Adam Doe Takes the 50K Win – Photo Credit Natalie Klein

 

An interview with 2017 Afton 50K winner Adam Doe (AD).  Interview conducted by John Storkamp (JS) – Afton Trail Run Race Director

 

JS: Adam, great job on your recent Afton 50K win! It looks like you ran a really smart and relaxed race – I know you to be very fit and pretty competitive and you seemed really comfortable to let the leaders go on that first loop – were you thinking about not racing and just running your own race or did race tactics play into it and did you figure you could / would reel the leaders back in?

AD: Thank you! I went into the race wanting to take it easy for the first 10-15 miles. However I do feel I was too conservative for the first half. I had the mindset that if the two leaders were out of reach for me, I’d relax and take third. But if they slowly came back, I’d push hard the final 5 miles and go for the win. It worked out!


JS: I see that you are signed up for the Voyageur 50 mile race in a couple of weeks, was Afton a buildup race for Voyageur and would you say that you held back at Afton?

AD: Afton was definitely part of the buildup training block I have been using to prepare for Voyageur. To be honest, I prepared for Afton as a race for the most part. I do wish I would’ve been more aggressive, but I still ran it hard!


JS: Speaking of Voyageur, how are you feeling about your chances at that race? This years field is hyper-competitive and is made up of the “who’s who” of Midwest ultrarunning. With an Afton win and a win at the Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon (half Voyageur) last year people will certainly be keeping an eye on you.

AD: Voyageur will be tough! I am confident I can run well and compete for the top 10 or even 5. However, I am aware of the studs with massive amounts of experience who will be racing. It’s going to be another test of patience but I am ready and excited!

 

JS: Back to Afton, do you do much training at Afton? How do you think the course suits you and your style of running? How do you like the course?

AD: I enjoy Afton a ton! I try to get out there at least once or twice a month. I think the course suits me well as I feel I excel on long climbs and constant changes in the terrain. It fits my strengths for sure. I am a horrible flat road racer!

 

JS: Looking through your past results I see trail and ultra results appearing for you around 2015, what were you doing with your running prior to that? You are 29 now right?

AD: I lived in Albuquerque, NM for a couple years after college. I enjoyed running down there a lot but didn’t race much. Before living there, I really just ran wherever was convenient but got hooked on running the foothill trails in ABQ. When I moved back to MN, my passion for trails grew. I started racing on them and found I was a lot more successful than on the roads. I am 29 now and feel I still have a lot to learn.

 

JS: Adam, any other takeaways or thoughts from this years Afton 50K that you would like to share?

AD: I had so much fun at Afton this year! The volunteers are very helpful, fun and energetic. The post race festivities are awesome. Nothing beats watermelon and burgers after a trail race! Oh and the race director is a cool guy too! Thank you very much.

 

JS: Thank so much for your time, I look forward to watching your performances rest of the year!

AD: Thank you John for taking the time to reach out to me. I appreciate the encouragement!

 

Afton Trail Run
50KM & 25KM Trail Races
Afton State Park – Hastings, Minnesota
Saturday July 4, 2020
50KM 6:30AM
25KM 7:30AM

Registration:
Opens Wedneday January 1, 2020 at 12:01AM CST
Closes Friday June 26, 2020 at 11:59PM CST
*Or once the field limit has been met
Complete Registration Details HERE

Directions to Race Start:
Afton State Park
6959 Peller Avenue South
Hastings, MN 55033
Hastings, Minnesota
Google Maps Directions HERE
Approx 25 minutes East of St. Paul, MN and 40 minutes East of Minneapolis, MN

Terrain / Course Description:
The Afton Trail Run consists of a hilly 25K loop (two loops for the 50K), winding through Afton State Park’s trail system. The race is held 100% off road, primarily on very runnable / not very technical single double and single track. There are 7 long climbs per loop, rising from the river valley and down again with a good mix of rolling and flat terrain between the hills.  Be sure to see maps, elevation charts and stats provided on this website HERE.

50KM:
2 x 15.5 mile loops =  31 miles
Elevation Gain 4,670 FT
Elevation Loss 4,670 FT
NET Elevation Change 9,340 FT
11 Aid Stations
9 hour time limit
Complete 50KM Info HERE

25KM:
1 x 15.5 mile loop = 15.5 miles
Elevation Gain 2,335 FT
Elevation Loss 2,335 FT
NET Elevation Change 4,670 FT
5 Aid Stations
8 hour time limit
Complete 25KM Info HERE

More About the Race / Area:
The Afton Trail Run is one of the most challenging and beautiful trail races around.  The race was established in 1994 and is now one of the oldest, largest and most competitive trail races in the country and routinely draws runners from all 50 states and beyond.  The race takes place entirely within the borders of Afton State Park.  Afton State Park lies on a glacial moraine, scribed with deep ravines running down to the St. Croix River.  The 169 mile St. Croix River was one of the original eight United States rivers to have significant portions placed under protection by the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.  Within the park sandstone outcrops have been exposed in some of the ravines. The vertical drop from the blufftop to the water is 300 feet.  A few patches of remnant prairie survived the decades of farming that took place on the blufftop. Today the former fields are being restored to prairie and oak savanna. The ravines leading down to the riverbank are thickly wooded with oak, aspen, birch, and cherry.