POSTS: Click on any of the links below to read the full story.

2008 Pre-Race Updates

"And I Would Have Gotten Away With It, If It Wasn't For You Meddling Kids"

UMTR Names The Afton Trail Run 50K as the 2008 Upper Midwest Ultra Championship Race

The Afton Trail Run gets a new race Director

2008 Pre-Race Updates

GREETINGS EVERYONE,

First of all, thanks to all of you who registered early for the 15th Annual Afton Trail Run 25K and 50K.  We are going to have a record turnout for this year’s race!  The overwhelming interest in the 50K will once again ensure that the Afton Trail Run(s) are the premier 25K and 50K races in the Midwest. 

Listed below are a few things to keep in mind as the race draws near. 

TIMES
The 50K starts at 6:30 a.m. and the 25K starts at 7:30 a.m. SHARP.

PACKET PICKUP
Packet pickup will be held on race morning only.  You can pick up your  number, race packet and t-shirt at the Interpretive Center at Afton State Park starting at 5:00 a.m. (the Interpretive Center is adjacent from the start finish area.)  Packet pickup for the 50K ends at 6:00 a.m. and at 7:00 a.m. for the 25K.  Arrive Early!  This is the only opportunity for packet pickup – there is no packet pick the night before the race. 

T-SHIRTS
Those who are had their applications and were registered by June 29th are guaranteed to get a t-shirt on race day. For all of you late-comers, you may have to wait until a couple of weeks after the race for us to mail them to you. Sorry, but you know the old saying...... the early birds get the super nice technical t's on race day!

RACE DAY REGISTRATION
If you are signing up on race-day we cannot guarantee you a t-shirt.  If a t-shirt is not available we will mail it to you by August 15th.  Race day registration for the 50K ends at 6:00 a.m. and at 7:00 a.m. for the 25K.  Arrive Early!

PARKING PERMITS
If you do not already have one, we strongly encourage you to purchase an Annual State Park entry / parking permit prior to race day.  An annual pass can also be purchased on your way out of the park after the race, please tell the park official that you ran the race.  This is an excellent way to support our wonderful state park system.  More information can be found at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/permit.html  If you choose not to purchase an annual pass (shame on you) we will cover the expense for your parking, but this just takes away from our overall donation to Afton State Park.  You can tell a hardcore Minnesota trail runner by the state park sticker on their windshield!

PARKING
Please carpool!  Reduce the races carbon footprint, save money and help reduce congestion in the parking lot – parking resources will be strained as there is limited parking.  When you arrive, drive all the way to the end of the road to the far parking lot and start parking there, do not fill the lots by the start / finish area first.  Do not park on the road.

PACERS
Pacers / non-registered runners are not allowed under any circumstance.

WORST CASE
If you need to drop out of the race, let a volunteer know that you are doing so, this way you will be accounted for and we will know that we don’t need to send out the bloodhounds.  If you go off course or get lost, be honest, let someone know, try to correct your mistake and try to finish, but let the timing official know when you cross the line.

As always, more information can be found at on our site, click here to view the ATR HOMEPAGE

THIS RACE IS HARDCORE, YOU ARE HARDCORE.  GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, PUSH YOURSELF, THANK THE VOLUNTEERS AND BE SAFE.

Thanks Again,

John Storkamp and the Entire ATR Crew

"And I Would Have Gotten Away With It, If It Wasn't For You Meddling Kids"

A bunch of us got together over the weekend and made the finishers medals, from scratch, by hand. We made 400 medals and still had energy to go run afterwards. Thanks everyone for all of your help. Be sure to visit the Race Awards page to see all of the other cool stuff for the race, including t-shirts, awards etc.

UMTR Names the Afton Trail Run 50K as the 2008 Upper Midwest Ultra Championship Race.

The Afton Trail Run is excited to announce that the Upper Midwest Trail Runners have named the Afton Trail Run 50K as the inaugural Upper Midwest Ultra Championship race!

With an already record number of competitors anticipated for this years 50K event, we believe that this could be one of the biggest races, drawing the largest pool of talent in the Midwest this year. Already planning on the race are such talented Midwest runners as Wynn Davis, Duke Rembleski, Eve Rembleski, Patrick Russell, Joe Ziegenfuss and many more. (For those contenders who are still lurking in the shadows we ask you to stand up and be counted now!) We believe that these standout Midwest runners rival the talents of the best east and west coast runners that we hear and read so much about. We hope that this Championship race will draw other high level runners from around the Midwest and from around the country. We are sure to see some great competition and some really fast times. We believe that this event will say to the entire US ultra / trail running community that Midwest runners are the real deal!

Stay tuned to the Afton Trail Run blog for further updates and please visit the UMTR website for additional details about winners awards for the championship race. Tell all your fast friends to sign up, because the winner will have bragging rights for 1 whole year!

ATR Gets A New Race Director

Whats new with the Afton Trail Run for 2008?

2008 ushers in a new era of the Afton Trail Run.  Scott Wagner, who served as the race director for ATR from 2001 through 2007, is officially stepping down from this position.  Filling his shoes for the 2008 race will be John Storkamp, a good friend of Scott, and friend of the park. 

“As a result of this change, very little will change.” 

Scott will remain highly involved with the race along with all of the great volunteers and friends of the race whom you have gotten to know over the years.  We cannot thank Scott enough for the energy and tireless years of service that he has put into the Afton Trail Run.  Scott gave freely of his time and resources to organize this run that we all love so much.  The next time that you see him, please be sure to thank Scott for everything that he has done for the race.  The look of the race has been updated and some minor changes will take place, but at its core, the Afton Trail Run’s mission will remain the same.

One Simple Mission:

“The Afton Trail Run is held each year as a celebration of Afton State Park.  Net proceeds from this event are donated to the park as a gift given in return for all of the gifts that the park gives us.  The Afton Trail Run’s primary mission is to help to ensure the health and longevity of the park for generations to come.”

About the new Race Director:

John Storkamp was born and raised in Hastings, Minnesota, just 15 minutes down the road from Afton State Park.  John has been visiting the park since the age of 12 and has spent countless hours over the last 16 years there and throughout the St. Croix River Valley, running, cycling, camping, skiing and exploring.  John is a 14-year veteran of long-distance running, having run his first marathon at the age of 14.  John has competed in and has won many events ranging from 5Ks to 135–mile races.  John still lives in Hastings today and he and his wife Cheri have a daughter, Emma, and a dog named Autumn.  John and his family consider Afton State park their second home and can be found at the park year-round—running, snowshoeing, camping, swimming at the beach and spending time with friends.

A note from John Storkamp:

“I am extremely honored to be the new race director of the Afton Trail Run.  Organizing this event is certainly not a solitary effort and the race could not be held without the support and dedication of so many wonderful friends.  Please visit the volunteers’ page to learn more about the individuals who work to make this event a success.  I look forward to seeing all of you at the park this summer!”