We thank everyone that entered the 2019 Superior Spring Trail Race 12.5KM, 25KM and 50KM lottery.  The lottery drawing took place on Thursday January 17th, 2019 in accordance with our lottery protocol and procedures HERE https://www.superiorspringtrailrace.com/registration-info/.  Those selected have had their payment processed and their names added to the list of registered runners.  For those that were selected but had their payment declined (invalid payment info submitted, insufficient funds, expired card, etc.) you have been sent an email from UltraSignup with instructions on how to provide a valid payment source – if you do not make payment within 48 hours the spot will be offered to someone else.  As always, be sure to check your email SPAM folder since this type of transactional email can sometimes be sent to SPAM.

As noted on the registration info page, with the increase in the field limit in the 12.5K from last years race, we anticipated that there could be a few spots left after the lottery and there is.  Those spots are now available via the UltraSignup registration page on a first come first served basis until they are gone. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=60505 – [UPDATE, all spots for the 12.5K were taken within a couple of days of the lottery ending and there are no additional spots available in the 12.5K]

The list of registered runners is available on our website and UltraSignup and can be found by following the links below.

12.5KM List HERE https://ultrasignup.com/entrants_event.aspx?did=60507

25KM List HERE https://ultrasignup.com/entrants_event.aspx?did=60506

50KM List HERE https://ultrasignup.com/entrants_event.aspx?did=60505

*If  your name does not appear on the list it means that you were not selected to participate in this years event  – please note that you will NOT receive additional notification and we do not keep a waiting list.

The reason for the implementation of a lottery for choosing the “start list” was once again validated by the fact that demand (lottery applications) greatly outstripped supply (available race slots).  While we find no pleasure in turning away runners that would have liked to participate in the race, we do so in compliance with the agreements made with the agencies that permit our event while balancing the appropriate number of runners on the trail in careful consideration of; trail impact, runner safety, participant experience in addition to several other factors.  We will always put our permitting agencies regulations, trail-sustainability, runner-safety and runner enjoyment above all else to ensure a safe, fun and sustainable event for all and know that you would expect nothing less of us.

We encourage those who were not chosen in the lottery to please not give up on the Superior Spring Trail Race and apply to future editions of the event.  We also encourage you to use this as an opportunity to get involved as a volunteer – this race and nearly every other race can only exist if volunteers step up and help make them happen… run some and volunteer at some that is our philosophy.  Additionally, we suggest that those who did not get in to this years event look for and participate in any of the other great trail races in our region and beyond.  There are many online resources for finding trail / ultra races including Upper Midwest Trail RunnersUltraSignup, Ultrarunning Magazine, Trail Runner Magazine and more.

For those of you that were selected to participate in this years race we look forward to seeing you on the start line in May.  Please be sure to take the time to look over our website and familiarize yourself with all aspects of the event.

Again, we cannot thank you all enough for your continued interest in the Superior Spring Trail Race.  As always, should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

John Storkamp
Race Director
Superior Spring Trail Race
12.5KM, 25KM, 50KM

Superior Spring Trail Race
50KM, 25KM & 12.5KM
Lutsen, Minnesota
Saturday May 16, 2020
50KM 7:00AM
25KM 8:00AM
12.5KM 9:00AM

Registration / Lottery:
Opens Wednesday January 1st, 2020 – 12:01AM CST
Closes Wednesday January 15th, 2020 – 11:59PM CST
* Due to high demand, registration for the Superior “Spring” Trail Race is held via a lottery, more details about the lottery can be found HERE

Directions to Race Start:
Caribou Highlands Resort / Lodge
371 Ski Hill Road
Lutsen, MN 55612
Google Maps Directions HERE
Approx Travel Times
1:15 North of Two Harbors, MN
1:45 North of Duluth, MN
4:00 North of Minneapolis, MN

Terrain / Course Description:
The Superior 12.5KM, 25KM and 50KM Trail Races are extremely hilly, rugged and technical out-and-back (100% trail) trail-races which traverses the Sawtooth Mountain Range on the Superior Hiking Trail in the far reaches northern Minnesota .  The course parallels Lake Superior, the greatest freshwater lake in the world, climbs to near 2000′ peaks with breath-taking vistas of the lake and inland forests and crosses whitewater rivers and serene streams while meandering through mystic Boreal forests.  The races start and finish at Caribou Highlands Resort in Lutsen Minnesota.

Superior 50KM
25KM Out & Back Course = 50KM (31MI)
Elevation Gain 4,200 FT
Elevation Loss 4,200 FT
NET Elevation Change 8,400 FT
4 Aid Stations
9 Hour Time Limit
Starts at 7:00AM Saturday
Compete 50KM Info HERE

Superior 25KM
12.5KM Out & Back Course = 25KM (15.1MI)
Elevation Gain 2,300 FT
Elevation Loss 2,300 FT
NET Elevation Change 4,600 FT
1 Aid Station
8 Hour Time Limit
Starts Saturday at 8:00AM
Complete 25KM Info HERE

Superior 12.5KM
12.5KM Point to Point Course. 12.5KM = 7.75MI
Elevation Gain  900 FT
Elevation Loss 1,050 FT
NET Elevation Change 1,950 FT
NO Aid Stations
7 Hour Time Limit
Starts Saturday at 9:00AM
Complete 12.5KM Info HERE

More About the Area:
The North Shore of Lake Superior runs from Duluth, Minnesota at the Southwestern end of the lake, to Thunder Bay and Nipigon, Ontario, Canada, in the North to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in the east. The shore is characterized by alternating rocky cliffs and cobblestone beaches, with rolling hills and ridges covered in boreal forest inland from the lake, through which scenic rivers and waterfalls descend as they flow to Lake Superior. The shoreline between the city of Duluth to the international border at Grand Portage as the North Shore.  Lake Superior is considered the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It is the world’s third-largest freshwater lake by volume and the largest by volume in North America.  The Superior Hiking Trail, also known as the SHT, is a 310-mile long distance hiking single-track hiking trail in Northeastern Minnesota that follows the ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior for most of its length. The trail travels through forests of birch, aspen, pine, fir, and cedar. Hikers and runners enjoy views of boreal forests, the Sawtooth Mountains, babbling brooks, rushing waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. The lowest point on the trail is 602 feet above sea level and the highest point is 1,829 feet above sea level.