Welcome Superior 100 Mile Runners!
We are under one week away from one of the toughest, most scenic and oldest 100 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 180 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 in the world!
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 http://fall.superiortrailrace.
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, tablet etc unless you are at a location with WiFi. 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.
Due to a detour of Highway 61 and additional trip time, we are changing the departure time of the 100 mile shuttle bus on Friday morning from Caribou Highlands (race finish) to Gooseberry Falls State Park (race start) – the bus will now depart at 5:40AM – be on the bus by 5:30AM – if you miss the bus you will have to find your own way to the start.All runners, crews and spectators traveling to the race should be aware that there is a detour on Highway 61 both Northbound and Southbound – Highway 61 is closed between MN State Highway 1 and Cook County Road 6 – this detour routes you up Highway 1 through Finland and back down County 6 to Highway 61. This detour had originally been scheduled to end the week prior to the race but per our recent conversations with MNDOT have learned that the detour will be in effect until Saturday and may start coming down during the middle of the day sometime. This detour will add time to trip times, be prepared.Know Your Bib # at Packet Pickup:
Please know your Bib Number when you come to packet pickup on Thursday and check back in on Friday / race morning – your bib number can be found HERE http://fall.
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 so we know who is starting the race.
Reminder, we do not accept drop bags on race morning, drop bags must be left during packet pickup on Thursday night. All drop bags must be marked with the runners distance, drop bag location, runners name & runners bib number – drop bags without this information will not be delivered. Drop bags will be delivered to the finish line on Saturday at 8:00PM.
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.
Share this with Your Crews and Spectators:
It is unlikely that anything a runner does will ever put the race in jeopardy, more likely is a runners crew or spectators doing something that could negatively impact the race. Be sure that your crew has adequate maps and information to navigate the roads and understands the rules of crewing and the fundamentals of the race. Your crew should be traveling the speed limit on highway 61 and needs to drive very slowly / cautiously on the back roads since the Superior Hiking Trail / race course crosses these back roads many times. Crews should not stop in the middle of the road or park in the road in front of an aid station to unload, they must park where they are prompted (only on one side of the road if the option for parking is in fact on the road and not a parking lot) and walk with supplies etc. to the aid station. Crews or spectators choosing not to follow the rules will see their runners disqualified without hesitation. Again, we will not have print materials such as driving directions for you or your crews at the race, you will need to print these items for your crews or have them print them on their own – it is your job to educate and mange your crews and spectators prior to the race.
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.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. http://fall.
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. 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 – its the right thing to do. You can become a member of the Superior Hiking Trail Association HERE http://www.
John Storkamp – Race Director
& The Superior Trail Race Team