by Rocksteady | Oct 16, 2020 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
The 2020 Afton Trail Run was cancelled due to COVID 19. The 2020 race would have been our 27th annual running of the event. We hope to be able to hold the race in 2021. Our ability to hold the race will be contingent on where things are at with the pandemic...
by Rocksteady | Jun 10, 2020 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
2020 AFTON TRAIL RUN CANCELLATION DUE TO THE COVID-19 (NOVEL CORONAVIRUS) PANDEMIC – WRITTEN BY RACE DIRECTOR JOHN STORKAMP I apologize in advance, this communication is really long – there is simply no way to put what I have to say into soundbites or a couple of...
by Rocksteady | May 22, 2020 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
* The following was emailed to all registered 2020 Afton Trail Run runners and volunteers on Friday May 22, 2020. Dear Friends, I hope this email finds you all continuing to do as well as you can given the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in. Cheri and I...
by Rocksteady | Apr 23, 2020 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
* The following was emailed to all registered 2020 Afton Trail Run runners and volunteers on Thursday April 23, 2020. Dear Friends, I hope that this email finds you and your family healthy and safe during these extraordinary times. In all honesty, these have been very...
by Rocksteady | Apr 9, 2020 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
PRESS RELEASE 4/9/20 2020 SUPERIOR SPRING TRAIL RACE CANCELLATION DUE TO THE COVID-19 (NOVEL CORONAVIRUS) PANDEMIC AND STATUS UPDATE REGARDING ALL OTHER ROCKSTEADY RUNNING RACES; [ZUMBRO ENDURANCE RUN – ALREADY CANCELLED ON 3/20/20] AFTON TRAIL RUN,...
by Rocksteady | Mar 20, 2020 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
PRESS RELEASE 3/20/20 2020 ZUMBRO ENDURANCE RUN CANCELLATION DUE TO THE COVID-19 (NOVEL CORONAVIRUS) PANDEMIC AND STATUS UPDATE REGARDING ALL OTHER ROCKSTEADY RUNNING RACES; SUPERIOR SPRING TRAIL RACE, AFTON TRAIL RUN, ENDLESS SUMMER TRAIL RUN SERIES AND SUPERIOR FALL...
by Rocksteady | Mar 12, 2020 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
PRESS RELEASE 3/12/20 COVID-19 (NOVEL CORONAVIRUS) IMPACTS ON ROCKSTEADY RUNNING TRAIL AND ULTRARUNNING RACES INCLUDING THE ZUMBRO ENDURANCE RUN, SUPERIOR SPRING TRAIL RACE, AFTON TRAIL RUN, SUPERIOR FALL TRAIL RACE AND ENDLESS SUMMER TRAIL RUN SERIES. On March 11th,...
by Rocksteady | Feb 27, 2020 | Race Numbers
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number series) so runners can be...
by Rocksteady | Sep 22, 2019 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
Thank you very much for your interest in the 27th Annual Afton Trail Run 50KM & 25KM. The tentative date for this coming years race is Saturday July 4, 2020 – the race having always / historically been held the first Saturday in July. Registration is tentatively...
by Rocksteady | Aug 1, 2019 | Interviews, Uncategorized
An Interview with Ben Schneider (BS) after his 2019 Afton 50K win – Interview conducted by Kevin Langton (KL). Photo Credit: Fresh Tracks Media KL: Hi Ben. Congrats on your win at Afton (Ben won the 50k in 3:51:14). Can you tell us a little about yourself? BS:...
by Rocksteady | Jul 24, 2019 | Interviews, Uncategorized
An Interview with Margaret Ho (MH) after her 2019 Afton 25K win – Interview conducted by Kevin Langton (KL). Photo Credit: David Markman KL: Hi Margaret. Congrats on your smoking fast win at Afton (Margaret won the women’s race by nearly eighteen minutes, in...
by Rocksteady | Jul 22, 2019 | Interviews, Uncategorized
An Interview with Sara Conrad (SC) after her 2019 Afton 50K win – Interview conducted by Kevin Langton (KL). Photo Credit: David Markman KL: Hi Sara. Congrats on your awesome win at Afton (Sara was first woman in the 50k in 5:01:35). Can you tell us a little about...
by Rocksteady | Jul 12, 2019 | Race Recaps
Written By John Storkamp – Afton Trail Run Race Director | Above Photo: Tone Coughlin Afton was Awesome. I don’t mean awesome like we casually use the word today, but how it was used 100 years ago, with all the weight and impact of its intended meaning. I...
by Rocksteady | Jul 8, 2019 | Uncategorized, Volunteer Thank You's
Monday July 8th, 2019 TO: 2019 Afton Trail Run Volunteers Dear Friends, My good friend Jason is pretty well known for telling it like it is. He rarely sugarcoats anything, a trait that I usually like (when his words are ones that I want to hear) and sometimes dislike...
by Rocksteady | Jul 1, 2019 | Race Updates
Welcome Runners to the 26th Annual Afton Trail Run! We are going to keep this email as short as possible since everything you need to know is already on our website https://www.aftontrailrun.com/ (which you should review in its entirety, especially the 25K and 50K...
by Rocksteady | Jun 30, 2019 | Race Previews, Uncategorized
Written By Kevin Langton & John Storkamp Stride for Stride at the Afton Trail Run – Photo Credit Fresh Tracks Media Welcome to the 26th Annual Afton Trail Run, the traditional Minnesota 4th of July Weekend gathering of trail running, our own little greater...
by Rocksteady | Jun 23, 2019 | Shirts & Swag, Uncategorized
Unveiled, the 2019 Afton Trail Run race shirt – all registered runners and volunteers will receive this awesome shirt!
by Rocksteady | Jun 23, 2019 | Race Posters, Uncategorized
The 2019 Afton Trail Run Poster, printed on 11″ X 17″ heavy stock – fits most 11″ X 17″ frames.
by Rocksteady | Jun 23, 2019 | Race Numbers
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number series) so runners can be...
by Rocksteady | Jun 21, 2019 | Uncategorized
Due to an infrastructure project on their lower property, the normal overflow parking lots that Afton Alps Ski Area generously allows us to use for the Afton Trail Run will not be available for the 2019 race. We will be using an alternate parking lot on Afton Alps...
by Rocksteady | Aug 10, 2018 | Interviews, Uncategorized
An Interview with Jeff Miller (JM) after getting the ATR50K Grand Masters course record in 2018 – Interview conducted by Kevin Langton (KL) KL: Jeff, congratulations on another grand masters win and the grand masters course record at Afton. First, can you tell us...
by Rocksteady | Aug 10, 2018 | Interviews, Uncategorized
An Interview with Herb Byun (HB) – Interview conducted by Kevin Langton (KL) ~ Editors Note; of all the impressive performances at the 2018 Afton Trail Run, Herb’s time of 7:08 and placing 193rd out of 293 starters at the age of 74 is simply staggering and one...
by Rocksteady | Jul 27, 2018 | Interviews, Uncategorized
An Interview with 14 Year Old Afton 50K Finisher Andrew Lewis (AL) – Interview conducted by Kevin Langton (KL) KL: Congrats, Andrew, on being the youngest ever finisher of Afton 50k at age 14. What drew you to this particular race? AL: Thanks, Kevin! What drew me to...
by Rocksteady | Jul 20, 2018 | Interviews, Uncategorized
An interview with 2018 Afton 50KM men’s champion and new course record holder Justin Grunewald (JG) – Interview conducted by Kevin Langton (KL) KL: Justin congratulations on an incredible race. You won by 45 minutes and blasted Chris Lundstrom’s...
by Rocksteady | Jul 11, 2018 | Race Recaps
Written By John Storkamp – Afton Trail Run Race Director | Above Photo: Fresh Tracks Media 25 years. A quarter of a century. The Afton Trail Run 25KM and 50KM celebrated a milestone birthday this year and coincidentally, we had already planned a party! Enter...
by Rocksteady | Jul 8, 2018 | Uncategorized, Volunteer Thank You's
Sunday July 8th, 2018 TO: 2018 Afton Trail Run Volunteers Dear Friends, Another year is in the books. This one just so happened to be a significant milestone as it was the 25th running of the Afton Trail Run. That is a quarter of a century, perhaps with some luck the...
by Rocksteady | Jul 2, 2018 | Race Updates
Welcome Runners to the 25th Annual Afton Trail Run! We are going to keep this email as short as possible since everything you need to know is already on our website https://www.aftontrailrun.com/ (which you should review in its entirety, especially the 25K and 50K...
by Rocksteady | Jul 1, 2018 | Uncategorized
There is a new volunteer-built trail at Minnesota’s Afton State Park, and it will quite appropriately be included in the 25th edition of the Afton Trail Run 25KM / 50KM and every edition going forward. If we had it our way, we would call it Donny’s Trail or maybe...
by Rocksteady | Jun 30, 2018 | Race Previews, Uncategorized
By Kevin Langton, RSR Staff Writer – Background / Stats by John Storkamp, Race Director Total registered runners for both races: 951; 555 men (58%), 396 women (42%). 28 states and 1 Canadian province represented. Youngest runner is 14 year-old Andrew Lewis....
by Rocksteady | Jun 29, 2018 | Shirts & Swag, Uncategorized
Unveiled, the 2018 Afton Trail Run race shirt – all registered runners and volunteers will receive this awesome shirt!
by Rocksteady | Mar 2, 2018 | Race Posters, Uncategorized
The 2018 Afton Trail Run Poster, printed on 11″ X 17″ heavy stock – fits most 11″ X 17″ frames.
by Rocksteady | Mar 2, 2018 | Race Numbers
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number series) so runners can be...
by Rocksteady | Jul 11, 2017 | Interviews
An interview with 2017 Afton 25K winner Benjamin Cogger (BC). Interview conducted by John Storkamp (JS) – Afton Trail Run Race Director JS – Ben, congratulations on your awesome Afton 25K performance this past weekend, you have to be happy with the win! Yes!...
by Rocksteady | Jul 11, 2017 | Race Recaps
by John Storkamp, RD In 1994, 53 runners finished the inaugural Afton Trail Run 50K while 82 finished the 25K race for a total of 135 finishers. Fast forward 24 years, a field limit of 900 runners and yet another Minnesota trail / ultra race that filled to capacity....
by Rocksteady | Jul 10, 2017 | Interviews
An interview with 2017 Afton 25K winner Anna French (AF). Interview conducted by John Storkamp (JS) – Afton Trail Run Race Director JS – Anna, congratulations on your first Afton 25K win! For only being 20 years old, you already have some history with...
by Rocksteady | Jul 9, 2017 | Interviews
An interview with 2017 Afton 50K winner Jayna Tomalty (JT). Interview conducted by John Storkamp (JS) – Afton Trail Run Race Director JS – Jayna! Congratulations on your Afton 50K win last weekend and what I believe is your first ultra win, is...
by Rocksteady | Jul 6, 2017 | Interviews
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...
by Rocksteady | Jul 6, 2017 | Uncategorized, Volunteer Thank You's
A huge thank you to all of our volunteers, we could not do it without you! Click image below to see larger .PDF version.
by Rocksteady | Jun 26, 2017 | Race Previews, Uncategorized
By John Storkamp, Race Director Afton, the St. Croix River, Minnesota, Summer, 4th of July week and the Afton Trail Run conjure images of lush green humid valleys, bluebird days, clouds of mosquitoes and black flies, American flags, hot weather, barbecues and one of...
by Rocksteady | Jun 26, 2017 | Race Posters, Uncategorized
The 2017 Afton Trail Run Poster, printed on 11″ X 17″ heavy stock – fits most 11″ X 17″ frames.
by Rocksteady | Jun 26, 2017 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
Welcome Runners to the 24th Annual Afton Trail Run! We are going to keep this email short since everything you need to know is already on our website (which you should review in its entirety) but below you will find a few quick updates and reminders. You can also...
by Rocksteady | Jun 24, 2017 | Race Numbers
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number series) so runners can be...
by Rocksteady | Jun 16, 2017 | Shirts & Swag, Uncategorized
Unveiled, the 2017 Afton Trail Run race shirt – all registered runners and volunteers will receive this awesome shirt!
by Rocksteady | Aug 9, 2016 | Uncategorized
By Alex Kurt for GearJunkie.com …Kurt Keiser, 42, who recently won the Afton 50K outside the Twin Cities, echoed Meltzer’s assertion that mental fortitude plays a huge role in ultras, where a competitor’s spirit and energy levels can fluctuate as much as the...
by Rocksteady | Jul 7, 2016 | Uncategorized, Volunteer Thank You's
by Rocksteady | Jul 5, 2016 | Race Recaps, Uncategorized, USATF Championships
By John Storkamp RD In 2016 the Afton Trail Run was fortunate enough to win the bid for both the USATF Minnesota Trail and Ultra Championship races. While both the 25KM and 50KM have been the respective championships in the past, this was the first time we had the...
by Rocksteady | Jun 29, 2016 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
Welcome Runners to the 23rd Annual Afton Trail Run! We are going to keep this email short since everything you need to know is already on our website but below you will find a few quick updates and reminders. You can also checkout our Facebook page for some...
by Rocksteady | Jun 29, 2016 | Race Previews, Uncategorized
Ultrarunners are like cockroaches. In the dead of winter, on the Canadian border, they’ll lug a sled for 135 miles. Come July, when the only thing thicker than the wet blanket of humidity are the clouds of black flies swarming the itchy woodland overgrowth, they’ll...
by Rocksteady | Jun 27, 2016 | Shirts & Swag, Uncategorized
We did a very limited run of this special edition “ATR Rise Above” sweatshirt which will be for sale at this years Afton Trail Run – you can purchase one at packet pickup ($50.00 cash or check only – tax included) – limited supply, first come first serve, until they...
by Rocksteady | Jun 11, 2016 | Race Posters, Uncategorized
2016 Afton Trail Run poster – 11 X 17 print on heavy stock. This design was inspired (and when we say inspired, we mean INSPIRED) by our friends from the “FDL” and the design is meant to honor those friends.
by Rocksteady | Jun 11, 2016 | Shirts & Swag, Uncategorized
OK, we could not be any more excited to unveil this years Afton Trail Run shirt. This shirt was inspired (and when we say inspired, we mean INSPIRED) by our friends from the “FDL” and the design is meant to honor those friends.
by Rocksteady | May 28, 2016 | Race Numbers
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number series) so runners can be...
by Rocksteady | Jan 13, 2016 | Uncategorized, Website
We are super excited to announce the unveiling of the new Afton Trail Run website! This post probably gets a little more technical and delves into the nuts and bolts of why we designed our site the way we did than the average reader (runner) may be interested in...
by Rocksteady | Jul 9, 2015 | Uncategorized, Volunteer Thank You's
A huge thank you to all of our volunteers, we could not do it without you! Click image below to see larger .PDF version.
by Rocksteady | Jun 30, 2015 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
Welcome to the 22nd Annual Afton Trail Run! We are going to keep this email short since everything you need to know is already on our WEBSITE but below you will find a few quick reminders. You can also checkout our Facebook page for a lot of fun stuff leading up to...
by Rocksteady | Jun 11, 2015 | Race Posters, Uncategorized
by Rocksteady | Jun 8, 2015 | Shirts & Swag, Uncategorized
Unveiled, the 2015 ATR “Rocksteady Wrap”
by Rocksteady | May 28, 2015 | Race Numbers, Uncategorized
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number series) so runners can be...
by Rocksteady | Jul 14, 2014 | Uncategorized, Volunteer Thank You's
We cannot thank all of our awesome volunteers enough for all that they do! Please see the thank you letter to volunteers below – click on the letter to open a larger / more readable .PDF version.
by Rocksteady | Jul 8, 2014 | Race Recaps, Uncategorized
The Afton Trail Run 25KM hosted the 2014 USATF Minnesota Association Championship Race – congratulations to all who participated, won titles and took home prizes. Info about the competion, the title and prize money that winners will recieve can be found...
by Rocksteady | Jul 3, 2014 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
Welcome trail and ultra runners to the 21st Annual Afton Trail Run!We are going to keep this email fairly simple since everything you need to know is already on our WEBSITE but below you will find a few quick / basic reminders. You can also checkout our Facebook...
by Rocksteady | Jul 3, 2014 | Medals & Buckles, Uncategorized
The Afton Trail Run WOOD. Hand crafted out of wood – makes sense, you run in the woods, right? All 25KM and 50KM finishers will receive one of these unique hand-made finshers medallions – strengthen your neck, they are huge and heavy!
by Rocksteady | Jun 23, 2014 | Shirts & Swag, Uncategorized
Afton 2014 shirts unveiled!
by Rocksteady | Jun 11, 2014 | Race Posters, Uncategorized
by Rocksteady | May 28, 2014 | Race Numbers, Uncategorized
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number series) so runners can be...
by Rocksteady | Jul 11, 2013 | Uncategorized, Volunteer Thank You's
Thank you to all of the volunteers that made the 2013 Afton Trail Run a success! Volunteers, please read the letter below!
by Rocksteady | Jul 3, 2013 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
Afton Trail Run 25KM & 50KM | Sat July 6th, 2013 50KM 6:30AM | 25KM 7:30AM Afton State Park, Minnesota Do not reply to this email, please email questions HERE You can visit the official Afton Trail Run Race website HERE Welcome Runners! Happy 4th of July...
by Rocksteady | Jul 3, 2013 | Race Numbers, Uncategorized
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number series) so runners can...
by Rocksteady | Jun 11, 2013 | Race Posters, Uncategorized
by Rocksteady | Jun 4, 2013 | Shirts & Swag, Uncategorized
The 2013 Afton Trail Run Race Shirt has been unveiled – run or volunteer to get yours!
by Rocksteady | Jul 26, 2012 | Uncategorized, Volunteer Thank You's
by Rocksteady | Jul 26, 2012 | Race Recaps, Uncategorized
The heat stands down (and just in time): Afton recap by Alex Kurt – Reprinted with permission from UltraMN.com 25k: Moore, Lee win state trail titles Joe Moore, of Minneapolis, ran his way to a USATF-MN Trail Championship and a Course Record at the Afton...
by Rocksteady | Jun 29, 2012 | Uncategorized
Some of you have been seeing some “prototypes” around for the last year or so and we have gotten a lot of questions. Finally, your chance to get your hands on a few cool ATR creations. Race morning ONLY (during packet pickup) – we will be selling...
by Rocksteady | Jun 21, 2012 | Race Numbers, Uncategorized
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton Trail Run 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton Trail Run 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number...
by Rocksteady | Jun 11, 2012 | Race Posters, Uncategorized
by Rocksteady | Jun 5, 2012 | Shirts & Swag, Uncategorized
Unveiled – Special thanks to our friend, sponsor (CCES), guest artist and chief Mayan consultant – Jason Husveth for his contribution / collaboration on this years shirt! J. Storkamp / J. Husveth 2012
by Rocksteady | Jan 4, 2012 | Uncategorized, Website
We are pleased to unveil our new website – take a look around and see whats new!
by Rocksteady | Jul 12, 2011 | Volunteer Thank You's
We would like to thank all of our wonderful volunteers for making the 2011 Afton Trail Run a success! Please see the letter that went out to volunteers below – you can click on the image to view a larger / .PDF version of the letter.
by Rocksteady | May 28, 2011 | Race Numbers, Uncategorized
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number series) so runners can be...
by Rocksteady | Jul 13, 2010 | Uncategorized, Volunteer Thank You's
We just simply could not do it without our awesome crew of volunteers! Please see the letter below (you can click on it to see a larger .PDF version). We look forward to seeing you all again next year!
by Rocksteady | May 29, 2010 | Uncategorized
We are pleased to announce that the 2009 Afton Trail Run race shirt was voted as the favorite race shirt of Minnesota runners for 2009 in a poll conducted by MDRA! Thanks for the votes! Wear those shirts with pride, you earned them, and next year, lets bombard them...
by Rocksteady | May 28, 2010 | Race Numbers, Uncategorized
The Afton Trail Run hosts two races simultaneously, the Afton 50KM Trail Race (starts at 6:30 AM Saturday) and the Afton 25KM Trail Race (starts at 7:30 AM Saturday). Each distance will have its own unique race number (unique color and number series) so runners can be...
by Rocksteady | Jul 30, 2009 | Uncategorized
Check out this cool video from this years race – Credits; Bryan Cochran
by Rocksteady | Jul 16, 2009 | Uncategorized, Volunteer Thank You's
We had another great event and all the credit is due to our fantastic group of dedicated volunteers! Please see the attached thank you letter – you can click on the image / letter below to view / download a larger .PDF version of the letter. We look forward to...
by Rocksteady | Jul 1, 2009 | Race Updates, Uncategorized
GREETINGS EVERYONE,Thank you for entering the 16th
