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!

 

JS – There were some pretty dang capable runners in the 25K again this year with eight guys between 1:40 and 1:50 – can you tell us a little bit about how the race unfolded out there?

BC – Following your prerace warning of drainage work immediately down-trail from the start, I thought I would take the lead from the start to have room to navigate. I took it out fairly quickly on the initial descent and gapped the lead group by a bit. I eased back the pace on the flats and Davin Grapentine caught up and was with me until about 10 miles into the race, at which point I opened up a bit on a flat stretch and built a lead going into the climb out of the river bottom. Being my first time at Afton, I got “lost” in the last 4-5 miles in the sense that I didn’t really know where I was on the course relative to the finish so again, eased back on the pace to make sure I had enough energy for the remainder feeling comfortable with my lead. I finished feeling well, happy to have had a good run along with some other excellent runners.

 

JS – ​Back in May at the Superior 50K​, you took down a really impressive and well tested course record which had been owned by Chris Lundstrom  – did you come into this race in top form or are you rebuilding from Superior and for the forthcoming Voyageur 50 Mile in a couple of weeks?

BC – Afton was a race I trained through, I had ran Grandma’s Marathon two weeks previous and thought the 25K would be manageable race distance post marathon and a good speed workout before Voyageur (as much speed as that requires). Road marathons are harder on me than trail running, my legs certainly weren’t as fresh as at Superior!

 

JS – Anything you would like to mention about that Superior 50K course record since I did not get a chance to ask you about that after Superior?

BC – I must credit Kurt Keisser and Matt Eidenshink for setting a really ambitious pace in the first half of the race. At the top of Carlton peak, I thought if one of us can keep this pace, the finishing time will certainly be close to the record. I didn’t think it would be a record breaking year, plenty of mud, but I guess having run the course several times previous I knew what to expect and managed to nearly even split on the way back which was enough for a record time.

 

JS – Your time was the 16th fastest time ever run on the modern day Afton 25K course but that does not tell the full story, your time was blazing fast.  Most of the guys in the top 15 have historically been very very fast road runners (think sub 2:30 marathoners and 14-mid 5Kers) but you are probably one of the fastest trail specialists to run the Afton 25K – is calling you a trail specialists fair?  What is your running background for those that do not know?

BC – Over the years I have gravitated to trail racing more exclusively, I find it more exciting, wholesome and easier on the body. I would consider myself a “trail specialist” I suppose,  and have always been a trail runner. I grew up on the edge of the Chequamegon National Forest in northern Wisconsin and most of my summer running growing up was done on trails and forest roads. I ran cross-country and track at UMD and had a good training group that liked to explore the vast trail networks of Duluth. Having moved back to Duluth five years ago, trail running is easier than ever with the expansion of the Superior Hiking Trail and the Traverse. The bulk of my running is on trails and speed is often limited by the technical nature of the trail and as a result I don’t do a lot of running under 6:00 pace. Additionally, having a one and two year old has cut out quite a bit of my time to run and sleep, but one learns to adapt… A generally non-technical, runnable course like Afton would certainly cater to the road runner used to running 5+ pace. This was my first 25K trail race and would certainly need to do a bit of speed were I to reach my potential. 

 

JS – How are you feeling about the upcoming Voyageur 50 Mile?  If I am not mistaken this will be your first race over 50KM?  To me, this Voyageur looks like it is going to be one of the most exciting an competitive trail races ever contested in Minnesota.

BC – Thirty-one miles is as far as I have ever run, so I really don’t know what to expect or how my body will hold up over 50 miles of Voyageur. I have also heard that it will be a competitive year, though my approach to Voyageur is quite bit different than Superior, a course I know and a distance I have run numerous times. I have run most of Voyageur in pieces and know what the trail holds but primarily, I will just be getting used to that much time on my feet.

 

JS – Do you have any Fall racing plans?  You don’t seem to over-race, rather it seems like you focus on a couple of races a year, and try to win them… is that accurate?

BC – I tend not to race too much as I have a young family and numerous other hobbies and activities that I also like to devote time to so my approach generally is, if I am going to race, try to come into a race in top form. I am not sure what the fall holds yet, probably one or two more races before the snow flies and I always enjoy the local NMTC races here in Duluth. 

 

JS – Any other thoughts or comments about your Afton race / experience?

BC – Having never been to Afton State Park, I was really encouraged to see intact bluff land/ river corridor located so near to St. Paul. The trails, vistas, climbs, descents and river were great! It’s always nice to see such a large crew out for a trail race and Afton lived up to the praise I have been hearing for a long time. Thanks to you for organizing the event and all the volunteers as well!

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.