Afton 2024 Recap

Photo Credit Cary Johnson   Founded in 1994, the Afton Trail Run is the Twin Cities heart of Summer trail and ultrarunning tradition. The 2024 race marked the 31st Annual. The race sold out again this year with 980 registered runners from 3 countries, 30 states...

2024 Volunteer Thank You

Photo Credit Scott Rokis   Dear Friends, So many of you have moved beyond volunteer status over the years. Stakeholder, partners, members – no matter how I try to frame it for you, please know that you are FOUNDATIONAL to our trail running community and to...

2024 Afton Trail Run Runner Welcome

Greetings Runners! We are less than a week out from the 31st Annual Afton Trail Run which will be held on on Saturday July 6, 2024. 140+ volunteers are coming together to put on this year’s race. We are thrilled to to have 980 registered runners from 3 countries, 30...

Afton Trail Run 2024 – Under Two Weeks To Go!

Photo Credit Scott Rokis   Greetings Runners, With the last few Afton spots being claimed last night, and less than two weeks to go until race day, I wanted to check in and extend you an early welcome to the race. I will, as usual, be sending out our final /...

2024 Race Hat

Unveiled – the 2024 Afton Trail Run ‘Cool Operator’ Hat!  All runners and volunteers will receive this awesome, super breathable, quick drying, crushable, run hat! We purchased extras of these so if friends, family, crew or pacers would like one, they may...

2024 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...

Afton 2023 Recap

Afton happy finishers – Photo Credit Scott Rokis   Founded in 1994, the Afton Trail Run is the Twin Cities heart of Summer trail and ultrarunning tradition. The 2023 race marked the 30th Annual. The race sold out again this year with 980 registered runners...

2023 Volunteer Thank You

Trail time with friends – Photo Credit Cary Johnson   I have a confession to make. As I’ve gotten older, there are times I have feigned, hedged and ‘toned it down’ as to not sound like a running / endurance sports fanatic. Surely running...

2023 Afton Trail Run Runner Welcome

Greetings Runners! We are just under a week out from the 30th Annual Afton Trail Run which will be held on on Saturday July 1, 2023. 140+ volunteers are coming together to put on this year’s race. We are thrilled to to have 980 registered runners from 3 countries, 28...

2023 Race Beanie

Unveiled – the 2023 Afton Trail Run Beanie!  All runners and volunteers will receive this awesome beanie. We purchased extras of these so if friends, family, crew or pacers would like one, they may purchase one on race weekend.  If you want to add a shirt to your...

2023 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...

Setting Expectations for 2023

In November of 2021, after hosting a season of Covid-modified races, I was updating our race website(s) for what we hoped would be (and thankfully was) a mostly “normal” 2022. While doing so, I decided to include a preface to our Participant Guide(s) titled “Setting...

Afton 2022 Recap

Afton. Family. Love. – Photo Credit Tone Coughlin   Founded in 1994, the Afton Trail Run is a Twin Cities ‘heart of Summer’ trail and ultrarunning tradition. This year we shared the day with 879 registered runners from 3 countries, 27 states and...

2022 Volunteer Thank You

TRECs Volunteers at Afton 2022 – Photo Credit Cary Johnson   After the last volunteers departed Afton this year, I did a ‘once over’ of Afton State Park and Afton Alps, then hopped in my truck to bring the first of a couple trailers back to...

2022 Afton Trail Run Runner Welcome

Greetings Runners! We are less than a week out from the 28th Annual Afton Trail Run. 130+ volunteers are coming together to put on this year’s race. We are thrilled to be hosting 879 runners from 3 countries, 27 states and 194 Minnesota cities!. This email is long,...

2022 Race Hat

Unveiled – the 2022 Afton Trail Run Hat!  We are switching it up a little this year, taking a break from t-shirts. All runners and volunteers will receive this awesome hat. We purchased extras of these so if friends, family, crew or pacers would like one, they may...

2022 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...

Remembering Brian Landstrom

Brian crossing the Split Rock River during the 2017 Superior 100 Mile Trail Race – Photo Credit Cole Peyton   Brian Landstrom passed away peacefully and with dignity at home on Christmas Day 2021, he was 70 years old. While Brian led a vibrant life outside...

Afton 2021 Recap

Son and Father-In-Law 50K Finish, Roy and Les – Photo Credit Cheri Storkamp   AFTON, where the magic keeps on happening. I cannot tell you how many amazing conversations and interactions I had this past weekend. I hope you had the same opportunity to...

2021 Volunteer Thank You

Wednesday July 7, 2021 TO: 2021 Afton Trail Run Volunteers Dear Friends, A few of you had a chance to meet him over the weekend, the new(ish) State Park staff member who is a retired Army Chaplain. Not having been on staff in 2019, this weekend was the first time he...

Afton 2021 Runner Email

Greetings Runners, I would like to welcome you to the 27th Annual Afton Trail Run! We look forward to seeing you all on Friday July 2 and Saturday July 3, 2021. Thank you so much for signing up for this year’s race, keeping a great Summer tradition alive, and...

Afton Trail Run 2021

2021 Afton Trail Run Participant Guide, Event Logistics Plan and Covid 19 Preparedness Plan   Friday July 2 and Saturday July 3, 2021 – Afton State Park, near Hastings Minnesota   About this document: This is required reading for every runner planning...

2021 Race Shirts

We liked the 2019 shirt design so much that we have been wanting run it in different colors in the coming years. All registered runners and volunteers will receive this awesome shirt!  

Afton 2021 Registration Opening Soon!

I am excited to announce that we will be holding (a modified) 27th annual Afton Trail Run, over two days; Friday July 2 and Saturday July 3, 2021! The special invitation registration period for those that were registered for the canceled 2020 race will start on Wed...

New Afton Finishers Medals – 2021 and Beyond

The Afton Trail Run finishers Medals will be different in 2021, and quite possibly going forward. This is for a number of reasons. One is so that we can more easily ship them when needed. Secondly, my friend and former race director Larry and his wife Colleen spent...

Rocksteady Running 2021 Races Update 5/10/21

[ This is a copy of an email that was sent out to our mailing list on May 10, 2021, the subject of the email was ‘Superior Spring Trail Race registration closes on Wednesday May 12!  and other RSR updates.’. It contains updates for all of our events including the...

Afton 2021 Updates 10/16/20

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...

COVID-19 Press Release 4/9/20

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,...

COVID-19 Press Release 3/20/20

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...

COVID-19 Press Release 3/12/20

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,...

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...

Having run the 25k loop a number of times it was pretty clear to me that running it twice was not a particularly good idea. And maybe even less so for a guy that had never run a 50k before. – An Interview with 2019 Afton 50K Winner Ben Schneider

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:...

Afton 2019 Recap

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...

2019 Volunteer Thank You

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...

Afton Trail Run 2019 Runner Email

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...

Afton Trail Run 2019 Race Preview

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...

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...

I Am Running With More Gratitude Right Now, I Have at Times Forgotten How Blessed I Am – An Interview with Jeff Miller After Getting the ATR50K Grand Masters Course Record in 2018

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...

Afton 2018 Recap

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...

2018 Volunteer Thank You

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...

Afton Trail Run 2018 Runner Email

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...

Afton Trail Run 2018 Race Preview

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....

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...

Afton 2017 Recap

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....

Afton Trail Run 2017 Race Preview

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...

Afton Trail Run 2017 Runner Email

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...

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...

Afton Trail Run 2016 Runner Email

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...

2016 ATR Hoodies

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...

2016 Poster

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.

2016 Race Shirt

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.

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...

Afton Trail Run Website Revamp 2016

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...

Afton Trail Run 2015 Runner Email

​ 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...

2015 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...

2014 USATF Trail Championship Results

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...

Afton 2014 Updates

​ 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...

ATR Medals

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!