Welcome 50 Mile Runners!
We are about one week away from one of the toughest and most scenic 50 mile trail races in the country! We are very excited to be hosting another extraordinary field of runners at this years Superior “Fall” Trail Race – represented are runners from 36 states and 5 countries! We have recruited around 200 volunteers to make this a truly world-class event and help you in achieving your goal of completing one of the most challenging and beautiful trail races anywhere!
Listed below are a few important reminders and a few changes from years past – we will not overwhelm you with all the details that are readily available on the website under the https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/race-info/50-mile/ and https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/race-info/aid-stations-maps-data/ sections, rather, we will hit a few key points and then let you explore the website in more depth on your own https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/
Please take the time to read through this email and all of the information on the website in its entirety and print any information, maps, directions etc. that you or your crew may need as cell and Internet service is intermittent on the North Shore and you will most likely not be able to access the website on your phone much of the time. We will NOT have these printouts for you at the race.
This is your race and your responsibility to know this stuff – if after reading this email and reviewing everything on the website should you still have questions please contact us.
50 Mile Race Start:
5:30 AM – Finland Rec Center, Finland MN
Shuttle Bus Time:
For those taking the shuttle bus from Caribou Highlands / Lutsen (race finish) on race morning to the race start (Finland) – be on the bus by 3:45AM, ready for a 4:00 AM (Sharp) departure for the 5:30 AM start (it is about a 45 minute drive from Caribou Highlands to the race start at the Finland Rec Center). Morning check-in will be held inside the Finland Rec Center and there will be plenty of space to stretch out, bathrooms, access to water etc.
Drop Bags:
Reminder, we do not accept drop bags on race morning, drop bags must be left during packet pickup on Friday night at Caribou Highlands – if you plan on going directly to the race start in the morning and skipping Friday Packet Pickup but would like to have a drop bag, you will need to find a fellow racer, friend or crew person to deliver it to Caribou Highlands for you / to Packet Pickup on Friday Night. All drop bags must be marked with runners name, runners distance, runners bib number and drop bag location – drop bags without this information will not be delivered. Drop bags will be delivered to the finish line on Saturday at 8:00PM. You will have the opportunity to send “warm-ups” from the start back to the finish.
Check-In & Re-Check-In:
Even if you have checked in the night before the race at packet-pickup you must “re-check-in” on race morning – to make it easy, we will take down your bib # number as you exit the shuttle bus at the race start – if you are not taking the bus you must check-in or re-check-in at the tables in the morning.
Know Your Bib # at Packet Pickup:
Please know your Bib Number when you come to packet pickup on Friday and check back in on Saturday / race morning – your bib number can be found https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/2015-number-assignments/
Bees, Hornets and or Wasps!
The bees / ground hornets and / or wasps are always bad this time of year on the Superior Hiking Trail, if you are allergic you need to be carrying your medication, ointment, EPI-Pen or whatever it is that has been prescribed to you, there are sections of trail that are 10 miles without aid (so you could be 5 miles / well over 1 hour from help) and if you get stung and have a reaction you need to be able to self medicate. * Do not consider starting this race if you have known allergies to bees, hornets or wasps if you do not have, are unable or unwilling to carry your potentially life-saving medicine.
Crew / Spectator Access:
There will be no crew or spectator access for 50 mile runners allowed at the Temperance River Aid Station on Temperance River Road – crews or spectators for 50 mile runners found at this aid stations will see their runners disqualified. This year we are also discouraging 50 mile crews and spectators from visiting Crosby-Manitou – please only go to Crosby-Manitou if you absolutely need to, otherwise please move on to Sugarloaf Road.
VERY IMPORTANT Share / Email this to Your Crews and Spectators:
It is unlikely that anything a runner does will ever put the Superior Trail Race in jeopardy, more likely it would be a runners crew or spectator doing something in a vehicle near or at an aid station that could negatively impact the race. Cell phone coverage is poor to unavailable at many points along the course and Internet access to the race website / race directions and documents is unlikely and unreliable at best – please print any and all documentation you think you may need as we will not have any of these printed materials available for you. Crews may only visit the aid stations that are crew accessible per the aid station spreadsheet HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/race-info/aid-stations-maps-data/ and may only give aid to runners at aid stations and nowhere else on the course. Crew members should exercise extreme caution when driving between aid stations keeping in mind that many of the roads they will be traveling on are narrow, remote country roads – so please keep speed at or well below the posted speed limits and exercise extreme caution when approaching aid stations as in these areas the trail and runners almost always cross the road. Crews should park in designated areas only and at the aid stations where there is no parking lot, be sure to pull well off to the side of the road, parking on one side of the road only. Never stop in front of or unload in front of an aid station, you may have to haul gear quite a ways so make use of a backpack. RVs and motor-homes are not allowed at any of the aid stations – we understand that the definition of an R.V. or motor-home is broad but basically any vehicle that is longer or wider than a standard pickup truck is how we define it – this is due to many extremely narrow roads leading to aid stations where cars will also be parked on one side of the road. Best case… failure of crew members to obey any of the above guidelines will result in a time penalty being assessed against their runner – worst case will be the disqualification of their runner. A Minnesota State Park pass is required for any and all vehicles entering any Minnesota State Park – for your convenience you may want to purchase one in advance http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/permit.html.
Cool Stuff For Sale:
As in years past we will have some cool shirts, hats, buffs, posters and stickers for sale at the pre-race meeting. Cash or check only, tax is included in prices.
Sponsors:
Along with our volunteers, sponsors are the lifeblood of our event – we work with great companies and great individuals from those companies who are passionate about our event, please check them out and if possible show them your patronage. https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/sponsors/meet-our-sponsors/
SHTA – Superior Hiking Trail Association:
The Superior Hiking Trail is one of the premier long distance hiking trails in the country, without it, there would be no race. The Superior Hiking Trail Association builds, maintains, and manages the trail with the help of hundreds of volunteers and thousands of donors. The Superior Trail Race and Rocksteady Running make significant financial contributions and provide extensive volunteer support to the Superior Hiking Trail Associating each year. Please help by joining, donating or volunteering. If you use this trail in training or as a part of this race you should become a member for at least one year – it is the right thing to do. You can become a member of the Superior Hiking Trail Association HERE http://www.shta.org/
Enjoy your taper, travel safe and we will see you at Packet Pickup and on race day.
Sincerely,
John Storkamp – Race Director
& The Superior Trail Race Team
[email protected]
http://www.superiortrailrace.com