Someone has to take the bull by the horns. When Harry started the Superior 100 Mile Trail Race, he had never even met the bull – I guess you could say that this was back when ignorance was bliss. By the time Darlene and Brian were presented with the opportunity to direct the race, in order to keep this great tradition that we call the Superior 100 alive, they had seen the bull in action, how it spit and bucked, they at least had some faint idea of the wild ride that was in store for them and yet they steeled up and saddled up. With Brian’s fine collection of Superior 100 mile finishes, five in total, and Darlene’s firsthand experience with the event, together along with faithful friends, volunteers and runners they wrote the next chapters in the race’s history – without them, we would not be here today. Darlene and Brian, for all you have done and for all that you continue to do for the Superior Trail Race, we are forever indebted to, and grateful for you.

Did you know that the Kansas state slogan is “As Big as You Think” – how appropriate. Stuart Johnson landed at his first Superior 100 mile trail race in 1994, just three years after the races inception and just a few years after running Minnesota’s historic and now defunct, smooth as a babies butt, Edmund Fizgerald 100K road race. We can’t help but wonder if Stuart had any idea of what he was getting into, if he knew what lurked in the woods just off of those roads he ran during Eddie Fitz that day. Did he know then that this would become an annual pilgrimage that would go on for nearly a quarter century, did he know that he was opening Pandora’s box and that it was filled with roots and rocks. 20 Superior 100 Mile Trail Race finishes… so yep, it IS as big as you think.” In discussions with the Superior board of directors, a methodology for inclusion into the Superior Hall of fame hast taken shape and it is unlikely that a runner will ever get inducted for a single performance or just because of their running prowess – simply put, the Hall of Fame is not just for trail runners, it is for trail people. Stuart is a trail person. He leads by example, mentors runners, directs races, works on trails – all with kindness and humility – Stuart is the real deal and we are proud to welcome him into the Superior 100 Mile Trail Race Hall of Fame

Bonnie Riley finished the Superior 100 Mile Trail Race in 2003, but somehow that might be the least amazing thing about Bonnie’s relationship with the Superior Trail Race.  In 2005 there was no running of the Superior 100, it was a rebuilding year and as Larry Perderson set out to bring back the 100 mile race in 2006, Donald Clark along with Bonnie Riley were tasked with helping to design, plot and measure the new course – and measure the course they did.  Don and Bonnie went on to wheel, with a surveyor’s wheel, the entire 100 mile course – not one, but twice.  From there they put the finishing touches on and refined the best trail marking system that has ever been used at a 100 mile trail race, the system that we still use today.  Bonnie has been an integral part of and a supreme force at the Superior Trail Race (both Spring and Fall) over the years as a course designer, course marker, course sweeper, runner, ambassador, mentor and friend to us all. When asked to share some thoughts about what has made Bonnie’s relationship with the race and the trail so special over they ears, her old trail partner Don Clark said that it was and is Bonnie’s unyielding commitment to accurately measuring the trail, her personal sacrifices and continual repair of the marking flags, her love for the trail, her above and beyond spirit in helping other runners meet their individual goals and her unselfishness when it comes to making the Superior Trail Race a great experience for all.

Harry Sloan had the imagination and experience to envision the Superior 100. Harry was raised on Minnesota’s North Shore. He’s completed nearly 200 ultras, including 13 Western States, 20 Voyageurs, and 10 Edmund Fitzgeralds. He had a vision of creating a Midwestern Western States on the Superior Hiking Trail, but he soon steered the race to take a life and character all its own. After creating the race and directing it from 1991 to 1997, Harry finally ran it himself in 2015. We are all indebted to Harry for creating the Superior 100.

Tami Tanski-Sherman had the logistics and experience to make Harry Sloan’s vision of the Superior 100 a reality. Tami was especially integral as the race’s first coordinator of aid stations and volunteers, and she soon became the race’s co-director. Tami Tanski-Sherman had put events together in Duluth, and she knew what needed to be done to make things happen. “She was the female version of Gene Curnow,” Harry says. “She put on tons of races and knew aid stations. She had a whole bunch of people to work aid stations. She did a remarkable job. She deserves as much credit as I do.”

The Immerfalls have been volunteering at the Superior Fall Trail Races since the early 90’s and at the Spring Trail Races since their inception in the early 2000’s – they run the Sawbill Aid Station in both the Spring and the Fall.  While the Immerfalls are active outdoors people they are not ultra or trail runners per se’ they just love being a part of our event and love helping people – they are a great example for us all and a reminder to give back, always.

A note from Dale  “Initially I (Dale) became involved in the race because my sister and her husband volunteered to do the HAM Radio position at Cascade.  I wasn’t officially a volunteer at that point, but went to see what it was all about and got involved in helping the runners at the Aid Station, which was in a nice cozy picnic shelter with a fire and electricity.  I estimate this to be either fall of 1993 or 1994.  The next year, the whole family came and again unofficially observed and helped.  The kids would take their glow sticks and lead the runners back to the trail as it was a bit confusing and going the wrong way was easy to do.  After 2000, my sister and her husband stopped volunteering, but our family continued.  Over time, the trail has changed and we moved to the Sawbill Aid Station.  Several years, Dale and the kids volunteered at the station while Micki had a schedule conflict.  When the Spring races were added, we added those to our schedules too.  Over the years, continual improvements have been made to what is offered at the Aid Stations and more volunteers have been added.  We too have learned how to better aid runners.  We continue to be amazed at the stamina and determination of the runners and of their politeness and thankfulness expressed while they are working to meet their goals.  We are also so proud of our kids for their love of volunteering at this event every year.  This is truly a family tradition.”

Eugene Curnow was a fixture in the Northern Minnesota / Duluth Minnesota running scene for decades. Eugene found running later in life, embraced it and not only became an accomplished runner, but a leader and an ambassador for the sport. Eugene was the first person to achieve five Superior 100 Mile finishes and the first to hit 10 Superior 100 mile finishes (still only one of three individuals who has run 10 or more).  Along with his own personal achievements as a runner, Eugene was always there to give back to the sport that he loved.  Along with his wife Barb, for over two decades they tirelessly worked together to put on the Minnesota Voyageur Trail Ultra (one of the oldest running 50 mile races in the country) and founded the Half Voyageur Trail Marathon (renamed the Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon in 2013 in Gene’s honor). Gene (and Barb’s) contributions to the sport are clearly visible today in our local running community and his spirit will surely be kept alive by the multitude of Eugene’s “trail disciples” involved in Minnesota Trail and Ultrarunning. A few runners are chasing 10 Superior 100 Mile finishes but Gene will forever be the first to achieve this impressive milestone while always making time for others in our local running community.  Eugene Curnow passed away in 2013 after a brave struggle with cancer.

Larry did not create the Superior Trail Race but he and Coleen came along at a critical point in the races evolution.  After finishing the race in 1999 and 2000 and seeing the race struggle during a few subsequent years, Larry was struck with the urge to take up the reins and breathe some new life into the event.  In 2005 Larry took over the race and decided it would be a rebuilding year, the 50 mile and Marathon were held but not 100 mile race (the only time it had not been since 1991).  Larry wanted a year to plan, rebuild and re-launch the 100 in a big way.  Working overtime throughout the following next year, Larry met with key volunteers to conceptualize the new 100 mile course, race logistics and set out to make it happen – Donald Clark and Bonnie Riley on the race course / marking and sweeping, Maria Barton organizing volunteers and John Storkamp, Scott Wagner and Joe Lovett on doing the heavy lifting / aid station equipment and supplies.  In 2006 the 100 mile was reborn and went off without a hitch and the Superior 100 Mile Endurance Run was reborn.  A labor of love, Larry and his wife Colleen along with his adult children and key volunteers worked tirelessly from 2005 to 2010 to rebuild the race and set it on a course for future success.  In 2010 after the race, mission accomplished, Larry stepped down as Race Director handing it off to one of his key volunteers during that period John Storkamp.