Duluth P.D. Have Given Their Official Blessing!

It's now official.  The Duluth P.D. have given us the go-ahead to use volunteers for the 5 busiest road crossings on the course!  We've speculated that this would be the case for the last month, but now it's official.  We would like to have experienced volunteers on the course at these intersections:

Michigan Street

24th Av. West (there is an aid station here so pretty easy)

Haines Road

Cody Street

Becks Road (also close to an aid station)

The Duluth P.D. would like the volunteer to remain at the intersection until all runners have gone through.

This is great news.  If you're running, please be sure to listen to the race volunteer and be very cautious crossing all roads and streets along the course.  Any incidents this year could potentially jeapordize the future of the Wild Duluth races, and we are concerned about your safety.  Thanks!

Duluth P.D. Have Given Their Official Blessing!

It's now official.  The Duluth P.D. have given us the go-ahead to use volunteers for the 5 busiest road crossings on the course!  We've speculated that this would be the case for the last month, but now it's official.  We would like to have experienced volunteers on the course at these intersections:

Michigan Street

24th Av. West (there is an aid station here so pretty easy)

Haines Road

Cody Street

Becks Road (also close to an aid station)

The Duluth P.D. would like the volunteer to remain at the intersection until all runners have gone through.

This is great news.  If you're running, please be sure to listen to the race volunteer and be very cautious crossing all roads and streets along the course.  Any incidents this year could potentially jeapordize the future of the Wild Duluth races, and we are concerned about your safety.  Thanks!

See Who's Registered

You can now see who is registered for the event by going to the RunRace.net registration page for the Wild Duluth Races.

See who is registered for the 100K

See who is registered for the 50K

C'mon Minnesota and Wisconsin runners - where are those registrations!?!

You're outnumbered by all of the other states and not a single entry yet from Wisconsin?!?  Hey, I am a Wisconsin native, so you are welcome here! :-)

See Who's Registered

You can now see who is registered for the event by going to the RunRace.net registration page for the Wild Duluth Races.

See who is registered for the 100K

See who is registered for the 50K

C'mon Minnesota and Wisconsin runners - where are those registrations!?!

You're outnumbered by all of the other states and not a single entry yet from Wisconsin?!?  Hey, I am a Wisconsin native, so you are welcome here! :-)

Online Registration Now Available!

You may now register online by going to our Registration page and clicking on the RunRace.net registration icon.  There is a small processing fee in addition to the entry fee for registering online.  RunRace.net does a nice job with their online registration services and they're processing fees are lower than other online registration services, only covering the costs incurred for their credit card processing fees.  If you'd like the convenience of online registration, it's now available!

Online Registration Now Available!

You may now register online by going to our Registration page and clicking on the RunRace.net registration icon.  There is a small processing fee in addition to the entry fee for registering online.  RunRace.net does a nice job with their online registration services and they're processing fees are lower than other online registration services, only covering the costs incurred for their credit card processing fees.  If you'd like the convenience of online registration, it's now available!

Entries Coming In!

We're steadily receiving entries for the Wild Duluth 50K and 100K.  Interestingly, we haven't received a single entry from Minnesota yet!  Our entries have all come from Illinois, Iowa and Colorado!  Only one 100K entry so far as well.

We're also considering adding an online entry option.  With this option there will be a small additional fee required by the company that will be helping us set up the online entry on our website.   We'd like to at least offer this option for those that might like to register online.

Entries Coming In!

We're steadily receiving entries for the Wild Duluth 50K and 100K.  Interestingly, we haven't received a single entry from Minnesota yet!  Our entries have all come from Illinois, Iowa and Colorado!  Only one 100K entry so far as well.

We're also considering adding an online entry option.  With this option there will be a small additional fee required by the company that will be helping us set up the online entry on our website.   We'd like to at least offer this option for those that might like to register online.

Race Website Updated!

The Wild Duluth website has been updated with most of the important race details.  Check out the race information page to find all the important race details.  We have the entry form posted on our registration page.  Click on the entry from to open it and print it out.  We also have our lodging page updated.  We're looking forward to the race this Fall.

Race Website Updated!

The Wild Duluth website has been updated with most of the important race details.  Check out the race information page to find all the important race details.  We have the entry form posted on our registration page.  Click on the entry from to open it and print it out.  We also have our lodging page updated.  We're looking forward to the race this Fall.

Race Maps Need Updating

Just a note:  If you're looking at our race maps, a few of them need updating as they detail last years beta 50K.  There will be a few changes to the current maps primarily the first 4.3 miles out of Chambers Grove and adding the spur trail down to the Kingsbury Creek trailhead.  Both changes will add a little mileage to make the course 31 miles.  Last years beta run was short by a mile or so.

Race Maps Need Updating

Just a note:  If you're looking at our race maps, a few of them need updating as they detail last years beta 50K.  There will be a few changes to the current maps primarily the first 4.3 miles out of Chambers Grove and adding the spur trail down to the Kingsbury Creek trailhead.  Both changes will add a little mileage to make the course 31 miles.  Last years beta run was short by a mile or so.

Wild Duluth Races Part of UMTR Race Series

The Wild Duluth 50K is now part of the Fab Five 50's Race Series organized by the Upper Midwest Trail Runners.  The Fab Five 50's is composed of 50K and 50 mile races throughout the Upper Midwest.  The WD 50K will be the last race on the tour series.  The WD 100K will be part of the new Gnarly Bandit trail series which is a series of 100K and 100 mile races in the Upper Midwest.  UMTR is a great advocate for trail running and racing in the Upper Midwest.  Join us at Wild Duluth and in any of the trail series races and then consider joining UMTR.

Wild Duluth Races Part of UMTR Race Series

The Wild Duluth 50K is now part of the Fab Five 50's Race Series organized by the Upper Midwest Trail Runners.  The Fab Five 50's is composed of 50K and 50 mile races throughout the Upper Midwest.  The WD 50K will be the last race on the tour series.  The WD 100K will be part of the new Gnarly Bandit trail series which is a series of 100K and 100 mile races in the Upper Midwest.  UMTR is a great advocate for trail running and racing in the Upper Midwest.  Join us at Wild Duluth and in any of the trail series races and then consider joining UMTR.

2009 Date Set for Wild Duluth Races - October 17

The 2009 Wild Duluth races are set to be held on October 17.  Mark your calendars for our inaugural running of the official Wild Duluth 50K and 100K.   Further details are yet to be set regarding start times, start and finish locations for the 100k and other logistics.  Check back for further details to come!

2009 Date Set for Wild Duluth Races - October 17

The 2009 Wild Duluth races are set to be held on October 17.  Mark your calendars for our inaugural running of the official Wild Duluth 50K and 100K.   Further details are yet to be set regarding start times, start and finish locations for the 100k and other logistics.  Check back for further details to come!

Date for the 2009 running of the Wild Duluth Races?

Another important discussion that I'd like to include my running friends in is the date for next years (and future years) Wild Duluth Races.  We're planning on offering 50k and 100K distances and possibly a half marathon distance as well.  The date for this year's beta run was really bad - it conflicted with Glacial Trail ultras, Whistletop Marathon in nearby Asland, WI and an early season weekend deer hunt that was near the course.  All three things conspiring to make the chosen date really poor.  But, it was the only weekend in October that worked for us so that was it.

October is a pretty busy month on the race calendar unfortunately.  First weekend in October - Twin Cities Marathon.  Second weekend in October - Glacial Trail 50k/50 mile, Whistestop Marathon.  Third weekend in October - Nerstrand Big Woods Trail races.  Fourth weekend in October - this year North Face 50 mile in Wisconsin (next year maybe nothing on this date).  If we go to the last weekend in September we then conflict with In Yan Teopa 10 mile trail run.  Let me know if I'm missing any races here.

Based on the above, it would appear that the fourth weekend in October may be the best date for next year's race.  If conflicting races were the only criteria, then yes, that's probably true.  However, I hesitate to run Wild Duluth so late in October due to potential for bad weather (snow, cold, ice, oh my!), the colors will no longer be spectacular like they were last weekend, and there will be leaves covering the trail and the possible hazards they present hidden underneath.  If it were up to me only, I would not choose the fourth weekend in October for the race.  I like the first weekend because we'll more likely have good weather and the colors are starting to get really nice on the hills by then.  This weekend is bad because of the conflict with Twin Cities (Sunday) and a big cross-country meet (Saturday) that our daughter will probably be running in for the next 5 years (and we don't want to miss).  The second weekend is great in Duluth, but will not work because of it's conflict with Glacial Trail primarily and also Whistlestop.  The third weekend is a possibility.  The liklihood of bad weather is certainly increasing at this point but many of the trees may still be holding their colorful leaves and we also could have a really nice day.  Nerstrand is a big trail race (around 800 runners last year).  Would a trail ultra like Wild Duluth be a major conflict to a shorter trail race like Nerstrand?  How many runners out there run Nerstrand now and wouldn't run Wild Duluth because you plan on running Nerstrand every year?  It's part of the MN Trail Series and the State Championship race this year and it's a bummer that we may have to conflict with this race.  Fourth weekend probably won't conflict with any races, but it's pretty late in the year for a race in Duluth.  What say you?

What about a switch of dates with another MN Trail Series race that occurs further to the south where weather may be warmer at the end of October?  Perhaps October isn't the best month for Wild Duluth.  Originally I had planned to run the race in August since there aren't too many ultras in August in the upper midwest.  However, August is a month when we're often on vacation and it may not work as well from a RD perspective.  Plus, you wouldn't believe how beautiful the Fall colors were last Saturday during the beta run of Wild Duluth unless you had been there.  It really was spectacular and would add a lot to the race.

Thoughts?

Date for the 2009 running of the Wild Duluth Races?

Another important discussion that I'd like to include my running friends in is the date for next years (and future years) Wild Duluth Races.  We're planning on offering 50k and 100K distances and possibly a half marathon distance as well.  The date for this year's beta run was really bad - it conflicted with Glacial Trail ultras, Whistletop Marathon in nearby Asland, WI and an early season weekend deer hunt that was near the course.  All three things conspiring to make the chosen date really poor.  But, it was the only weekend in October that worked for us so that was it.

October is a pretty busy month on the race calendar unfortunately.  First weekend in October - Twin Cities Marathon.  Second weekend in October - Glacial Trail 50k/50 mile, Whistestop Marathon.  Third weekend in October - Nerstrand Big Woods Trail races.  Fourth weekend in October - this year North Face 50 mile in Wisconsin (next year maybe nothing on this date).  If we go to the last weekend in September we then conflict with In Yan Teopa 10 mile trail run.  Let me know if I'm missing any races here.

Based on the above, it would appear that the fourth weekend in October may be the best date for next year's race.  If conflicting races were the only criteria, then yes, that's probably true.  However, I hesitate to run Wild Duluth so late in October due to potential for bad weather (snow, cold, ice, oh my!), the colors will no longer be spectacular like they were last weekend, and there will be leaves covering the trail and the possible hazards they present hidden underneath.  If it were up to me only, I would not choose the fourth weekend in October for the race.  I like the first weekend because we'll more likely have good weather and the colors are starting to get really nice on the hills by then.  This weekend is bad because of the conflict with Twin Cities (Sunday) and a big cross-country meet (Saturday) that our daughter will probably be running in for the next 5 years (and we don't want to miss).  The second weekend is great in Duluth, but will not work because of it's conflict with Glacial Trail primarily and also Whistlestop.  The third weekend is a possibility.  The liklihood of bad weather is certainly increasing at this point but many of the trees may still be holding their colorful leaves and we also could have a really nice day.  Nerstrand is a big trail race (around 800 runners last year).  Would a trail ultra like Wild Duluth be a major conflict to a shorter trail race like Nerstrand?  How many runners out there run Nerstrand now and wouldn't run Wild Duluth because you plan on running Nerstrand every year?  It's part of the MN Trail Series and the State Championship race this year and it's a bummer that we may have to conflict with this race.  Fourth weekend probably won't conflict with any races, but it's pretty late in the year for a race in Duluth.  What say you?

What about a switch of dates with another MN Trail Series race that occurs further to the south where weather may be warmer at the end of October?  Perhaps October isn't the best month for Wild Duluth.  Originally I had planned to run the race in August since there aren't too many ultras in August in the upper midwest.  However, August is a month when we're often on vacation and it may not work as well from a RD perspective.  Plus, you wouldn't believe how beautiful the Fall colors were last Saturday during the beta run of Wild Duluth unless you had been there.  It really was spectacular and would add a lot to the race.

Thoughts?

Wild Duluth 50K and 100K Cutoff Discussion

Times for the inaugural beta run of the Wild Duluth 50K ranged from 5 hours 53 minutes to 8 hours 57 minutes.  What's clear looking at these times, is that this is a tough course.  The first 9.5 miles is very nice and runnable with good, relatively smooth tread.  There are lots of ups and downs over the early miles, but it's really some nice running trail.  Once you hit the climb up Ely's Peak however, the trail becomes much more challenging.  Lots of rocks and roots lace the trail and there are a few pretty long climbs as well.  These rocks and roots remain throughout the remainder of the course to Bayfront Park.  There are some nice stretches of relatively smooth, runnable trail, but for the most part the last 20 miles is much rockier and rootier than the first 10.

Based on what we know about this course now (including some training runs on the course by some fast runners), what should our cutoff times be?  I'd like to get input from all of you potential runners out there in cyberspace.  Here's some information gleaned from other 100K ultras around the country to provide some background information.

The most popular 100K trail ultra in the nation is Miwok 100K in Northern California.  In fact, I like to think of Wild Duluth as the "Miwok of the Midwest."  Maybe someday...  Anyway, course cutoff for this relatively challenging course with over 10,000 feet of elevation gain is 16:30 with an intermediate cutoff at 35.6 miles of 8:40.

Another popular trail 100K on the west coast, Where's Waldo 100K in Oregon has an 18:00 cutoff with an intermediate cutoff of 10:00 at 32 miles and elevation gain of over 11,000 feet.

Out on the East Coast are two additional popular and challenging 100K trail ultras, both in Virginia - Hellgate 100K and Great Eastern Endurance Run (GEER) 100K.  Hellgate has an 18:00 cutoff with intermediate cutoffs at 22 miles of 6:30 and 42.5 miles of 12:30.  Hellgate has elevation gain of 13,500 feet over its course, has been measured to be 66 miles long and takes place in the winter with a 12:00 midnight start time.  GEER is a very challenging course with over 15,000 feet of elevation gain, a 19:00 cutoff and an intermediate cutoff at 31.2 miles of 9:30.

Closer to home, the Kettle Moraine 100K in Wisconsin has a cutoff of 18 hours, intermediate cutoff at 31 miles of 9:00 and probably a little less than 10,000 feet of elevation gain.

A new 100K in California, Wildest Run in the West 100K, that runs on much of the Western States course has a cutoff of 16:00 and an intermediate cutoff at 30 miles of 8:15 and 38 miles of 10:00.

On the far end of the cutoff spectrum, Bandera 100K in Texas, a challenging trail ultra, has a cutoff of 24:00 with an intermediate cutoff of 11:00.

To summarize trail 100K ultra cutoffs around the country:

Race                                        Cutoff(hours)   Intermediate Cutoff(dist.)
Wildest Run in the West 100K    16:00                 8:15 (30 miles)
Miwok 100K                               16:30                 8:40 (35.6 miles)
Where’s Waldo 100K                   18:00                 10:00 (32 miles)
Hellgate 100K                            18:00                  12:30 (42.5 miles)
Kettle Moraine 100K                   18:00                 9:00 (31 miles)
GEER 100K                                  19:00                 9:30 (31.2 miles)
Bandera 100K                             24:00                  11:00 (31 miles)

Wild Duluth 100K will include over 10,000 feet of elevation gain and descent and some very challenging rocky and rooty trail.  With this information in mind, what are your suggestions for intermediate (50K) and final (100K) course cutoffs?

Wild Duluth 50K and 100K Cutoff Discussion

Times for the inaugural beta run of the Wild Duluth 50K ranged from 5 hours 53 minutes to 8 hours 57 minutes.  What's clear looking at these times, is that this is a tough course.  The first 9.5 miles is very nice and runnable with good, relatively smooth tread.  There are lots of ups and downs over the early miles, but it's really some nice running trail.  Once you hit the climb up Ely's Peak however, the trail becomes much more challenging.  Lots of rocks and roots lace the trail and there are a few pretty long climbs as well.  These rocks and roots remain throughout the remainder of the course to Bayfront Park.  There are some nice stretches of relatively smooth, runnable trail, but for the most part the last 20 miles is much rockier and rootier than the first 10.

Based on what we know about this course now (including some training runs on the course by some fast runners), what should our cutoff times be?  I'd like to get input from all of you potential runners out there in cyberspace.  Here's some information gleaned from other 100K ultras around the country to provide some background information.

The most popular 100K trail ultra in the nation is Miwok 100K in Northern California.  In fact, I like to think of Wild Duluth as the "Miwok of the Midwest."  Maybe someday...  Anyway, course cutoff for this relatively challenging course with over 10,000 feet of elevation gain is 16:30 with an intermediate cutoff at 35.6 miles of 8:40.

Another popular trail 100K on the west coast, Where's Waldo 100K in Oregon has an 18:00 cutoff with an intermediate cutoff of 10:00 at 32 miles and elevation gain of over 11,000 feet.

Out on the East Coast are two additional popular and challenging 100K trail ultras, both in Virginia - Hellgate 100K and Great Eastern Endurance Run (GEER) 100K.  Hellgate has an 18:00 cutoff with intermediate cutoffs at 22 miles of 6:30 and 42.5 miles of 12:30.  Hellgate has elevation gain of 13,500 feet over its course, has been measured to be 66 miles long and takes place in the winter with a 12:00 midnight start time.  GEER is a very challenging course with over 15,000 feet of elevation gain, a 19:00 cutoff and an intermediate cutoff at 31.2 miles of 9:30.

Closer to home, the Kettle Moraine 100K in Wisconsin has a cutoff of 18 hours, intermediate cutoff at 31 miles of 9:00 and probably a little less than 10,000 feet of elevation gain.

A new 100K in California, Wildest Run in the West 100K, that runs on much of the Western States course has a cutoff of 16:00 and an intermediate cutoff at 30 miles of 8:15 and 38 miles of 10:00.

On the far end of the cutoff spectrum, Bandera 100K in Texas, a challenging trail ultra, has a cutoff of 24:00 with an intermediate cutoff of 11:00.

To summarize trail 100K ultra cutoffs around the country:

Race                                        Cutoff(hours)   Intermediate Cutoff(dist.)
Wildest Run in the West 100K    16:00                 8:15 (30 miles)
Miwok 100K                               16:30                 8:40 (35.6 miles)
Where’s Waldo 100K                   18:00                 10:00 (32 miles)
Hellgate 100K                            18:00                  12:30 (42.5 miles)
Kettle Moraine 100K                   18:00                 9:00 (31 miles)
GEER 100K                                  19:00                 9:30 (31.2 miles)
Bandera 100K                             24:00                  11:00 (31 miles)

Wild Duluth 100K will include over 10,000 feet of elevation gain and descent and some very challenging rocky and rooty trail.  With this information in mind, what are your suggestions for intermediate (50K) and final (100K) course cutoffs?

Wild Duluth Ultra a Winner

Wild Duluth 2008 Race Report:

Early Saturday morning the sound of thunder and rain on rooftops woke many runners from their slumber.  A few probably chose to stay under their warm covers to wait until next years official unveiling of the Wild Duluth 50 km and out-and-back 100km scheduled for October 2009.  Those that made it to Chambers Grove Park in far west Duluth for this point-to-point 50km beta run to test the course and aid station placements, were rewarded with breaking clouds and golden sunlight through the colorful trees along the course.  Rick Kucinski, first male finisher, remarked at the finish line that, “this was the best course that I’ve ever been on.”

Essentially the course is divided in thirds – the first third will engage one’s spirit with beautiful flowing singletrack along pine needle laden trail below towering white pines. The second crushes it beginning with the rock strewn climb to the summit of Ely’s Peak. The third enlists the spirit to soar as vista views on bluffs high above the City of Duluth lead to a welcome finish down at Bayfront Park adjoining Lake Superior.  Second male finisher, Phillip Gary Smith, found the finish line in the shadow of the famous aerial lift bridge to be a fitting finale to a great day on the trail.

Duluth is covered to the east by this largest of inland fresh water oceans, Lake Superior.  Gigantic Ore Vessels docking in huge unloading ports; crowds cheering at a football game far away, with the stadium in sight below; big sounds of steel-on-steel – all seen and heard while one is making way on the rugged Superior Hiking Trail. Runners found the juxtaposition of surroundings, the tough trail overlooking this bustling port city, a surreal experience.  Kim Holak, first overall finisher and first woman, agreed that this course is spectacular and is sure to become a classic among upper Midwest ultras.

This account was compiled with the help of the runners in this beta run.

Wild Duluth Ultra a Winner

Wild Duluth 2008 Race Report:

Early Saturday morning the sound of thunder and rain on rooftops woke many runners from their slumber.  A few probably chose to stay under their warm covers to wait until next years official unveiling of the Wild Duluth 50 km and out-and-back 100km scheduled for October 2009.  Those that made it to Chambers Grove Park in far west Duluth for this point-to-point 50km beta run to test the course and aid station placements, were rewarded with breaking clouds and golden sunlight through the colorful trees along the course.  Rick Kucinski, first male finisher, remarked at the finish line that, “this was the best course that I’ve ever been on.”

Essentially the course is divided in thirds – the first third will engage one’s spirit with beautiful flowing singletrack along pine needle laden trail below towering white pines. The second crushes it beginning with the rock strewn climb to the summit of Ely’s Peak. The third enlists the spirit to soar as vista views on bluffs high above the City of Duluth lead to a welcome finish down at Bayfront Park adjoining Lake Superior.  Second male finisher, Phillip Gary Smith, found the finish line in the shadow of the famous aerial lift bridge to be a fitting finale to a great day on the trail.

Duluth is covered to the east by this largest of inland fresh water oceans, Lake Superior.  Gigantic Ore Vessels docking in huge unloading ports; crowds cheering at a football game far away, with the stadium in sight below; big sounds of steel-on-steel – all seen and heard while one is making way on the rugged Superior Hiking Trail. Runners found the juxtaposition of surroundings, the tough trail overlooking this bustling port city, a surreal experience.  Kim Holak, first overall finisher and first woman, agreed that this course is spectacular and is sure to become a classic among upper Midwest ultras.

This account was compiled with the help of the runners in this beta run.