Testimonials

Thank you for yesterday. I had an amazing experience out there. It was a honor and privilege to race on that trail. What an inspiring field of runners. What an amazing stretch of Mother Earth. I will be back next year if allowed. I need more time out there. 50k next time. As always a world class event. You now how to throw a party. With insane respect, See you at Afton. – Scott

 

I just wanted to say a giant THANK YOU for all that you do for everyone. I had the absolute perfect day and had soo much fun out in Lutsen on Saturday. None of that would have been possible if it weren’t for all of your hard work and dedication. Not to mention, if you didn’t endorse Trail Transformation I wouldn’t have found a coach that was affordable and so much help to work with. I still don’t see how I pulled off what I did, but I’m still over the moon excited about it. Just sad that the fun weekend is already over! I am so grateful to get to be a part of the trail running family, I love the comfort and easy going attitude of all of it, and can’t wait to get more opportunity to give back and to run more. It’s also appreciated that there are vegetarian options for me at the races. I am so used to going to races and not having that, which I am totally okay with. I don’t care to be catered to and will always just take care of whatever I need myself. But it’s always an exciting thing to get to join in on the after race food. You guys are all so amazing! Thank you so much!!

 

Hi, I just ran the 12.5k race in Lutsen, and I wanted to let you know how grateful I am that you offered this shorter distance race. I LOVE trail running, but I’ve never been able to participate in this kind of single-track trail race before as my bad knees will not allow me to train for very long races. My sister has run the 25k there before but due to her training/racing schedule, the 12.5k was the best distance for her this year as well – so we were both able to participate and share the experience and that made it even better! So thank you for offering this distance, I was so glad that I could be part of this type of race. It was a different atmosphere from road-racing and I enjoyed every minute of it. My sister said it’s the only race she’s ever seen me run where I looked happy at the finish line! – Kirsten

 

I want to make sure that you, along with the volunteers know how appreciative I am for their compassionate help.  I’m not emailing for a big response or anything, I just really want the volunteers and you to know how much I appreciated everything they did!

 

My husband and I were literally the second to last people to finish.  NOT what we were hoping for, but have had a few physical setbacks the past few months, I’m having major ankle surgery in a few weeks, and it was a nightmare juggling our two young kiddos with family trying to train.  Even with this lackluster result, we are still pretty damn proud we finished…BARELY.  Damn mud!

 

I truly believe that we wouldn’t have been able to finish if it weren’t for the volunteers at the aid stations. I have completed more races than I can count, but nothing to this extent.  The volunteers made sure that we were refueled, restocked, cleaned up, and as comfortable as we could be.

 

Oberg Station there was a taller man with red hair and goatee (I think).  He was so incredibly helpful, insistent; and the initiative he took grabbing my hydration pack off my back and filling it up, throwing food/water down my throat and giving me electrolyte tabs in plastic baggies to keep with me was enough to make me believe that I could keep going. On the way back to the finish I had a little mental freak out session, and this man told me right to my face to go and that we will finish.  Although I honestly didn’t think so, his blunt but compassionate “get outta here” tone of voice was just what I needed.

 

Sawbill Station there was a guy who had a beard and sunglasses, and didn’t talk much 😉  He was all over my husband and I having things ready before we even knew we needed them or had to ask.  He brought a chair over for me to sit on while we wiped our feet off and changed socks, he grabbed food, water, everything we needed.  It was him as well who gave me a little jolt of “I can keep going”.

 

This was our first ultra, I swore I would never do another one, but you know how it goes….you forget the hell you went through and want to do another one.  I am eager to sometime (not too soon ha!) to redeem myself some year.  You organized and put on a wonderful, wonderful event.  I want to thank you for the opportunity to push myself a million times farther than I thought was my max.

 

As for the volunteers, even though we were dead last, I felt like everyone treated us as if we were in first place. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for everything they did and said!  Again, it was truly them who got us physically fueled to the finish.  It means so much. Thank you again!

 

I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much I appreciate what you do leading up to and during the races. This was my 5th time running one of the two races, and it is a special weekend every year for me. You have given me an opportunity to really connect to a very special place. It is easy in our society to avoid doing hard things, you have helped countless people break that cycle and learn that they can do hard things. Don’t underestimate the power of that in every person and that persons family. You embody this northern trail running community and for that I am very thankful.  I can’t imagine how you are feeling at this moment but remember all the lives and whole communities that you have impacted for the good. Thank you!

 

I competed for the first time in the Superior Spring Trail race yesterday. It was a tremendous experience.  Here’s why: Volunteers: To a person, each volunteer was outgoing and enthusiastic.  On my best day, I am a middle-of-the-pack runner, but from the enthusiasm at the Oberg turnaround, it felt like I was a pretty big deal.  Even at the check-ins / packet pick-ups, the volunteers were pleasant and quick. Organization: Everything went very smoothly and as expected.  The quality and variety at the aid station was great. I thought the finish line was going to be a cluster since it was in a small space, but was pleased with how efficient everything flowed.  The only fault I could find was the chili being empty for an extended period, but, on further reflection, perhaps this was a blessing in advance of the five hour car ride that afternoon. Participants: You cannot choose personalities through a lottery, but it ended up being a great group of people.  Lots of encouragement from other runners. There were a few people who threw gel wrappers on the trail (I picked up 6), but that is out of your control. Trail: I have backpacked a little bit (CDT, GET)  and it still humbles me to come back to my own backyard and enjoy the Superior Hiking Trail.  This section is perfect for these two distances.  I hated climbing Moose Mountain with a backpack and it was just as difficult in a Trail Race.  (I’ve donated $ to the SHTA over 5 years in a row.)  It was a great route for a run, but on Friday it was a great hike through the woods. Please pass along my thanks to the many team members and volunteers.  A great experience!

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.