Date Set for October 19, Registration Updated

The date for the 2013 Wild Duluth Races has been set for Saturday October 19.  Online registration is also updated and you can also download and print a hard copy from our Registration page and send it back with your check.  You can register today!

2012 Photos Added

Some photos added to our Photos page from the 2012 Wild Duluth Races.  Thanks to Todd Rowe and Eve Stein.

Also, there are a couple of errors in our results that we are figuring out and will re-post.  Please be patient.  Thanks!

2012 Results Posted

 2012 Wild Duluth race results posted.  Check out the Results page.

Thanks to all of the runners at the Wild Duluth races on Saturday! Once again, seeing all of your smiling faces at the finish made all of the work worth it! Thank you also for your understanding about the re-route and some of the confusing intersections that caused some of you to go off course. We hope to be back on the regular course next year which will be much less confusing. We'll also continue to try to make the event better each year. Thanks!

Important Course Update V.2.1

There has been a small change near the start of the 50K course and turnaround for the 100K.  Instead of turning off Old Skyline Parkway which crosses the Spirit Mountain ski runs, you will now turn left onto the Superior Hiking Trail Spur Trail that goes up to the Spirit Mountain Campground.  You will no longer be turning left onto a mountain bike trail.  The course directions have been updated to reflect this change.  The change is as follows:

Once past the ski runs, make a sharp Left off Old Skyline Parkway past the Spirit Mountain Zip Line onto the Superior Hiking Trail SPUR TRAIL.  The spur trail is marked with WHITE blazes.  Don't miss this sharp Lefthand turn.  If you reach paved Skyline Parkway, you've gone too far.  Follow the SHT spur trail rather steeply downhill.  Just before the intersection with the main Superior Hiking Trail, you will angle to the right on a vague deer path, follow the pin flags.  Near a small bridge on the main Superior Hiking Trail you will go directly across the main SHT and continue downhill.  This will be a confusing point on the trail.  Do not turn right or left onto the main SHT, continue straight across down the hill.  This intersection will be marked well with extra signage and possibly a course marshal.  Continue down the hill to the old DWP rail grade.

Photos from 2012 Re-routed Section

Click HERE to see more photos

Course Description for 2012 Re-route

Please review the 2012 race course description.  The re-routed segment is described.  If you're concerned about getting lost, review this course description.

2012 Wild Duluth 50K and 100K Course Description

Information Page Specific to 2012 and Course Re-route

Please refer to the new page with information specific to the 2012 course re-route.  Click HERE to go to the 2012 Race Information page.

Harder 'n He!! Information Page

Click HERE for a page with information specific to the Harder 'n He!! Half Marathon

2012 Maps

Please click the link below to view the 2012 course maps:

2012 Wild Duluth Course Maps

2012 Aid Stations and Distances

2012 Wild Duluth 50K aid stations and distances:

50K Aid Stations	Cumulative Dist.	Dist. Between
Start – Spirit Mountain	0	0
Magney-Snively #1 AS	2.5	2.5
Skyline Parkway AS	6.9	4.4
Munger Trail AS	11.7	4.8
Magney-Snively #4 AS	15.9	4.2
Highland-Getchell Rd AS	22.7	6.8
N 24th Ave W AS	27.8	5.1
Bayfront Park Finish	31	3.2

2012 Wild Duluth 100K aid stations, distances, drop bag locations and cutoff times:

100K Aid Stations	Cumulative dist.	Dist. Between	Cutoff	Drop Bag
Bayfront Park Start	0	0		Y
N. 24th Ave. W AS	3.2	3.2
Highland/Getchell Rd.	8.3	5.1		Y
Magney-Snively #4 AS	15.1	6.8
Munger Trail AS	19.3	4.2		Y
Skyline Parkway AS	24.1	4.8
Magney-Snively #1 AS	28.5	4.4
Spirit Mountain	31	2.5	3:00 p.m.	Y
Magney-Snively #1 AS	33.5	2.5
Skyline Parkway AS	37.9	4.4
Munger Trail AS	42.7	4.8	8:00 p.m.	Y
Magney-Snively #4 AS	46.9	4.2
Highland/Getchell Rd.	53.7	6.8		Y
N. 24th Ave. W AS	58.8	5.1
Bayfront Park Finish	62	3.2	12:00 a.m.	Y

Important Course Update V.2

Important course update for the Wild Duluth 50K and 100K races.  Please pass this along to your friends.

The 50K race and 100K turnaround has been changed to the upper SPIRIT MOUNTAIN PARKING LOT.  This is the same location as the Harder n' Hell Half start.  The course is now almost exactly 31 miles and will avoid the congestion and conflict with the Boo at the Zoo event taking place at the Lake Superior Zoo that same Saturday.

The new starting location will have the 50K runners drop quickly down the ski hill to the Old Skyline Parkway running across the ski hill (same old road runners cross in the Voyageur 50).  Traverse across the ski hill then drop down a switchbacking mountain bike trail to the DWP railgrade.  Then follow the railgrade as before.  This will add a significant downhill for 50K runners and a significant climb up to the turnaround for 100K runners in addition to the descent.  Adding this climb will make up for the fun climbs and descents that were lost when we had to re-route out of Jay Cooke State Park.  The views from the turnaround will be spectacular!  This will make for a more exciting and enjoyable start to the 50K and turnaround for 100K runners and avoid the congestion of the zoo. We think you'll like it!

Wild Duluth 50K Start and 100K turnaround map:



View Spirit Mountain Parking Lot in a larger map

Wild Duluth 100K and 50K Course Update

The re-route for the Wild Duluth 100K and 50K races is set.  The Harder n' Hell Half course will be the same.

The 50K race start and 100K turnaround will be at the Duluth Lake Superior Zoo EDIT Spirit Mountain Ski Area.  The course will leave the zoo Runners will leave the Spirit Mountain gravel parking lot by dropping down the ski hill on a dirt access trail, connecting with the Old Skyline Parkway access road and turn right.  Follow Old Skyline Parkway and drop down a twisting mountain bike trail to the DWP railgrade.  Runners will remain on the old DWP rail grade, except for one detour, all the way out to where the rail grade goes over a bridge over Skyline Parkway near Becks Road.  Runners will drop down off the rail grade onto Skyline Parkway and then cross and follow Becks Road for a short stretch before dropping down old 7 Bridges Road.  Runners who have run the Voyageur 50 will be familiar with this section from Becks Road and down 7 Bridges Road.  Runners will then turn onto the Superior Hiking Trail where it intersects with 7 Bridges Road.  Once on the Superior Hiking Trail here, you will proceed the rest of the way on the Superior Hiking Trail to the finish at Bayfront Park.  100K runners will start at Bayfront and run the 50K course backwards to the zoo and then back to Bayfront.  Approximately the first 10 miles of the 50K course will be different this year.  The remainder of the course (20 miles) will be the same.

Your first impression might be that the old railgrade will suck. Well, that's not entirely the case.  From the zoo, you will rise ever so slightly all the way to the intersection with Skyline Parkway (100K runners will descend ever so slightly to the turnaround).  There is also a detour off the grade, under an old trestle that is somewhat unsafe to cross, up a singletrack trail to the aid station at Magney-Snively and then back down a rough, rocky old road/ATV trail to the railgrade.  Once this detour is completed, you'll stay on the railgrade the rest of the way...skirting some washouts, enjoying some tremendous views of the St. Louis River, and passing cool rock cuts.  It's actually pretty darn nice.  A little easier than the normal Wild Duluth course, but also about a mile longer.  I ran the whole thing to determine the distance, and it really is interesting and I don't like railgrades myself.

One thing to note.  Runners with very minimal shoes without any rockplates will have sore feet after running on the grade.  There is a lot of gravel and small rocks that poke the bottoms of your feet and they will be sore.  You may want some more beefy shoes for this section.

Complete update with maps will be posted soon.  Please refer to the main page of the website for all of the 2012 changes and info.

Jay Cooke is Out but Re-route Planned

I spoke with Jay Cooke officials today. The park is officially closed until at least November 1. The race will not be able to take place in the park nor will any camping or other activities be available in the park during race weekend. We will not be able to have any aid stations in the park which means Grand Portage aid station is out as well, so the course we used the first year of the race is not possible. HOWEVER, all is not lost! :-) I have a re-route in mind already and it comes out to about 31.5 miles on my mapping programs. A majority of the course will still be on the Superior Hiking Trail and it should work out just fine. I'll be out doing some more GPS work and tweaking and we'll have a real nice course for everyone come race day. Stay tuned!

2012 Wild Duluth Races are On!

For those wondering if the Wild Duluth races will be held in 2012 due to the severe damage caused by the June flood, the answer is YES!  We will be running the races in 2012 with some re-routes necessary.  How significant those re-routes will be will be determined in the next couple of weeks.  We will be meeting with Jay Cooke State Park officials to determine whether or not we can use the park.  If not, we will have a significant re-route and we already have a route in mind.  Stay tuned!

Online registration and Printable Registration From Updated

Go to our Registration page for updated online registration and an updated printable registration form for the 100K, 50K and Half Marathon.  Mark it down - October 20, 2012!

2011 Wild Duluth Race Report

100K Champion Chris Rubesch

The 3rd Annual Wild Duluth Races were once again blessed with spectacular weather.  Along with the great weather, we also had some great performances.

The Wild Duluth Races are run on the rugged and beautiful Superior Hiking Trail through the city of Duluth, MN.  Runners new to the city and trail are always amazed at the wild, rugged trail with its amazing views of Lake Superior and the city, rocky waterfall laden stream gorges, white pines and cliffs and rock outcroppings on points like Ely’s Peak.  All this within the city limits of a northern city of 80,000 people.  It’s a spectacular route that would make a tremendous race even if we as the race directors screwed everything up.  Fortunately, with our great volunteers, we just can’t screw things up too badly.

The 100K race starts before dawn from the start/finish line at Bayfront Park near downtown Duluth.  Runners make the big climb up to Enger Park from the start, winding their way up the hill through rocky outcroppings to the top, where they can ring the Japanese Peace Bell to signal their passing into the early morning light.  100K runners are treated to spectacular sunrises over Lake Superior shimmering far below them.

From the start, it was apparent that local runner Chris Rubesch was going for the win.  Not too far behind him, Duluth runner Christi Nowak was also running strongly with her machine like pace, not too fast, but never slowing. 

As the sun rose and 100K runners made their way to the turnaround at Oldenburg Point in Jay Cooke State Park, Rubesch continued to extend his lead.  He would run unchallenged on the day and finish with the fastest time on the newer course, which measures almost exactly 62 miles, for a satisfying win in 11:25:02.  Sean Andrish still holds the event record of 10:52:00 on a slightly shorter course from the inaugural race.  Ethan Richards would hang onto second for the men in 12:05:31 while Adam Scwartz-Lowe would finish off a strong season of racing with third place in a time of 12:11:00.

Christi Nowak steadily moved through the front runners to finish second overall and first

2nd place male Ethan Richards followed by 100k  women's champion Christi Nowak

woman in 12:05:31, breaking the course and event record by over two and one half hours.  Her time would have been good for second place overall in all three runnings of the Wild Duluth 100K.  Her 100K performance was truly phenomenal and another in a string of several wins for Christi in 2011.  Joy Parker would finish second for the women in 16:12:58 and Michelle Annandale from Manitoba would come home third in 16:17:44.  With nearly 60 starters in this years 100K race, the Wild Duluth 100K is becoming a destination race for many ultrarunners looking for an immensely challenging and satisfying 100K trail adventure.

In the companion 50K race, which starts at Oldenburg Point (the 100K turnaround) and ends at Bayfront, 119 runners were treated to sunny skies in the morning, windy conditions and perfect cool temperatures for running.

Another Duluth runner, Craig Hertz, took it out strong and maintained the pace to the finish line to win the race in 4:23:42.  Craig’s time would also be the fastest 50K on the new course with Wynn Davis holding the event record from the first year in 4:11.  Craig would then go out after the race to help man an aid station for the 100K race late into the night.  Matt Zak finished second for the men in 4:30:00 while Mark Rapacz was third overall in 4:41:49.

women's 50K champion Jenna Krueger

On the women’s side, Northern Minnesota runner Jenna Krueger held on to beat last years women’s champion Leslie Semler in 5:24:57.  Leslie finished in 5:30:11 for second, while Rochelle Wirth finished third in 5:51:50.



In the Harder 'n He!! Half Marathon which starts at the top of Spirit Mountain, almost 90 runners would make their way along the trail to the finish at Bayfront Park.  Tom Heinitz cruised in for the overall win in 1:53:57.  Less than two minutes later, first woman Michelle Jebsen, would finish off a spectacular race to finish in 1:55:19 and second overall, less than two minutes behind the overall winner.  Second in the men's race was Dave Pipho in 1:56:05 with Bob McGrath finishing third in 1:58:02.  Second for the women was Tara Croteau in 2:01:20 and third was Brenda Cid in 2:11:45.  Most half marathon runners would agree that the race did live up to its name.

Conversations among veteran ultrarunners at the finish line reached a consensus that the Wild Duluth 50K and 100K are the most difficult races at those distances in the Midwest.  If you disagree or don’t believe this general agreement, please join us on October 20, 2012 for the 4th running of the Wild Duluth races to experience the course for yourself.  We think you’ll probably agree with this assertion and that you’ll have a wonderful time in the process.  The weather is usually cool and perfect for running and the Fall colors are beautiful as well.  Wild Duluth has all the makings of a destination ultra.  We’d love to see some more top runners from the left and right coasts come over to join us and see what makes this course so special.  Immense thank you to our wonderful volunteers who were universally praised by our runners.  This race would not happen without you.

More Photos from Mark LaCore

Go HERE to view a photoset from Mark LaCore.  Most of these photos document the 50K.

Zach Pierce's Amazing 2011 Wild Duluth Photos Posted!

We at Wild Duluth and the trail running community in Minnesota in general are blessed to have Zach and Jen Pierce's amazing photos from so many races here in Minnesota.  We can't thank them enough for the photos they take of events throughout the state.  Local runners can't wait until Zach posts his photo sets to see if they might find a shot of themselves in the set (they usually do)

I think Zach may have the best set of photos of a race yet!  His shots this year included just about all of the 100K and 50K runners and were taken from Ely's Peak.  These photos should attract even more runners in years to come.  Click HERE for the link.  They are also updated on our Photos page.

We've been very lucky to have Zach and Jen a part of every one of our Wild Duluth races.  Thanks Zach!  Amazing shots again this year!

Date Set for 2012 Wild Duluth Races

Next year's Wild Duluth Races will take place on Saturday October 20, 2012.  Our races will not conflict with the Whistlestop Marathon as they did this year (yay!).  Whistlestop will be held the weekend prior to Wild Duluth.  Mark it on your calendars and hope to see you all there again in 2012! 

Online registration for next years races will be live on December 1, 2011.  There will be no field limits again for 2012.  However, we will be monitoring runner safety and logistics to determine if race limits may need to be imposed for future races.  Also, please note that we will have a registration cutoff date a few days prior to the race date.  There will no longer be race day registration.   Problems with lack of shirts and correct sizes and finisher awards in the half marathon due to late registration caused about the only headaches we had this year (primarily in the half).  So, be sure to remember to register at least a week in advance or you won't be able to register.  In anticipation of larger fields again next year, we will be in need of more volunteers as well.  Thanks!

Thank You to Grandma's Restaurant!

A big thank you to Grandma's Restaurant for sponsoring our races and providing a portion of the chili and soup served at this years event!  Looking forward to continuing our relationship with Grandma's in years to come!

2011 Results Updated

The results have been updated.  Only the half marathon results are unofficial.  Found and fixed the duplicate runner issue and found one missing runner.  The only result yet to be rectified is the missing runner in the half marathon that finished in 2:59:44.  If you finished around this time and don't see your name in the results, let us know.  Thanks!

2011 Wild Duluth Race Results Posted!

The 2011 Wild Duluth race results have been posted.  Check them out on the Results page.  100K and 50K results are official.  Half Marathon results are posted but unofficial.  We are still trying to sort out a missing runner who finished just under 3 hours in around 2:59:44.