[ This is a copy of an email that was sent out to our mailing list on April 22, 2021, the subject of the email was ‘The Superior Spring Trail Race is On! and other RSR updates’. If you did not receive this as an email and would like to join our mailing list, you can do so HERE https://www.zumbroendurancerun.com/join-our-mailing-list/ – as always, the best way to stay informed is to visit our website as we will not always email. Thank you. ]

Hi Friends!

In the first part of this email I am going to talk about the Superior Spring Trail Race, later in the email I will provide updates on Afton, the Superior Fall Trail Race and the Endless Summer Trail Run Series.

We are excited to announce that we will be holding a Covid-modified Superior Spring Trail Race on May 20, 21, 22 & 23, 2021. We will run the 12.5K, 25K and 50K each of the four days. There will be ten, 15 minute start windows to choose from each morning. Runners will not be grouped, held and released at the start, instead it will be a time-trial type format – start whenever you are ready within your chosen 15 minute start-window. We will provide a safe and physically distanced check-in experience, start line, a marked course, hands free water dispensers out on the course, drop bags transported for 50K runners, the overall event safety net you have come to expect from us, a finish line, chip timing / results, and a shirt and medal mailed to you in the weeks after. The 25K and 50K race courses are slated to be the same as normal – the 12.5K will be a modified out and back course and not quite as interesting as the point to point course of years past, this in order to eliminate busing. Please note, this entire event will be extremely low key. It will be much more a personal challenge to do by yourself or with a couple of friends or family already in your bubble vs the full-blown race experience of past years.

If you want a better idea of what to expect prior to signing up, ask around ( HERE is a good place https://www.facebook.com/groups/rocksteadyrunningcommunity ) and get feedback from those that ran our Zumbro race earlier in April. I also wrote up a brief recap about Zumbro HERE that you may find helpful https://www.zumbroendurancerun.com/2021-zumbro-recap/

Throughout the day today (April 22) runners that made it through last year’s Superior Spring Trail Race lottery and were subject to last year’s cancellation will be sent a special invitation to register (invitations will be rolling out slow throughout the day). This invitation will be sent to the email address that you used to register for the 2020 race. If you don’t see the invitation, please check your SPAM folder, if you still don’t see it (by the end of the day) and would like to run, please contact me so I can get you squared away. Starting on April 28, registration for any remaining spots will open, first come first served to the general public, no lottery.

** VERY IMPORTANT. We are requiring that anyone who plans on registering for this year’s race, please read THIS in its entirety prior to signing up https://www.superiorspringtrailrace.com/superior-spring-trail-race-2021/

Finally, here are some updates for those that are wondering about our other remaining events this year:

Afton Trail Run – we are hopeful that it will happen, Covid-modified of course. Afton is always held the first Saturday in July – this year that is Saturday July 3. Given ongoing state guidelines for running events, associated capacity limits and a busier than ever Afton State Park, we expect that this will be a multi-day event, exactly how many days TBD.

Superior Fall Trail Race – we are hopeful that it will happen. The Superior Fall Trail Race is always the Friday and Saturday after Labor Day. This year those dates are Sept 10 & 11. While we expect that events this Fall will still be subject to many Covid-modifications, our hope is that the races can be held over two days only (read; as normal) with numbers close to our usual field limits, but this is all yet to be seen.

For both Afton and Superior Fall, it is important for you to note; that currently, the Minnesota DNR, one of our primary permitting agencies, will not review or approve permit applications outside of 60 days. As a result of this, as things sit today, we are not announcing event specifics or opening registration outside of that window. Until state restrictions change / ease, registration for events will not be opening until we are very close to the event dates.

Endless Summer Trail Run Series – unfortunately several of the usual series races will likely not be happening, this due to parks that are busier than ever, and event economics – ESTRS always having been a very unique event in that it is a full-fledged race for only $25. That said, we do hope to be able to figure out how to hold one or two of them, later in the Summer.

That is all I have for you today – As always, thanks so much for your time!

Thank You,

John Storkamp

Rocksteady Running
john@rocksteadyrunning.com
Zumbro, Superior(S), Afton, Superior(F), ESTRS

Zumbro Endurance Run
100MI, 50MI, 17MI Trail Race(s)
Theilman, Minnesota
April 10 & 11, 2020
• 100MI Friday 8:00AM
• 50MI 12:01AM Saturday (Friday Midnight)
• 17MI 9:00AM Saturday

Registration:
Opens Fri Nov 1, 2019 – 12:01AM CST
Closes Fri April 3, 2020 – 11:59PM CST
*Or once the field limit has been met
Complete Registration Details HERE

Directions to Race Start:
Zumbro River Bottoms Management Unit
West Assembly Area
(Near Theilman, MN)
Google Maps Directions HERE
Written Directions HERE
(Approx 1:45 south of Minneapolis, MN)

Terrain:
The course consists of a mix of rugged single and double track trail with rubble, loose rock and sand along with minimum maintenance gravel roads.  The race is primarily concentrated in two large valleys within an expansive hardwood forest.  There are four significant, short, steep climbs (approx 300FT) per loop with small hills in-between along with some significant stretches of flat valley floor running.  Be sure to see maps, elevation charts and stats provided on this website HERE.

100 Mile:
6 x 17 mile loop = 102(ish) miles
Elevation Gain 13,500 FT
Elevation Loss 13,500 FT
NET Elevation Change 27,000 FT
17 Aid Stations
34 hour time limit
Complete 100MI Info HERE

50 Mile:
3 x 17 mile loop = 51(ish) miles
Elevation Gain 6,750 FT
Elevation Loss 6,750 FT
NET Elevation Change 13,500 FT
8 Aid Stations
18 hour time limit
Complete 50MI Info HERE

17 Mile:
17 Mile Loop
Elevation Gain 2,250 FT
Elevation Loss 2,250 FT
NET Elevation Change 4,500 FT
2 Aid Stations
9 hour cutoff
Complete 17MI Info HERE

More About the Area:
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 Theilman, MN approximately 1:45 from Minneapolis – St.Paul, MN.  The races start and finish at the West Assembly / Horse Campground Area.  Generally speaking the Zumbro River Bottoms Management Unit lies within a portion of the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest – an expansive 1.7 million acre tract of Minnesota hardwood forest on the Northern edge of the Driftless Region which is mainly characterized by its tall bluffs and deeply carved river valleys. This “bluff country” is rugged, hauntingly beautiful and provides the perfect venue for 100, 50 or 17 miles of trail running.