WHEN:  Saturday October 17, 2020
 

100K canceled for 2020
50K start time:  7:00 a.m.  

(10 waves of 25 runners each starting at 7:00 am with last wave leaving at 9:30 am)

 

Sunday October 18, 2020

Terribly Tough 10K canceled for 2020

Harder’n Heck Half Marathon start time:  9:00 a.m.

(10 waves of 25 runners each starting at 9:00 am with last wave leaving at 11:55 am)

WHERE:
 

Saturday October 17:
 

50K race begins at Oldenburg Point in Jay Cooke State Park and ends at Bayfront Park in downtown Duluth.

We will have bus transportation for 50K runners to the starting line at Oldenburg Point.  Transportation to the starting line at Oldenburg Point will leave promptly from the Bayfront Park parking lot at 6:30 a.m. for the first wave.  Check your wave assignment and show up ON TIME for your bus boarding time.  Park in large gravel parking lot at Bayfront Park to board bus.  Parking should be plentiful.

 

NO CREWS OR SPECTATORS AT THE START, FINISH OR ANY AID STATIONS.

Directions to Oldenburg Point:
From the South:
Take I-35 to MN-210 E at exit 235.  Turn right onto MN-210.  Follow MN-210 E/E Hwy 210 to your destination.  Turn right into Oldenburg Point picnic area.

From the North:
Take I-35 South to Esko exit 242.  Take Left onto Thompson road and follow Thompson road into Thompson, MN.  Take Left on Hwy-210 and follow Hwy-210 to your destination.  Turn right into Oldenburg Point picnic area.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday October 18:

Harder’n Heck Half Marathon starts at Spirit Mountain upper gravel parking lot and ends at Bayfront Park.  We will have bus transportation from Bayfront Park parking lot starting line at Spirit Mountain for the Harder 'n Heck Half Marathon.  The bus will leave the Bayfront Park parking lot promptly at 8:35 a.m. for the first wave.  Check your wave assignment and show up ON TIME for your bus boarding time.  Park in gravel parking lot at Bayfront Park for bus boarding.  
 

NO CREWS OR SPECTATORS AT THE START, FINISH OR ANY AID STATIONS.

Directions to Spirit Mountain upper gravel parking lot:

Follow I-35 S to S Boundary Ave/W Skyline Pkwy. Take exit 249 from I-35 S

7 min (7.0 mi)

Merge onto I-35 S

6.7 mi

Take exit 249 for Boundary Ave

0.2 mi

Continue on W Skyline Pkwy

3 min (0.9 mi)

Turn left onto S Boundary Ave/W Skyline Pkwy

Continue to follow W Skyline Pkwy

0.4 mi

Turn left to stay on W Skyline Pkwy

0.2 mi

Turn left onto Spirit Mountain Pl

0.1 mi

Turn left

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FEES: 

50K – $80.00 by September 19, 2020 – $90.00 After September 19 to October 14 (250 RUNNER LIMIT)
 

Half Marathon – $75.00 by September 19, 2020  – $85.00 After September 19 to October 14 (250 RUNNER LIMIT)

No race day registration.  Registration cutoff is Wednesday October 14.

Race registration fees are not refundable.  Please consider this prior to registering.  Bibs are non-transferrable.  You may request a change in race distance up to registration cutoff (Wednesday October 14).

CUTOFFS: Runners will have until 12:00 a.m. midnight on Sunday October 20 to finish 100K and 50K.  We aren't changing the cutoff for the 50K, however please be considerate of volunteers and start in an early wave if you think you'll be slow.

AID STATIONS/DROP BAGS:  Aid Stations will be between 2.0 and 6.9 miles apart.  ALL AID STATIONS ARE WATER ONLY THIS YEAR.  You must bring a running pack and a refillable bottle or cup.  No food or nutrition at aid stations.  You must sanitize your hands before entering the aid station and touching any of the water jugs.  Wear a mask in the aid stations, particularly if there are others in the aid station at the same time.  You must carry a mask at all times on the course.  Masks must be worn at the starting line until you cross the start line and are on the trail.  Drop bags are only available for the 50K.

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NO CREW OR SPECTATORS AT THE START, FINISH OR ANYWHERE ON THE COURSE.

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Harder 'n Heck and Terribly Tough 10K Aid Stations:

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COURSE MARKING: The course will be marked well at all intersections.  There are several intersections and road crossings on this course.  The trail will be marked with pink flagging and we will have flagging with reflective tape for the night sections.  Trail markers will be CLIPS pinned to trees, bushes, posts, etc.  Flagging will be PINK and REFLECTIVE tape.  We may have some PINK pin flags out there in spots as well.

Starting at Oldenburg Point, all but the short spur trail from the picnic area to the Superior Hiking Trail will be on the SHT.  From Oldenburg Point STAY ON the SHT.  Unlike the popular Voyageur 50 route, Wild Duluth stays on the SHT/Greeley Trail where it goes into the woods and parallels the paved Willard Munger Trail.  DO NOT RUN ENTIRELY ON THE PAVED MUNGER TRAIL HERE.  Follow the markers and blazes of the SHT.

The Superior Hiking Trail is very well marked with blue blazes and trail signs (do not follow white blazes, these are for spur trails).  The only time the 50K/100K route deviates from the main Superior Hiking Trail is the short spur up to the Magney-Snively aid station.  There are arrows at many intersections as well.  If you’re paying attention when you’re on the Superior Hiking Trail it will be VERY difficult to get lost.  Pay attention to the blue blazes on trees and the Superior Hiking Trail markers.  While we do flag the trail, you really shouldn't need the pink flagging as the blue blazes and markers will show you the way more than adequately.  When in doubt between a pink flag and Superior Hiking Trail marker, follow the Superior Hiking Trail marker.

It’s also critical that you pay attention and are very careful at all road intersections.  Vehicles have the right of way at all times.  We will try to have run officials at the busiest road intersections.

CHECK IN: NO RACE CHECK IN FOR 2020

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Race briefing for the 50K will take place on Wednesday October 14 at 6:00 p.m. live via Zoom.

Race briefing for the Half Marathon will take place on Thursday October 15 at 6:00 p.m. live via Zoom.

If you can't make it to the live race briefing on Zoom, the briefing will also be streamed live on our Wild Duluth facebook page.  The link to the race briefings will remain on the Wild Duluth facebook page to view later.

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Check your emails for the links to the live Zoom meetings.

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Upon boarding the bus to the race start, you will receive your custom race mask.  If you aren't riding the bus, you can pick up your mask at the finish line.

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Once you arrive at the starting line of your race, you will be given your race bib.  If you have a DROP BAG, please drop off your drop bag at the race start immediately after getting off the bus in the appropriately marked aid station.

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YOU MUST ARRIVE AT THE RACE "READY TO RUN".  That means, be in your race attire and be sure you have taken care of your potty break.  There will be no porta potties at the race start.  We will have some porta potties available at the finish line before getting on the bus.  We will also try to have a porta potty at the first aid station and at the middle aid station.  

AWARDS:  Overall awards to the men's and women's champions in the 50k and Half Marathon.

Age group awards to the men's and women's division winners for the 50k in the following divisions:
29 and under
30-39 Open
40-49 Masters
50-59 Super Masters
60-69 Grand Masters
70+ Grand Old Masters

50k finishers will receive a custom designed long sleeve t-shirt or technical shirt.
Half Marathon finishers will receive a custom designed short sleeve shirt.

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Awards for men's and women's division winners in the Half Marathon are as follows:

29 and under

Open Division (30-39)

Masters (40-49)

Super Masters (50-59)

Grand Masters (60-69)

Grad Old Masters (70+)

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WILDMAN and WILDWOMAN challenge!  Runners can choose to compete in the Wildman/Wildwoman Challenge by registering for the 50K on Saturday and the Half Marathonon Sunday.  To become a WILDMAN/WILDWOMAN, runners will compete in the 50K on Saturday and Half Marathon on Sunday.  Special WILDMAN/WILDWOMAN awards to all who complete the challenge!

GRANDMA'S RESTAURANT POST RACE SOUP FEED:  THERE WILL BE NO POST RACE FEED AT THIS YEARS RACE.  According to State guidelines, you are asked to finish the race, receive your award and leave as soon as possible.  No awards ceremony.

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WEATHER: Weather in the middle of October can be very uncertain.  We could have a blizzard in October or it could be in the 60′s.  Come prepared for inclement weather and have warm clothes available.  Last year we had a brief blizzard at the start of the half marathon and then it got nice out.  It was a cold day last year but good for running.  The high temperature for last years race was 40 and the low was 24.  The average high for October 19 is 52 and the average low is 37.  Record high temperature for the date is 77 and record low is 22.  Last year we had a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the 50′s and perfect running weather.    October 19 for the last three years has seen high temperatures of 52, 50 and 62 with low temperatures of 47, 39 and 40.

Regardless of the weather, we should have beautiful fall colors on October 17.  The hills above Duluth will be all shades of green, yellow, orange and red.  The trail will be covered in leaves, so watch your footing!

Sunrise on October 17 is 7:30 a.m. with sunset at 6:17 p.m.  Runners in the 100k should be prepared to run in the dark at the start and finish for most runners.

DROP BAGS: Drop bags may be left at the Highland/Getchell Rd. and Munger Trail aid stations for the 50K.  If leaving your drop bag the morning of the race please have it prepared and left at the appropriately marked location corresponding to the aid station you want the bag dropped at.  You will drop your drop bag off as soon as you get off the bus at the start line. Drop bags must be clearly marked and secure.  Bags must include your name, race number and aid station location where you want them to go.  Race management is not responsible for any lost items from your drop bag.  All drop bags will be brought back to the finish line at Bayfront Park as soon as the aid station closes.

RACE RULES AND PROCEDURES:
The Wild Duluth race rules and procedures are designed for the safety and well-being of everyone involved in the race including runners, crews, volunteers and spectators.  Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification of the runner.

1.  Runner responsibilities – The runner is responsible for knowing all the rules
2.  No unauthorized aid caches or drops – No one is allowed to cache, drop or store supplies on the race course before or during the run.  Runners are not allowed aid between checkpoints.  Crews are forbidden to leave aid along the trail during the run.

3.  No Pacers this year. 
4.  No course cutting - Runners must follow the marked course at all times.  If the runner departs from the marked course, the runner must return to the point of departure on foot before continuing.  Cutting the course is grounds for immediate disqualification.  Please do not cut switchbacks on the course.  Switchbacks are designed to ensure the sustainability of the trail.  Doing nothing to risk the sustainability of the trail we are using will ensure that we will be able to use it for future races.
5.  Checking in/Checking out – It is the runner’s responsibility to properly check-in and check-out of each checkpoint.  Race numbers must be clearly visible.
6.  Cutoff times –
7.  Road crossings – The main concern is the safe movement of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.  There are lots of road crossings on the course.  Do not be complacent and forget to look both ways before crossing.  Vehicles have the right-of-way at all times.  The runner is a pedestrian and must obey all directions of the race official and all laws pertaining to road pedestrian crossings.
8.  If you decide to drop out of the race – If any runner is unable to complete the run, the runner must notify the aid station captain and surrender their race number.  Upon surrendering their race number, the runner is officially out of the race.  If a runner leaves the race and does not show up at the next checkpoint within a reasonable time, run officials will assume the runner is lost and notify authorities.  This situation will cost the race time, money, hardship and credibility.  It may also threaten the race’s ability to acquire necessary permits for future races.  Please be sure to notify race officials if you plan to drop out of the race.  Leaving a race without informing the aid station captain is grounds for disqaulification and restriction of entry in future races.
9.  If you get lost or injured – If you get lost or injured, stay on the trail and wait.  Inform another runner that you are injured and ask that they notify race officials at the next checkpoint.
10.  Do not litter – Either carry your trash or leave it at the aid stations.  We are operating under permits from the City of Duluth, State of Minnesota and the Superior Hiking Trail and litter could threaten the acquisition of permits in the future.  Littering along the trail will be cause for disqualification.
11.  Trail Etiquette and passing other runners and trail users – There will be other people using the trail on race day.  Please be VERY respectful of other trail users and give them the right-of-way.  Remember we are guests on the trail and there will be quite a few of us out there on race day.  Never cut switchbacks, stay on the trail and run through any puddles to avoid trail widening.  Give runners you are passing a wide berth and put on your mask while passing to be extra careful.  
12.  Relieving yourself -  O.k., this is gross, but it should be mentioned.  Solid human waste should be buried (find a stout stick and dig a quick hole with it) well off the trail and away from water.  Liquid waste should not be deposited on the trail itself or near water.  You should be at least 100 feet from any water source when relieving yourself.  A non-entrant in the race should not see you relieve yourself.

13.  You MUST sanitize your hands prior to entering any aid station.  Failure to do so will result in disqualification.  You must carry a mask with you at all times and wear it if you cannot maintain the appropriate physical distance of 6 feet or more from other runners or trail users.  
 

Have Fun!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Contact the race directors by e-mail at: adventurerunning@gmail.com
and by phone at:  218-340-6170 or 218-349-8386