across Ski Hill Road from Caribou Highlands for both the Spring and Fall races. They have asked us to pass a note to race participants; that camping or sleeping in your car, van, truck, etc. is not permitted in their parking lot, or anywhere on their property. Failure to comply with this could negatively impact the race. If you need somewhere to camp the night before or after the race, we suggest one of the following options; Temperance River State Park, Lamb’s Resort, Grand Marais Recreation Area / Municipal Campground, Cascade River State Park, Black Beach Campground (Silver Bay), Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, or Burlington Bay Campground (Two Harbors). There are several other options in the area, here are some additional resources Visit Cook County and MNDNR / State Parks.
Trail Conditions:
After a very wet spring and early summer on the North Shore, and flooding caused by a heavy rain event on June 18 2024, things have finally dried out over the last month-and-a-half, and our trails are in good shape. One outstanding item for 100 milers from the ‘trail updates’ in our last email, was Bean and Bear Lake. It is looking promising that we will be running the trail as normal / 100 milers will very likely be running past both Bean and Bear Lakes as normal. We will have final confirmation for you on race morning.
Bib Number Assignments:
Bib number assignments have been made and are available on our website HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/2024-bib-assignments/ – Be sure to use the ‘search’ function to find your name as the list is not entirely alphabetical. Those using drop-bags should mark them with the aid station location, name and bib number.
Bib Number Pickup and Drop Bag Drop-off:
Bib number pickup and drop bag drop-off for each distance is just that – there will be no meeting or program. We will be there if you have any last minute questions. We only accept drop bags the night before each race, never on race morning. While we prefer to get as many people checked in the night before as possible, if you do not have drop bags to drop, you may check in at the race start on race morning.
Drop Bags Return:
Once aid stations close, drop bags will be delivered to the finish line, but most will not be available until after 8:30PM Saturday night. Drop bags will remain outside, unattended and unmonitored near the finish line until approximately 9:00AM on Sunday. Unclaimed drop bags will not be mailed to you and will be donated to charity.
Cupless Race:
A reminder that we are a cupless race, so carry your own water bottle, hydration bladder or cup. We will have hot cups used for soup and other hot food items.
Aid Station Food & Special Nutrition Items:
Here is a post about what we will (and will not) have for food and drink at the aid stations. https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/2024-aid-station-snacks-food-and-drink/
Course Markings:
If you studied the specific info page (linked above) for the distance you are running, you will have come across it, but if for some reason you missed, HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/trail-markings/ is a comprehensive guide about the trail / race course / course markings.
CLARIFICATION: 100 Mile Runners must go ALL THE WAY to the Finland Aid Station even if you don’t require aid from the aid station itself (i.e. if you have a crew waiting for you):
Finland is a ‘spur-in, spur-out’ station. It is about a 1/2 mile, one way, off of the main trail. We don’t have any instances of runners missing this as it is really well marked. That said, all 100 mile runners need to run all the way to the aid station once getting to Finland (this is a great opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the aid station volunteers even if you do not require anything, because you have a crew), and then back out the way you came. While the HAM Radio volunteers writing down bib numbers / tracking runners may be stationed outside of / just before the Finland aid station, all runners should do the following once taking the spur trail to Finland; a.) show the HAM radio volunteer your bib number on the way in, b.) run past your crew if they are there waiting for you, c.) run all the way to the aid station, d.) return the way you came, stopping then if you are meeting crew, e.) follow the markings back to the main trail / race course. In 2023 runners were turning around / leaving Finland after showing the HAM radio operators their bib number, without making it all the way to the aid station itself. While this only shaved off about 200FT, and did not affect the outcome of the race, for continuity, we want all 100 mile runners to do what is being asked above.
Runner Tracking / Results
Links to results and 100 mile runner tracking can be found on our website. Live tracking is done for the 100 mile race only and is for entertainment purposes – there is no guarantee that it will always be updated or 100% accurate. The link to 100 mile runner tracking can be found HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/100-mile-live-runner-tracking/ – The direct link to results can be found HERE https://www.athlinks.com/event/179985/results/Event/1082031/Results
Medals / Buckles / Stick Around:
All 100 mile runners will be handed / awarded a medal and a buckle as they finish the race – 100 mile finisher sweatshirts and patches will be available for pickup under the party tent, you or your crew need to seek these out on your own. All 50 mile and marathon runners will be awarded a medal. We started doing new medals in 2021, a scaled back design sans year / date with space to write it in or add other info helps us to cut down on waste (no more throwing out / burning dated medals). There are no specific overall or age group awards. Please stick around at the finish line with us until the very last runner comes through as we celebrate each runners accomplishment!
Coffee:
We are super excited to once again be serving coffee from our fantastic sponsor Fika Coffee throughout the event. Fika is a local coffee shop, located in downtown Lutsen off of Highway 61. https://fikacoffee.com/
Post Race Meal:
A huge thank you to Caribou Highlands / Moguls Grill and Taproom for dong a wonderful job catering Chili donated by Captain Ken’s for this event! We will have meat and vegetarian chili for participants after they finish the race. For crew, pacers, family members or runners that needs something more, Caribou Highlands / Moguls will be doing a cookout, selling burgers and other items right near the finish line as well.
Hats:
We took another year off of shirts and instead created this awesome hat. All runners and volunteers will get one. https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/2024-race-hat/
Swag for Sale:
We will have some t-shirts, hats, posters, stickers, sweatshirts and more for sale. Cash or check preferred – PayPal and Venmo available.
Mile In My Shoes:
Mile in My Shoes is our charity partner. You can either become a fundracer (for any of our races) or donate to your fellow runners who are fundracing.
Volunteer Opportunity for Runners:
Please come help us with race cleanup on Monday September 9 in the Twin Cities between 9AM and 3PM. More info HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/volunteer-jobs/#monday-cleanup – Signup HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/volunteer-signup/
Support the Superior Hiking Trail:
A large percentage of you are already Superior Hiking Trail Association members. Many of you who are not, indicated at the time you registered, that you would like to be. Now is a great time to show our support en masse that we, as trail runners support the trail that we love to run! You can join, or make an extra donation to the SHT via the following (custom for Superior Trail Race) links… https://superiorhiking.org/joinsuperior/ and https://superiorhiking.org/donatesuperior/ – if / when you donate consider droping a line to the SHT telling them how much you value the race and the trail. The Superior Trail Race will continue its charitable legacy to the Superior Hiking Trail Association with a $3,000 donation in 2024, in addition to ongoing volunteer efforts on the trail itself; building, clearing, maintaining and improving.
Sponsors:
Please click the following link to check out all our awesome sponsors https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/sponsors/ – several of which are heading up aid stations! (TRECs, Performance Running Gym, Trail Transformation, Bigger Than the Trail, Mill City / Saint City Running, and Twin Cities Running Company).
Superior Hiking Trail
Caribou Highlands
Visit Cook County
Twin Cities Running Company
Mill City / Saint City Running
Vaniply / Vanicream
Trail Transformation
Fika Coffee
Performance Running Gym
Consilience Coaching
Northwoods Running
Bridge Realty – Bill Pomerenke
LutZen Massage Studios
Bigger Than the Trail
Northwest Outlet
Mile in My Shoes
Full Sun Services
Captain Ken’s Chili
St. Croix Law
Critical Connections Ecological Services
Relentless Courage – Jon Howard
Austin Jarrow
We cannot thank you enough for taking part in the Superior Trail Race – we cannot wait to see you all at the race. If you have any questions, please reach out.
Thank You,
John Storkamp
Race Director
[email protected]