Trail people love our trails. This past September a hearty crew traveled to the north shore to help work on a crucial section of the trail. UMTR Member and amazing trail runner Steph Hoff helped lead this crew, and wanted to share her experience over the weekend. “There’s something inside of me that changes as I drive north past Two Harbors.” One of the volunteers … Read More →
WE DID IT, UMTR!
We’ve officially surpassed 350 members for the first time in club history! In celebration, we selected one member at random to choose a park or trail system to receive a $350 donation. Chad W. has chosen Afton State Park as the lucky recipient. Afton State Park is a favorite destination for runners in Minnesota and Wisconsin alike, especially for those who live in the Twin Cities … Read More →
Banner-time!!!
See all these smiling faces hanging on to the UMTR banner? YOU can be one of these amazing people! At many of our series races this season you’ll find a UMTR rep with our sweet banner. They’re looking to take a photo of our Gnarly Bandits, and race series participants, so that we can show off what incredible people we have in UMTR! This weekend … Read More →
Hey UMTR, it’s almost TIME!!
This is Jamison taking over your UMTR email this week with bad puns, and to remind you that the first race in our inaugural Timed Series is happening May 27th! The Treasured Haven Farms 3, 6, and 12 hour runs are taking place in Rush City, and are a great intro into the timed event format. Run as much or as little as you want … Read More →
Join UMTR at the Chippewa 50K/10K!
We’re looking for a few good volunteers! UMTR will be sponsoring an aid station at the Chippewa 50K/10K on Saturday, April 28th, 2018. This aid station will serve runners at around mile 7, and again around mile 22. It’ll be a great opportunity to give back to our trail running community, and it’s the perfect excuse to hang out in the woods with friends! These … Read More →
Gnarly Bandit? Gnarly Bandit!
That’s right, we are FIVE WEEKS out from the first race of the 2018 Gnarly Bandit Ultra Series. This five-race “slam” series tests runners’ hearts, minds, and legs, as they complete some of the most rugged ultras in the Midwest: Zumbro 100 Mile, Kettle Moraine 100 Mile, Black Hills 100 Mile, Superior 100 Mile, and Wild Duluth 100K. Think you’ve got what it takes to be … Read More →
Introducing: the Timed Race Series!
At this year’s board retreat we talked about the rise in popularity of timed races. These are events that are based on time, not distance. Participants have a set number of hours to complete a looped course as many times as they can, racking up mile after mile. Some runners may choose to bring down the hammer and conquer as many miles as they can, … Read More →
The 2018 Trail Series are Here!
It’s the season for snowshoes, spikes, and beardsicle pictures. It’s also the time of year when we start dropping cash on our 2018 races! As you’re making your plans, we’re excited to announce the 2018 Trail, Ultra, and Gnarly Bandit series races. Trail Series Ultra Series Gnarly Bandit Series While the Gnarly Bandit series hasn’t changed much, we’ve added a few races to the Trail … Read More →
Post-Superior Ultra Series Update
Hello all! Last weekend was a wonderful celebration on the north shore of Lake Superior. We had amazing participation in the races, as well as a large number of our series participants doing their part as volunteers. It was wonderful to see so many of you up there, and I look forward to the party again next year. As for the races, congrats to Tina … Read More →
Getting to Know Our Gnarly Bandits
Meet our Gnarly Bandits! If you’re like me, you’ve been wondering what makes our Gnarly Bandits tick. Why are they undertaking this year-long, 462-mile project? And what wisdom are they acquiring along the way? This week, I spoke by email to two of our nine contenders, Kevin Clark and Jeff Leuwerke, to find out more about what motivates them, and what they can teach us. … Read More →