2024 Zumbro Endurance Run Recap

2024 Zumbro 100 mile winner Mike Asmus and Pacer Kyle Palmer. Photo Credit Scott Rokis I happened to be near the finish line on Saturday morning when Mike Asmus completed his final 17 mile loop, and won the 2024 edition of the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run. His...

2024 Volunteer Thank You

Photo Credit Scott Rokis If you don’t feel like you are getting ‘old’ yet, just wait, it starts getting kinda weird – mostly in a good way. One thing that happens is that with each passing year, you get more and more sentimental. As we approach...

Zumbro 2024 – Under Three Weeks to Go!

Zumbro 2023 – Photo Credit Scott Rokis   Greetings Runners, With about two and a half weeks to go, I wanted to check in, and extend an early welcome to all of you that have registered for the 2024 Zumbro Endurance Run so far! I will, as usual, be sending...

2024 Race Hat

Unveiled – the 2024 Zumbro Endurance Run ‘Cool Operator’ Hat!  All runners and volunteers will receive this awesome, super breathable, quick drying, crushable, run hat! We purchased extras of these so if friends, family, crew or pacers would like one, they...

2024 Race Numbers

The Zumbro Endurance Run hosts four races simultaneously; the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run (starts at 8:00 AM Friday), the Zumbro Midnight 50 (starts at 12:01 AM Saturday), the Zumbro 34 Mile (Starts at 7:00AM on Saturday), and the Zumbro 17 Mile (starts at 9:00 AM...

2023 Zumbro Recap

Photo Credit Scott Rokis   It turns out that the 2023 Zumbro Endurance Run slotted into the perfect weather window. After a Winter with significant snowfall, and a snowpack that held on relatively late – a week before the race we received more heavy wet...

2023 Volunteer Thank You

Photo Credit Mike Wheeler   Conversation and connection. Friday at Zumbro is by far and away the slowest, most mellow day we have between the handful of races we produce. Having just 40 runners spread out over a 17 mile race course creates a lot of ‘down...

Zumbro 2023 Potential Course Change

Dear Zumbro Runners, Yesterday, Sunday April 2, I was at Zumbro clearing more fallen trees from the race course after Friday night’s heavy rain, ice and snow. While doing so I discovered significant flooding to the East of the ‘Iron Bridge’. The entire outbound...

2023 Race Beanie

Unveiled – the 2023 Zumbro Endurance Run Beanie! All runners and volunteers will receive this awesome beanie. We purchased extras of these so if friends, family, crew or pacers would like one, they may purchase one on race weekend.  If you want to add a shirt to...

2023 Race Numbers

The Zumbro Endurance Run hosts four races simultaneously; the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run (starts at 8:00 AM Friday), the Zumbro Midnight 50 (starts at 12:01 AM Saturday), the Zumbro 34 Mile (Starts at 7:00AM on Saturday), and the Zumbro 17 Mile (starts at 9:00 AM...

Setting Expectations for 2023

In November of 2021, after hosting a season of Covid-modified races, I was updating our race website(s) for what we hoped would be (and thankfully was) a mostly “normal” 2022. While doing so, I decided to include a preface to our Participant Guide(s) titled “Setting...

2022 Zumbro Recap

Family Affair – Photo Credit Mike Wheeler   Have you ever heard the saying “the best lessons are learned in the coldest classrooms”?  Well, Zumbro is among the coldest, and its lessons are truly among the best.  Since 2009 (and earlier including...

2022 Volunteer Thank You

Pizza Pals – Photo Credit Mike Wheeler   The highest compliment you can get from my mother is if she recognizes you as a “hard worker”. Besides sitting with his brother Bill for a game of cribbage once a week, or taking his...

2022 Zumbro Endurance Run Runner Welcome

Greetings Runners! Registration closed last night at midnight and we are just under one week out from the 2022 Zumbro Endurance Run. 130+ volunteers are coming together to put on this year’s race. We are thrilled to be hosting 637 runners from 2 countries, 21...

2022 Aid Station Snacks and Food

Aid stations will have following salty and sweet pre-packaged snacks. It is our understanding that the chips, nuts, Oreos and fruit snacks are vegan, but please do your own research (Google the items shown) if this is important to you. We will have Coke and Ginger...

2022 Race Hat

Unveiled – the 2022 Zumbro Endurance Run Hat!  We are switching it up a little this year, taking a break from t-shirts. All runners and volunteers will receive this awesome hat. We purchased extras of these so if friends, family, crew or pacers would like one,...

2022 Race Numbers

The Zumbro Endurance Run hosts four races simultaneously; the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run (starts at 8:00 AM Friday), the Zumbro Midnight 50 (starts at 12:01 AM Saturday), the Zumbro 34 Mile (Starts at 7:00AM on Saturday), and the Zumbro 17 Mile (starts at 9:00 AM...

Remembering Brian Landstrom

Brian crossing the Split Rock River during the 2017 Superior 100 Mile Trail Race – Photo Credit Cole Peyton   Brian Landstrom passed away peacefully and with dignity at home on Christmas Day 2021, he was 70 years old. While Brian led a vibrant life outside...

Zumbro. Why Early April?

The Zumbro Endurance Run has been cancelled in the past and it is possible that it could be cancelled again in the future. There are no refunds if the race is cancelled. If you do not like this arrangement, we are sorry, and you most certainly should not sign up for...

Rocksteady Running 2021 Races Update 5/10/21

[ This is a copy of an email that was sent out to our mailing list on May 10, 2021, the subject of the email was ‘Superior Spring Trail Race registration closes on Wednesday May 12!  and other RSR updates’. It contains updates for all of our events. If you did not...

2021 Volunteer Thank You

Hey All, Forgive me, this is going to be far less poetic than normal. Holy shit you guys… four days. We just did a four day event, I think that was a first for all of us. I knew I had missed you, but until we were back together, I did not realize how much. Lets...

2021 Zumbro Recap

My days immediately after an event are spent cleaning up, sorting through supplies, organizing equipment and packing things away until next time.  After a busy few event days, these following days of simple tasks allow me a lot of headspace to reflect on the overall...

Runner Updates 2021

Friends, [ A long email, but an important read if you are running, thanks in advance for taking the time. It will take you about eight minutes to read. ] Given all of the challenges of this past year, I didn’t know how excited I would be as we closed in on...

Zumbro 2021

Zumbro Endurance Run Covid 19 Preparedness Plan, Event Logistics Plan and Participant Guide for the 17 & 34 Mile Events  Event dates April 8, 9, 10 & 11, 2021 About this document:The ‘Zumbro Endurance Run Covid 19 Preparedness Plan’ intends to achieve the...

2021 Race Shirts

Unveiled – the 2021 Zumbro Endurance Run T-Shirt!  All runners and volunteers will receive this awesome shirt.  Below is the color we hope to to produce – due to Covid related supply chain issues, we may need to do a different color all together, or do...

Zumbro 2021 Updates 10/16/20

The 2020 Zumbro Endurance Run was cancelled due to COVID 19. The 2020 race would have been our 11th annual. We hope to be able to hold the race in 2021. Our ability to hold the race will be contingent on where things are at with the pandemic generally, state...

COVID-19 Press Release 3/20/20

PRESS RELEASE 3/20/20 2020 ZUMBRO ENDURANCE RUN CANCELLATION DUE TO THE COVID-19 (NOVEL CORONAVIRUS) PANDEMIC AND STATUS UPDATE REGARDING ALL OTHER ROCKSTEADY RUNNING RACES; SUPERIOR SPRING TRAIL RACE, AFTON TRAIL RUN, ENDLESS SUMMER TRAIL RUN SERIES AND SUPERIOR FALL...

COVID-19 Press Release 3/12/20

PRESS RELEASE 3/12/20 COVID-19 (NOVEL CORONAVIRUS) IMPACTS ON ROCKSTEADY RUNNING TRAIL AND ULTRARUNNING RACES INCLUDING THE ZUMBRO ENDURANCE RUN, SUPERIOR SPRING TRAIL RACE, AFTON TRAIL RUN, SUPERIOR FALL TRAIL RACE AND ENDLESS SUMMER TRAIL RUN SERIES. On March 11th,...

2020 Race Numbers

The Zumbro Endurance Run hosts three races simultaneously, the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run (starts at 8:00 AM Friday) and the Zumbro Midnight 50 (starts at 12:01 AM Saturday) and the Zumbro 17 Mile Trail Race (starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday). Each distance will have...

Zumbro 2020

Dear friends, we are requiring that you read the following, in its entirety, before registering for the 2020 Zumbro Endurance Run. It will take you about 7 minutes to read. The Zumbro Endurance Run in Southern Minnesota’s Driftless Region was founded in 2009...

Runner Updates 2019

Photo Credit – Eric Hadtrath [ All runners, PLEASE take the time to read this email, it will take you approximately 7 minutes to read – If you can no longer participate in the race, you DO NOT need to email us to let us know, you will however be missed. ]...

2019 Race Numbers

The Zumbro Endurance Run hosts three races simultaneously, the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run (starts at 8:00 AM Friday) and the Zumbro Midnight 50 (starts at 12:01 AM Saturday) and the Zumbro 17 Mile Trail Race (starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday). Each distance will have...

2018 Zumbro Recap

This is a fun and light-hearted recap of the 2018 Zumbro Endurance Run, an official recap and statement regarding the historic blizzard that occurred during the race and the subsequent cancellation of this year’s 17 mile race can be found HERE...

2018 Volunteer Thank You

  Wednesday April 18th, 2018 RE: Zumbro Endurance Run 2018 Thank You Letter to Volunteers I think I am finally figuring it out. You stare, and you stare, keep scanning the most obvious elements of its form only to keep getting the same answers but you accept it,...

2018 Zumbro 17 Mile Race Cancellation

If you were signed up for this years 17 mile race, we ask that you please take the time to read this.  It is about a 9 minute read. Minnesota experienced a record and historic Spring storm that coincided with the 2018 Zumbro Endurance Run (held Friday April 13 &...

Runner Updates 2018

​ Welcome runners to the 10th annual Zumbro 100, 50 and 17 Mile Endurance Run! We are excited to be hosting another super talented field of runners hailing from 22 states and two Canadian provinces, all coming to experience the magic of Zumbro! The 17 mile and 50 mile...

2018 Race Numbers

The Zumbro Endurance Run hosts three races simultaneously, the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run (starts at 8:00 AM Friday) and the Zumbro Midnight 50 (starts at 12:01 AM Saturday) and the Zumbro 17 Mile Trail Race (starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday). Each distance will have...

2017 Zumbro Recap

​ Written by John Storkamp – Race Director About the Zumbro Endurance Run: The Zumbro Endurance Run 100MI, 50MI and 17MI trail races​ were founded in 2009 and​ take place ​each year ​in early April within the Zumbro River Bottoms Management Unit in Southeastern...

Runner Updates 2017

Welcome runners to the 9th annual Zumbro 100, 50 and 17 Mile Endurance Run! We are excited to be hosting another super talented field of runners hailing from 21 states and three Canadian provinces, all coming to experience the magic of Zumbro! We were on the race...

2017 Race Numbers

The Zumbro Endurance Run hosts three races simultaneously, the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run (starts at 8:00 AM Friday) and the Zumbro Midnight 50 (starts at 12:01 AM Saturday) and the Zumbro 17 Mile Trail Race (starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday). Each distance will have...

Runner Early Welcome 2017

Greetings, and an early welcome to the Zumbro Endurance Run 2017! We are just over a month away from this years race! We wanted to get an email off to you welcoming you to this years race and give you a couple of updates as we get closer to the big weekend! The 17...

2016 Zumbro Recap

By: John Storkamp – Race Director About the Zumbro Endurance Run The Zumbro Endurance Run 100MI, 50MI and 17MI trail races take place within the Zumbro River Bottoms Management Unit in Southeastern Minnesota’s Bluff Country – just outside of the tiny village of...

Runner Updates 2016

Welcome runners to the 8th Annual Zumbro 100, 50 and 17 Mile Endurance Run! We are excited to be hosting another super talented field of runners hailing from 15 states and two countries coming to experience Zumbro in all of its agony and glory!  We were on the race...

Zumbro Website Revamp 2016

We are super excited to announce the unveiling of the new Zumbro Endurance Run website!  This post probably gets a little more technical and delves into the nuts and bolts of why we designed our site the way we did than the average reader (runner) may be interested in...

2016 Race Numbers

The Zumbro Endurance Run hosts three races simultaneously, the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run (starts at 8:00 AM Friday) and the Zumbro Midnight 50 (starts at 12:01 AM Saturday) and the Zumbro 17 Mile Trail Race (starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday). Each distance will have...

2015 Zumbro Recap

By John Storkamp – Race Director A Few Quick Thoughts: This was going to be the year.  On Tuesday as we marked the first sections of trail it was so dry I popped a cough drop in as I climbed up to the Scenic Overlook, weighed down with 150 markers in my quiver...

Runner Updates 2015

Welcome runners to the 7th Annual Zumbro 100, 50 & 17 Mile Endurance Run! We are excited to be hosting another talented field of runners hailing from 20 states coming to experience Zumbro in all of its glory! This email is going to be short and sweet and will...

2015 Race Numbers

The Zumbro Endurance Run hosts three races simultaneously, the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run (starts at 8:00 AM Friday) and the Zumbro Midnight 50 (starts at 12:01 AM Saturday) and the Zumbro 17 Mile Trail Race (starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday). Each distance will have...

2014 Zumbro Recap

By John Storkamp – Race Director When “Zumbro” first started it was merely a fun-run put on by our long-bearded friend, Larry “the Oracle” Pederson – all I can remember about those early runs over a decade ago and the first few...