As always, drop us a line if you notes any errors / omissions. No volunteer info has been submitted for Ice Age thus far. Let us know if you were there. Full standings can be found on the Ultra Series page: http://www.umtr.net/trail-series/umtr-ultra-series/

Demos and clinics will be in store at Duluth Running Co. from noon to 4 PM, Tuesday May 15th. Get a chance to try out any Salomon trail running shoe at Chester Bowl! Salomon will have a huge fleet of shoes for demo. Meet at the end of the road near the soccer field inside Chester Bowl at 5:30 PM.

And don’t forget, your UMTR membership gets you 10% off!

• Thursday, May 17th, 5:00-8:00pm
• Thursday, May 24th, 5:00-8:00pm
• Thursday, May 31st, 5:00-8:00pm
• Sunday, June 3rd, Noon-5:00pm

Come out and join us! Besides having fun playing in the dirt with fellow runners, you’ll be ensuring the sustainability of one of Duluth’s greatest natural resources: it’s trails. No experience is required – just bring a pair of work gloves and your own drinking water. Tools will be provided by Duluth Parks & Rec. If you’re a NMTC runner, you’ll receive five bonus points towards your Spring Series score for every work date you attend.

If you’d like to come, meet in the Magney-Snively parking lot on Skyline Parkway. If you can’t be there at the designated start time, just come when you are able, and hike in on the trail until you meet us. If you can’t stay for the whole three hours, feel free to come and go as needed.

Natural Significance
Did you know? Magney-Snively is a historic and valuable natural area. Areas of the parks contain stands of old-growth forest, which is astounding considering the amount of logging and number of forest fires in Duluth’s history. In fact, a study in 1979 named a portion of Magney-Snively the best example of old-growth forest in the entire state. In addition, the park is home to eight rare plant species and is part of an important migration route for many species of birds. Due to the natural significance of the area, the park will become a protected area owned by the state, possibly as early as this year.

Permitting Issues
Because of the state of the trails and because of the natural significance of the area, it is hard to get event permits for our races in Magney-Snively. The city is cautious about sending large groups of people through the wet trails, and rightly so. We have cancelled our usual Spring Series race in Magney-Snively this year. The city is allowing us to use our usual route through the parks for the Voyageur and Half Voyageur races this year, but we will probably have to find an alternate route next year if the trails stay in their current condition.

Come Help
While the current Magney-Snively situation is not very good, the good news is that it is fixable. Some hole filling, culvert work, and perhaps a boardwalk over the worst areas will solve the problems. Come out and join us for some fun trail work for a good cause!

More Information:

• Trail Work Flyer 1
• Trail Work Flyer 2
• Magney-Snively Study Area (DNR Survey)

Contact Information:
Kris Glesener, NMTC, 218-390-4784
Luke Moravec, City of Duluth Parks & Rec, 218-730-4300
Judy Gibbs, City of Duluth Parks & Rec, 218-730-4300

This event is being sponsored by The Bookcase in Wayzata and Gear West Ski & Run of Long Lake – the same local businesses who brought Christopher “Born To Run” McDougall to town. For more information, go to: Gear West’s Event Link

Complete standings are available on our UMTR Trail Series page.

https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cPfQe9PZmHNwTXu

From the UMTR Board: Ms. Rowan approached the UMTR asking if we could help her gather some research for this study. As this area of interest is a hot topic at the moment and our membership is a natural survey population, we agreed. We hope you will take a moment and run through the research questionnaire. Thank you for your time.

I remember running through puddles on our gravel road when I was about five years old! My parents used to do marathons when I was younger and I’d cheer them on at Grandma’s and Twin Cities. I started Cross Country in 8th grade because I felt I was too uncoordinated to do much of anything else, and LOVED it – how FUN to run on GRASS. I also liked the concept of no time-outs and no subs – it was just you out there running for you and your team. I went to three high schools and found running was a nice way to meet new friends. I also ran Cross Country in college for the pure joy of everything that came along with it – the bun huggers, harda** workouts, and bonding with my team. I ran some half marathons, but never felt jazzed about training for a marathon.

By chance, I discovered trail running about three years ago. A fellow college cross country teammate was featured in our Luther College Alumni Magazine – he was on the cover of UltraRunning! My jaw dropped – people REALLY ran farther than 26.2 miles? They pay to do this…on purpose? I thought if he can do it, how hard could trail running be, right? After a few “rookie” emails to another teammate who had turned crazy ultrarunner, I found myself engrossed in the book, “A Step Beyond: A Definitive Guide to Ultrarunning” and headed out to try a 30 minute run at Lebanon. Then I met Kim Martin and she had LOTS of great ideas and continues to be an incredible mentor. I officially joined the “dark side” after a six hour, 6 PM to Midnight, run that summer. Over the last couple of years, I’ve found this running community we are part of is really pretty amazing and look forward to be part of it for the next 30, 40 or so years.

2. What’s your favorite local trail for training? Do you like to run by yourself or with others?

It seems to cycle throughout the year – I enjoy Lebanon, Murphy, River Bottom and Ritter and would like to get out to Afton more. It’s a blast running with other trail runners, newbies & oldies, but I do find a certain peace going solo, too, where you just run until you don’t think any longer.

3. You recently completed your first 100 mile trail race at Zumbro. How’d it go?

Whew, I finished! It was a surreal experience and I’m still trying to wrap my head around Zumbro. Apparently I sprained my ankle somewhere along Loop 5, but thought it was just a blister and kept moving forward. I would not have been able to accomplish my first 100 without tremendous support from my hubby and kiddos, my pacers (Sonya, Todd & Jim) and ALL the volunteers and RD’s Team and the folks I trained with over the winter. Is it just me, or was that one tough course Mr. Storkamp tossed at us? I laughed, I cursed, I cried. I can’t wait to try it again!

4. You are signed up for the Wilderness Athlete Gnarly Bandit 2012 race series. That’s a lot of running! What made you decide to sign up and how do you feel about your chances of becoming the first Ms. Gnarly?

I wasn’t really thinking when I signed up! It was super exciting to see Adam get the GB award last year and I hold much respect for all the Gnarly Bandit Dudes! In retrospect I thought it would be a good way to have a strong focus and overall goal for 2012. I guess I look at the motley crew of us that remain and truly wish everyone to continue to be healthy so we are able to run/step/crawl across the FINISH line at Wild Duluth. What would the Gnarly Bandit himself say to that?

5. What races would you like to run that you haven’t yet had the chance to, and why?

I’d like to give the Barkley’s a go within the next five years! This Fall, I hope to head up North and try my first Sawtooth 100 miler attempt. The SHT embodies much of what I appreciate in trail running and how it challenges your physical and mental limits.

6. What’s your favorite piece of running gear?

My Very Purple Salomon Speedcross 3s.

7. What advice do you have for new trail runners?

Be patient. Don’t underestimate your capabilities. Get muddy. Oh heck, you might as well get a little bloody, too. Give yourself time and don’t forget to play and have fun along this crazy adventure! Meet and talk to as many runners as you can – their experiences and advice are invaluable.

8. Two quotes I tend to repeat over and over “out there”:

“Have patience, and endure.” ~ Shakespeare

“Do, or do not. There is no try.” ~ Yoda

And for me? I run trails for the love of them, for nature, to be alive, to feel the beating of my heart and the air in my lungs, for the solidarity, for the company. I run to be free.

As always, let us know of any errors / omissions. Note: volunteer points have been added for the Zumbro trail clean-up day as this event directly supported the race. If you helped out on this day and have not been awarded volunteer points please let us know.

Complete standings are available on our UMTR Ultra Series page.