Afton. Family. Love. – Photo Credit Tone Coughlin

Founded in 1994, the Afton Trail Run is a Twin Cities ‘heart of Summer’ trail and ultrarunning tradition. This year we shared the day with 879 registered runners from 3 countries, 27 states and 194 Minnesota cities – along with 130 volunteers and a few hundred family, friends, and spectators. It may be cliché to go straight to the weather in the recap… but wow, that weather!  I don’t recall ever having such a cool, cloudy and rainy day at Afton. It paid dividends in the form of quick times, a high finisher rate, fewer cramps and upset stomachs. The weather, combined with hard work and talent led Tyler Jermann to set a new 25KM course record by over three minutes, 1:31:19 which translates to an astonishing 5:53 / mile. Given the level of competition over the years, this is a really impressive accomplishment. As impressive was Tyler’s humility, and his desire to do Afton in the first place, seeing that he is a 2:12 marathoner. This is the type of speed that leads most runners of his caliber to only focus on one thing, fast (professional) road running at high profile events. I visited with Tyler after his run and could sense that he seeks, and found at Afton, that same sense of “home” and “place” that we all do at Afton. We all end up at Afton for a reason – welcome Tyler – welcome all seekers. Herb Byun’s birthday fell on the same day as Afton (again) this year, 79 years young and official 50K finish number 19, (Herb had a couple other finishes early on where he was not happy with his time so he stepped off the course just prior to the finish line, haha.) After his run we celebrated with his family with a big group sing of ‘Happy Birthday’. Other highlights; many mothers and fathers running with daughters and sons, those initially unsure if they could complete 25K or 50K… crossing that finish line for their first time, the smiles, fists in the air, tears of gratitude and joy. The dogs, the little kids and grandparents waiting eagerly at the finish, a slice of pizza, a day set aside for little else besides spending time together and celebrating the human spirit through the simple act of trail running. Afton is truly a gift for us all to enjoy.

Volunteers:
Afton is not possible without volunteers – there were over 130 of them this year. Want to see something amazing, THIS is what it takes to put on the Afton Trail Run https://www.aftontrailrun.com/volunteer-assignments/  I encourage you to take the time to read the volunteer recap / thank you HERE https://www.aftontrailrun.com/2022-volunteer-thank-you/ – Want to give back?  Please consider volunteering at the Superior Fall Trail Race / the Superior 100 on September 9 & 10. The Superior 100 in Northern Minnesota is the 10th oldest 100 mile trail race in the country. Grab a friend or two, make some camping or lodging plans and come and be a part of something really special https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/read-first/

Kind Words:
After each race we receive dozens of kind emails and I like to share a few…

Great job with the race. The ice, pickle juice, fresh baked pizza, misters, hand sanitizers, cool medal and super sharp hat, nice volunteers, good course marking, all these thoughtful details make it a cut or two above any race around. 

I’m not the fastest, longest-distance or highest caliber runner…but, the RSR races are like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Superior will always be my fave’ and hold my heart, but Afton is a beast of its own. Your races sparked something in my soul that I cannot put into words and I’m so glad you’re back! I want to thank you for the heart, soul, and spirit you pour into making this literally the best for everyone. You guys have my infinite support. Your races are on a different level from all others I’ve ran and I love it. RSR knows where it’s at. Also, the pizza today kicked ass! With SO much gratitude. 

Photos:
A few of our photographers have submitted their photos from the race, a couple additional galleries are forthcoming. For those of you that are unfamiliar with how much work it is to process photos (especially the number that they shoot) that is a crazy fast turnaround. The other couple of galleries should be available within a few days, so please check back. Please keep in mind that some of our photographers sell their photos, some make low res images available for free and sell the high res versions, some will accept tips and some give away the high res images for free. Please look for notes / prompts for each photographer / gallery. All of them put a ton of time into it and have a pile of expensive gear that makes this possible. As always it is good form to always credit (by name) and thank photographers for the photos you are sharing on your social media or elsewhere. If you want to use photos for commercial purposes please contact the photographers directly or contact me if you are unable to find their contact information.  If you are a photographer or aspiring photographer and you would like to come shoot some time, please contact us, we would love to have you. https://www.aftontrailrun.com/photos/

Results and Splits:

Official race results are available on our website [ 50K, 25K ]. Results have also been uploaded to UltraSignup [ 50K, 25K ] and have been sent into UTMB [ 50K, 25K ] so qualifying points can be awarded to those that wish to do those races some day (UTMB, CCC, TDS, OCC).

Sweatshirts, T-Shirts, Hats and More for Sale:
If you were hoping to but did not get a chance to purchase something at the race, you can do that on our online store HERE https://www.rocksteadyrunning.com/shop/ – you can use the “filters” on the side of the page to sort and search for specific items.  We ordered some extras of this years hat should you like to grab a couple more for family, crew or pacers.

Rocksteady Community:
The Rocksteady Running Community is an online forum designed for community members to have civil conversations about all things pertaining to Rocksteady Running events (Zumbro, Superior Spring, Afton, Superior Fall, ESTRS), trail / ultrarunning in general, and more. This online forum has been built on our own platform and is not tied to any social media platform. It is free from advertising, invasive algorithms, tracking, etc. We intend for this to be a safe place to connect. Feel free to discuss registering, training for and racing our events. Discussion about the race courses, terrain, training, gear, challenges, triumphs and more are welcomed and encouraged. If you would like to create an account and participate you can do so HERE https://community.rocksteadyrunning.com/login  For safety and transparency we ask that you provide both your first and last name when creating an account. My hope is that this forum will be an engaging and useful resource that allows you to connect with one and other.

A Big Thanks to Afton Alps:
We cannot thank Afton Alps Ski Area enough for the use of their property for overflow parking – we are so appreciative!  Afton State Park is busier than ever and it is super important that we make room in the park for folks that are not part of the race. Thanks all for your willingness to park a ways away and make the long, uphill walk to the start.

Sponsors:
A huge thank you to all of our sponsors for making our event possible!

Mill City / Saint City Running
Salomon
Vaniply / Vanicream
Trail Transformation
Steve Smillie Edina Realty
Art and Science Family Dentistry
RunMN Coaching
Hastings Sport and Spine
Northwoods Running
Performance Running Gym
Bell Bank Mortgage – Jerry Schmidt
Bridge Realty – Bill Pomerenke
St. Croix Law
Critical Connections Ecological Services

Afton Trail Run Charitable Legacy:
Each year the Afton Trail Run donates dollars and volunteer hours to Afton State Park. To date we have gifted over $60,000 to the park for trail and infrastructure improvements, equipment and programming.

Next Year
The Afton Trail Run is always held the first Saturday in July. The 2023 race will be Saturday July 1. Registration will open on January 1.

Housekeeping:
I screwed up by only splitting our 25K check-in list in half and thus only having two lines, which led to some long waits to check in and a late start. Not the end of the world, but next year we will split it up into 3 or 4 lists (and lines) so we can get get folks checked in faster. One thing we will be doing next year is asking that 25K runners arrive a little earlier as well… it is easy to underestimate how long it takes to get parked and walk up from the overflow parking lots at Afton Alps. So if you parked at Afton Alps this year, please try to take mental note of what time you arrived and dial it back at least another 15 minutes next year, that would be great, thank you!

In Closing:
I cannot thank you all enough for being part of the Afton / RSR family!  Thank you for an awesome race, we look forward to seeing you next year!  As always, if you need anything please reach out.

Sincerely,

John Storkamp
Race Director
Afton Trail Run

In November of 2021, after hosting a season of Covid-modified races, I was updating our race website(s) for what we hoped would be (and thankfully was) a mostly “normal” 2022. While doing so, I decided to include a preface to our Participant Guide(s) titled “Setting Expectations for 2022”. It was a great way for Cheri and I to pull back the curtain and share our experience of the pandemic as race directors. It was a way for us to temper expectations for an upcoming season with many lingering unknowns. It also ended up being a valuable touchpoint for connection with you; our participants, volunteers and partners. I am taking the opportunity to do something similar again this year. In the interest of real-estate, it will not be front and center in the participant guide, instead it will reside in THIS blog post – we would appreciate it if you took the time to read it.

The pandemic took its toll on all of us. As individuals, friends/family members, parents, athletes, employees, and businesses owners. The loss of life, the emotional toll, the educational strain on our children, the disruption of routines, the complications and financial pain of being an employee, or a small business owner. So many of you have shared stories with us of the hardship you faced over the past few years. You have also shared how important your running, and our races, continue to be in your lives. A place to process, cope, heal, laugh, celebrate, and just feel some freedom and normalcy. I felt this way about the races I got to run in 2022; Arrowhead, Curnow, Voyageur, Paavo Nurmi, Twin Cities and Hixon. I was grateful to just BE there.

The emotional, financial, and regulatory challenges Cheri and I (Rocksteady Running) have faced over the past few years have been significant. Only through the support of the running community have we had the strength, resources, and tenacity to persist. Not all races have been so lucky. While it is not easy to read the tea leaves – it is evident that some races have struggled, while others folded. Between the lingering effects of the pandemic, inflation, a heightened regulatory environment, and unpredictable weather / climate events, producing races is significantly more challenging today than it has ever been. As a running community we cannot take races and the organizations that produce them for granted. There is no guarantee they will persist, they need our support. A handful of ways in which you can support are; Read all of the information on event websites prior to showing up on race day, Volunteer at races or help with setup the days prior or cleanup the day(s) after, respect no-refund policies – small event organizers incur significant risk to produce races and we ask you to shoulder some of that risk with us in the form of your entry fee, pay more for your entry fee or make a donation if it is an option, buy some swag, be kind. Thankfully, we find that 99.9% of our participants are operating on this vibe – I hear similar things from other local trail / ultra-directors.

Inflation is real. I likely don’t need to tell you that, any trip to the grocery store is evidence enough. Event costs were up significantly over the previous year. Some of the costs that suppliers and vendors passed onto us were significant. This is not a criticism of those suppliers or vendors, they are in most instances small businesses doing the best they can in a challenging environment. That said, we have made the decision to NOT increase entry fees for the 2023 race season. We will see how this year goes and adjust for the 2024 season if needed. We will again give participants who are able, the ability to pay a little more / make an additional contribution to their entry fee when registering. If you can contribute in this way, wonderful. If you can’t, we totally understand. We don’t want entry fees to be a barrier to participation. If you ever need help with your entry fee, please reach out.

While we have our challenges like everyone else, Cheri and I are doing well – we count our blessings daily. We are continually humbled by the running communities’ support and are grateful for the ongoing opportunity to facilitate these incredible experiences. I have said it before, and I will say it again… we do not do this alone. There is a core group of individuals that have made producing these races alongside us their vocation – working their butts off, event in, event out – a couple of vendors, most are volunteers. There are the 100’s of beautiful volunteers who contribute at each individual race, who give joyously and selflessly of their time. Then there are the runners and the community that together we all comprise – a community that is as dedicated, considerate, selfless, compassionate, caring and talented as any I have seen in my 30 years as a runner and 17 as a race director. Thank you for being great.

Cheri and I had the privilege of guiding these events from the small niche events they were in the early 2000’s to what they have become today… much larger niche events 😉 There came a time for us when the demands of the events grew to a point that rather than them being our “part time job”, we embraced the races as our “full time job” and got new part time jobs to supplement. Today we find ourselves back to full-time careers outside of the races, and consider ourselves blessed to have two full-time jobs each. We ask that when you come to one of our races, or any other trail / ultra race, that you consider that besides a few outliers, these trail and ultra-races are “mom-and-pop” affairs, put on by your peers / fellow runners, people with careers and families, people who do it for the love of running and their fellow runners. You should understand that the level of event production, the amenities and experience will vary from event to event. Hopefully each race organization clearly articulates what is, and what is not included in order to set racer’s expectations. It is then incumbent upon runners to review the information provided. This diversity of events is part of our niche sports charm. While Cheri and I have significant commitments outside of running, we will always provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about whether or not you would like to race with us, and what that experience will be like. All of that said, you should generally expect the same professional level of event production, the same incredible volunteers, the same transcendental experiences on the trail and the same awesome vibes as years past. Our mission remains undiminished, “to create experiences that facilitate connection.”

It is an honor getting to do this with you, and for you. We are grateful for your support, and we never take that support for granted. Please reach out if you need anything. We are looking forward to connecting with you in 2023.

John and Cheri Storkamp
Rocksteady Running

Zumbro
Superior(S)
Afton
Superior(F)
ESTRS

* This is a copy of an email that we sent on December 7 2022 to everyone that is on our mailing list 

Photo Credit Mike Wheeler

Hi Friends,

I hope this email finds you well as we approach the New Year.

I am excited to announce the 2023 Rocksteady Running race schedule and am looking forward to an amazing year ahead on the trails!

Registration for all of our races will open on Sunday January 1, 2023 at 9:00AM CST.

All of our individual race websites, race info pages and registration detail pages have been updated. Please read through all of these pages for each race that you plan on running, prior to signing up.

Volunteer registration is open for each of our races as well. Please see the volunteer section of our website(s) to learn more and get signed up. Having volunteers commit and sign up early is super helpful, thank you!

Some basic information and links for each race can be found below.

Zumbro Endurance Run
100MI, 50MI, 34MI & 17MI
Friday April 7 & Saturday April 8, 2023
Zumbro Bottoms Management Unit near Theilman Minnesota
https://www.zumbroendurancerun.com/

Superior Spring Trail Race
50KM, 25KM & 12.5KM
Saturday May 20, 2023
Lutsen, Minnesota
https://www.superiorspringtrailrace.com/
* 15 day lottery registration window opens on January 1 and closes on January 15, drawing is held by January 25.

Afton Trail Run
50KM & 25KM
Saturday July 1, 2023
Afton State Park, Minnesota
https://www.aftontrailrun.com/

Superior Fall Trail Race
100MI, 50MI & 26.2MI
Friday September 8 & Saturday September 9, 2023
North Shore of Lake Superior, Northern Minnesota
https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/
* 15 day lottery registration window opens on January 1 and closes on January 15, drawing is held by January 25.

Endless Summer Trail Run Series
Lebanon 10KM – May 24
French 5KM – June 21
Lebanon 7MI – July 5
Spring Lake 5MI – August 2
https://www.estrs.com/

As always, review our websites and if you still have any questions, please reach out and I will get right back to you.

Gratefully,

John Storkamp

Rocksteady Running
Zumbro, Superior(S), Afton, Superior(F), ESTRS
john@rocksteadyrunning.com
https://www.rocksteadyrunning.com/

Rocksteady Running is proud to introduce Mile in My Shoes as an official charity partner for our 2023 events!

Mile in My Shoes (MiMS) is a Twin Cities Minnesota based nonprofit that uses the power of running to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to build connections, boost wellness, spark social change, and center people traditionally excluded from running spaces. Based in homeless shelters, addiction recovery programs and re-entry centers for people exiting incarceration, MiMS views running as a tool for both personal and collective transformation. By focusing on people and spaces often marginalized in our society, MiMS teams use movement as a catalyst for social justice. By bringing together people from all walks of life, Members not only find common ground, but learn from and reach out to one another for support.

Mile in My Shoes mission is extremely compatible with Rocksteady Running’s mission of… “creating experiences that facilitate connection”. While we all know running and racing is good for us and is a ton of fun, it can also be a powerful tool for connection, growth, transformation and healing.

Help support a great cause and bring added meaning to your racing by becoming a MiMS FundRacer!

MiMS FundRacers will use their race experience at Zumbro, Superior(S), Afton, Superior(F) and ESTRS as an opportunity to raise critical funding for Mile in My Shoes while receiving great perks. MiMS helps you create a FundRacing page to share with family and friends, or you may raise funds in other ways. The more you raise, the more perks you receive – including a refund of your race entry and MiMS’ signature supersoft hoodie at the $500 level, or a guaranteed, free entry into ANY Rocksteady Running race of your choice in 2024 if you raise $2K! * Limited to 5 entries for our lottery races; Superior (Spring and Fall).

If you are interested in learning more or becoming a MiMS FundRacer, follow any of the event specific link(s) below.

• https://www.zumbroendurancerun.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

• https://www.superiorspringtrailrace.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

• https://www.aftontrailrun.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

• https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

• https://www.estrs.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

Unveiled – the 2023 Afton Trail Run Beanie!  All runners and volunteers will receive this awesome beanie. We purchased extras of these so if friends, family, crew or pacers would like one, they may purchase one on race weekend.  If you want to add a shirt to your collection this year as well, we have some for sale HERE

Greetings Runners!

We are just under a week out from the 30th Annual Afton Trail Run which will be held on on Saturday July 1, 2023. 140+ volunteers are coming together to put on this year’s race. We are thrilled to to have 980 registered runners from 3 countries, 28 states and 202 Minnesota cities! This email is long, but it is very important that you review it in its entirety.

NOW is also the time to review all of the information on the website again, so you are as prepared as possible come race day. I cannot stress enough how important it is to review the information associated with the distance you are running (links below) along with taking the time to review other important sections of the website.

50KM Info: https://www.aftontrailrun.com/50km-info/

25KM Info: https://www.aftontrailrun.com/25km-info/

Maps / Diagrams: https://www.aftontrailrun.com/maps-and-data/

Below are some important reminders and a few updates:

If You Can No Longer Run:
If for any reason you will not be running the race, there is no need to contact us to let us know – we will know you are not starting when you do not pick up your race number.

IMPORTANT! Parking (and the long walk to the start for most participants):
It is VERY IMPORTANT that you understand how parking works for the Afton Trail Run. Most participants will park at Afton Alps and will have a 15 to 20 minute walk up to the race start. Detailed information is available via the 25KM and 50KM race info pages and a recap of the information is available HERE https://www.aftontrailrun.com/parking/

Bib Number Assignments:
Bib number assignments have been made and are available on our website HERE https://www.aftontrailrun.com/2023-bib-assignments

Heat:
Afton is a hot weather race. In order to be successful the vast majority of runners will have to adjust their pace down. We strongly encourage you to carry a water bottle. Aid stations will have water, ice, Coke and Ginger Ale, along with pre-packaged salty snacks. Due to the dizzying array of products on the market, and most people having their own preferred one, we do not have sports drink at the aid stations. You can procure your own individual serving packets of most popular brands and add to your water bottle after refilling at the aid station. Additionally many people choose to supplement with their preferred electrolyte pill or ‘fizz’. We will have Succeed Caps at the aid stations for those that run out / are in need.

Cupless Race:
A reminder that Afton is a cupless race, so carry your own water bottle, hydration bladder or cup.

Course Markings:
The course will be marked with ORANGE FLAGS which will always be on the left side of the trail. We mark the trail you are supposed to be on and DO NOT block off trails that you are not supposed to go down, so you need to pay attention.

Crew, pacers, family and spectators:
If you have crew, pacers, family or spectators joining you at this years race they need to review THIS https://www.aftontrailrun.com/spectator-info/ page and associated links in its entirety, please make sure you forward this information to them.

Results
Race results will be posted as runners finish. The link to the results is HERE https://www.athlinks.com/event/42751/results/Event/1054188/Results

Beanies!
We did beanies for our other races this year – in the interest of continuity, we did the same for Afton. Admittedly, you will not need a beanie at Afton, but this handsome toque will bring warm memories of Afton when the weather turns chilly, enjoy!… https://www.aftontrailrun.com/2023-race-beanie/ – All registered runners and volunteers will receive one, and we have purchased extra which we will be selling at the race (and on our website after the race) if you would like to purchase additional for friends or family members.

Medals:
All 25K and 50K runners will be awarded a medal.  We started doing new medals in 2021, a scaled back design sans year / date with space to write it in or add other info, helps us to cut down on waste (no more throwing out / burning dated medals and creating more waste). https://www.aftontrailrun.com/new-afton-finishers-medals-2021-and-beyond/

Post Race Meal:
Post race we will be providing complimentary 12oz canned beverages (Coke, Ginger Ale and Sparkling Water), fresh made Neapolitan style pizza, and cookies. Beverages and pizza are free for runners. Crew, pacers, family and spectators may also enjoy for a cash donation – there will be a can / jar out.

Swag for Sale:
We will have some t-shirts, hats, posters, stickers, sweatshirts and more for sale throughout the day. You can get an idea of some of the items we will have for sale HERE https://www.rocksteadyrunning.com/shop/?filters=product_cat%5B15%5D – Cash or check is preferred but we can also take PayPal or Venmo.

Afton Trail Run Charitable Legacy:
Each year the Afton Trail Run donates dollars and volunteer hours to Afton State Park. To date we have gifted over $60,000 to the park for trail and infrastructure improvements, equipment and programming.

Afton Alps Trailhead Treats at the Crest:
A huge thank you to Afton Alps Ski Area for providing overflow parking for the Afton Trail Run. Just minutes from the Afton Trail Run start / finish area, Trailhead Treats at the Crest is an awesome option for a post-training-run or post-race beer, lunch or snack. Enjoy great views of Afton Alps and Afton State Park from their deck while unwinding with friends after your run. You can preview their menu HERE (subject to change from time to time). Please support them if you have time!

Sponsors & Partners
Please be sure to check out our awesome sponsors and partners.

Mill City / Saint City Running
Salomon
Vaniply / Vanicream
Trail Transformation
Afton Alps Trailhead Treats at the Crest
Steve Smillie Edina Realty
Art and Science Family Dentistry
Bell Bank Mortgage – Jerry Schmidt
RunMN Coaching
Northwoods Running
Performance Running Gym
Mile in My Shoes
Bridge Realty – Bill Pomerenke
St. Croix Law
Critical Connections Ecological Services

Run a Cool Down?
Join us for our third installment of the Endless Summer Trail Run Series on Wednesday July 5 at Lebanon Hills Park in Eagan. Run or volunteer, your choice! https://www.estrs.com/lebanon-7mi/

OK, that is all I have for you. If you have any questions, shoot me an email. I can’t wait to see you all at Afton!

Thank You,

John Storkamp
Race Director
racedirector@aftontrailrun.com

Afton happy finishers – Photo Credit Scott Rokis

Founded in 1994, the Afton Trail Run is the Twin Cities heart of Summer trail and ultrarunning tradition. The 2023 race marked the 30th Annual. The race sold out again this year with 980 registered runners from 3 countries, 28 states and 202 Minnesota cities. We had 140 volunteers and a few hundred family, friends, and spectators with us as well. With a morning low of 68F and a daytime high of 86F, it was requisitely ‘Afton hot’. At the start of the races I encouraged both the 25K and 50K runners to back it off 3% and promised strong finishes for those that did. It seems as though most listened and we had some of the strongest and healthiest looking finishers crossing the line that I can remember in recent years. Our on-site medical folks were bored, just the way we like it. Several of you told me you ran PRs. Impressively there were a couple of age group records including Kirk Dewindt breaking the 25K Master’s (40-49) record by 21 seconds and Jon Gardiner breaking the 25K Grand Master’s (50+) record by 29 seconds. 22 year old Alex Forte ran the second fastest time ever in the 50K. Tyler Jermann ran the second fastest time ever in the 25K, just 32 seconds slower than the CR which he set in 2022. Jan Guenther took the 25K Grand-Master’s title for her 7th time, she did it 2012-2017 and now again in 2023 – amazing! Congratulations to Erica Mitchell for her 50K win and Erin Green for her 25K win.

Yonas found me after the race for a selfie, he was beaming. He and a couple of close friends have been hiking in the park for some time. Last year they had gotten together for a hike the day of the race and were impressed by the event, its participants, the good vibes and infectious energy. When registration opened for this year’s race the three of them claimed their spots and began training. Race day came and they participated. Judging by Yonas’s ear to ear smile after the race, it is safe to say they are full-fledged converts. At the age of 78 Herb ran even splits ( 3:47:42 / 3:44:12 = 7:31:54 ) for his 20th Afton 50K finish – Herb then celebrated his 79th birthday on Sunday. Tracy Dauwalter, the mother of our sport’s (arguably) most famous and revered ultrarunner (possibly ever, and a Minnesotan adored by Minnesotans) finished her Afton 50K, then waited for her friend, who was this year’s final finisher. This is such an incredible sport and community.

A huge thank you to all of the 25K runners who obviously read the information we put out in advance of the race, arriving, parking and walking up to the race start plenty early. This allowed for manageable check-in and bathroom lines, and an on-time 25K start – I was seriously overwhelmed by your conscientiousness and compliance. Importantly, you helping to make the overflow parking situation a success allows 100’s of non-race-related park users to enjoy the park while our race is happening – great, great job all.

As always it is an absolute honor getting to direct this race. Just 15 minutes away from our home in Hastings, I have been visiting Afton State Park since I was a kid, cut my teeth on trail and ultrarunning here and still run here regularly with friends. We work hand in glove with park management and staff getting the park ready for the race each year, which ultimately benefits all park users – Afton State Park is a very special place.

Yonas (and Friends) participated in their first Afton 25K – Photo Credit John Schultz

Herb cooling off at the finish – Photo Credit Scott Rokis

Tracy Dauwalter finishing Afton 50K – Photo Credit Scott Rokis

Linda and crew raising awareness for suicided prevention – Photo Credit Linda Terveer

Running in Memory of Her Brother and for Suicide Prevention Awareness:
There are as many reasons and motivations for why we run as there are runners. After the race, 25K runner Linda, and mother of one of my close friends, shared her reason for running this year…

“I was out hiking on one of my favorite trails when I got the call. Somehow, I knew it was bad news. My sister told me that our brother was gone – that was the first blow. Then I learned that it was much worse – he had taken his own life. I couldn’t make sense of it, and still struggle to do so. It takes my breath away every time I tell someone that this happened. My brother dealt with significant pain from a variety of injuries and health conditions, yet no one knew this was a path he was considering. David had a loving family – wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, and his faith – yet he chose this path. His heart of gold and independent nature may have kept him from sharing, we’ll never know. The only thing that did make sense was to do something that might prevent other loved ones from getting this call. My friends Melissa, Melinda and I formed ‘Team Wings’, named after my brother who loved the Harley Davidson wing emblem. We chose to run Afton 25K, a challenging race outside of our comfort zone, to help spread the message that we do not have to face challenges alone. We used the race as a fundraiser for SAVE.org, an organization that provides education and resources for suicide prevention and mental health concerns, as well as resources for those who are grieving for someone they have lost. Our team exceeded our goal of raising $1500 and met our goal of finishing Afton 25K. Not only did we finish, but we honored my brother, spent time healing, laughing and “rising above”, as the day was hot, and the hills were challenging. The support along the way was amazing; the beverages, snacks, cooling ice and water misters, and all the volunteers who went above and beyond to get us what we needed. It was both a challenge and a gift to run Afton 25K in honor of my brother.”

T-RECS Laurel and Matt – Photo Credit Cary Johnson

Volunteers:
Afton is not possible without volunteers – there were over 140 of them this year. I can look out on any race start line and see dozens of you who routinely volunteer with us or at other Minnesota races – thank you. For those out of town runners, I am sure you are doing as much at home / in your local trail communities. Sometimes among runners newer to the community there can be a lack of understanding who these volunteers are… it surely must be non-runners or those that can’t run anymore right? Haha, not so much… Aid Station 1&2 captain Brian just ran Western States 100. Aid Station 3&4 leaders Matt, Laurel, Mark, Andy, Tim and their TREC’s crew… have multiple Superior 100, Western States, UTMB (just ask Mark) and Arrowhead 135 finishes between then. Jeff who co-leads at Aid Station 5 holds the double Superior 100 FKT and just won Last Runner Standing race in Duluth. Kelly at Aid Station 6 was a 2:19 marathoner and Olympic Marathon Qualifiers participant. Andrew, 3rd place at last years Superior 100 cooked pizzas for you all day. I digress, you get the point – pick a race you are not running and volunteer! Want to see something amazing, THIS is what it takes to put on the Afton Trail Run https://www.aftontrailrun.com/volunteer-assignments/  I encourage you to take the time to read the volunteer recap / thank you HERE https://www.aftontrailrun.com/2023-volunteer-thank-you/ – Please consider volunteering at the Superior Fall Trail Race / the Superior 100 on September 8 & 9. The Superior 100 in Northern Minnesota is the 10th oldest 100 mile trail race in the country. Grab a friend or two, make some camping or lodging plans and come and be a part of something really special https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/read-first/

Kind Words:
After each race we receive dozens of kind emails and I like to share a few…

I’ve participated in Afton three times. I wanted to tell you how thoughtful your race information always is, how well organized the event always is, and how phenomenal the volunteer squad was for the runners. I was so wildly impressed this year with how kind, helpful, supportive, “on”, and energetic the volunteers were at every aid station. Another mentally and physically challenging, and oh so meaningful Afton 50k Trail Race! – Melissa

I just wanted to send a quick note to let you know how much I appreciate the Afton 50K. This was my second year running the 50K, and the course, event, staff, volunteers, energy, atmosphere, and experience as a whole are second to none. I’ve run other ultras, marathons, and triathlons and this is hands down my favorite event. Keep up the great work. – Patrick

Mel enjoying her day at the park – Photo Credit David Markman

Photos:
Most of our photographers have submitted their photos from the race, a couple additional galleries are forthcoming. Please keep in mind that some of our photographers sell their photos, some make low res images available for free and sell the high res versions, some will accept tips and some give away the high res images for free. Please look for notes / prompts for each photographer / gallery. All of them put a ton of time into it and have a pile of expensive gear that makes this possible. As always it is good form to always credit (by name) and thank photographers for the photos you are sharing on your social media or elsewhere. If you want to use photos for commercial purposes please contact the photographers directly or contact me if you are unable to find their contact information.  If you are a photographer or aspiring photographer and you would like to come and help tell the Afton story, please contact us, we would love to have you and your fellow runners would appreciate it. https://www.aftontrailrun.com/photos/

Results and Splits:
Results are available HERE https://www.athlinks.com/event/42751/results/Event/1054188/Results – if your result is missing or you see any errors let us know. We will post final results and update course records within the coming week or so. Results will also be available on UltraSignup and reported for UTMB qualifying points at that time.

Sweatshirts, T-Shirts, Hats and More for Sale:
If you were hoping to but did not get a chance to purchase something at the race, you can do that on our online store HERE https://www.rocksteadyrunning.com/shop/ – you can use the “filters” on the side of the page to sort and search for specific items.  We ordered some extras of this years beanie if you like to grab a couple more for family, friends, crew, etc.

Rocksteady Community:
The Rocksteady Running Community is an online forum designed for community members to have civil conversations about all things pertaining to Rocksteady Running events (Zumbro, Superior Spring, Afton, Superior Fall, ESTRS), trail / ultrarunning in general, and more. This online forum has been built on our own platform and is not tied to any social media platform. It is free from advertising, invasive algorithms, tracking, etc. We intend for this to be a safe place to connect. Feel free to discuss registering, training for and racing our events. Discussion about the race courses, terrain, training, gear, challenges, triumphs and more are welcomed and encouraged. If you would like to create an account and participate you can do so HERE https://community.rocksteadyrunning.com/login  For safety and transparency we ask that you provide both your first and last name when creating an account. My hope is that this forum will be an engaging and useful resource that allows you to connect with one and other.

A Big Thanks to Afton Alps:
We cannot thank Afton Alps Ski Area enough for the use of their property for overflow parking – we are so appreciative!  Afton State Park is busier than ever and it is super important that we make room in the park for folks that are not part of the race. Thanks all for your willingness to park a ways away and make the long, uphill walk to the start.  This season Afton Alps is operating ‘Trailhead Treats at the Crest’ – it is an awesome option for a post-training-run or post-race beer, lunch or snack. Enjoy great views of Afton Alps and Afton State Park from their deck while unwinding with friends after your run. You can preview their menu HERE (subject to change from time to time). Please support them if you have time!

Mile in My Shoes:
Rocksteady Running is proud to have Mile in My Shoes as an official Afton Trail Run charity partner. MiMS is a local nonprofit that uses the power of running to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to build connections, boost wellness, spark social change, and center people traditionally excluded from running spaces. Based in homeless shelters, addiction recovery programs and re-entry centers for people exiting incarceration, MiMS views running as a tool for both personal and collective transformation. By focusing on people and spaces often marginalized in our society, MiMS teams use movement as a catalyst for social justice. By bringing together people from all walks of life, Members not only find common ground, but learn from and reach out to one another for support. Learn more HERE https://www.aftontrailrun.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

Sponsors:
A huge thank you to all of our sponsors for making our event possible!

Mill City / Saint City Running
Salomon
Vaniply / Vanicream
Trail Transformation
Afton Alps Trailhead Treats at the Crest
Steve Smillie Edina Realty
Art and Science Family Dentistry
Bell Bank Mortgage – Jerry Schmidt
RunMN Coaching
Northwoods Running
Performance Running Gym
Mile in My Shoes
Bridge Realty – Bill Pomerenke
St. Croix Law
Critical Connections Ecological Services

Afton Trail Run Charitable Legacy:
Each year the Afton Trail Run donates dollars and volunteer hours to Afton State Park. To date we have donated 1000’s of labor hours and gifted over $60,000 to the park for trail and infrastructure improvements, equipment and programming.

Next Year
The Afton Trail Run is always held the first Saturday in July. The 2024 race will be Saturday July 6. Registration will open on January 1.

In Closing:
I cannot thank you all enough for being part of the Afton / RSR family!  Thank you for an awesome race, we look forward to seeing you next year!  As always, if you need anything please reach out.

Sincerely,

John Storkamp
Race Director
Afton Trail Run

Afton at dawn – Photo Credit John Schultz

Coke and a smile at Afton – Photo Credit Jessica Knighton

Minnesota ultrarunning OG Julie Berg – Photo Credit Cary Johnson

Contemplation at the race start – Photo Credit Kelcey Knott

Keeping it cool – Photo Credit Scott Rokis

A-plus – Photo Credit Scott Rokis

After a successful and impactful partnership in 2023, where the Rocksteady Running community raised nearly $10,000 for Mile in My Shoes, Rocksteady Running is proud to continue with Mile in My Shoes as an official charity partner for our 2024 races!

Mile in My Shoes (MiMS) is a Twin Cities Minnesota based nonprofit that uses the power of running to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to build connections, boost wellness, spark social change, and center people traditionally excluded from running spaces. Based in homeless shelters, addiction recovery programs and re-entry centers for people exiting incarceration, MiMS views running as a tool for both personal and collective transformation. By focusing on people and spaces often marginalized in our society, MiMS teams use movement as a catalyst for social justice. By bringing together people from all walks of life, Members not only find common ground, but learn from and reach out to one another for support.

Help support a great cause and bring added meaning to your racing by becoming a MiMS FundRacer!

MiMS FundRacers will use their race experience at Zumbro, Superior(S), Afton, Superior(F) and ESTRS as an opportunity to raise critical funding for Mile in My Shoes while receiving great perks. New this year, we will be selecting six FundRacers to receive free, guaranteed entry into the 2024 Superior Spring Trail Race and the 2024 Superior Fall Trail Race, who commit to raising $2K (3 entries will be allocated for the Spring race and 3 for the Fall race). MiMS helps you create a FundRacing page to share with family and friends, or you may raise funds in other ways. The more you raise, the more perks you receive! Depending on your FundRacing level, things like; a tech tank or shirt, a MiMS supersoft hoodie, a MiMS run hat, your race entry refunded up to $100 or even guaranteed entry into ANY Rocksteady Running race of your choice.

If you are interested in learning more or becoming a MiMS FundRacer, follow any of the event specific link(s) below.

• https://www.zumbroendurancerun.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

• https://www.superiorspringtrailrace.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

• https://www.aftontrailrun.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

• https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

• https://www.estrs.com/mile-in-my-shoes/

* This is a copy of an email that we sent on December 15 2023 to everyone that is on our mailing list 

Photo Credit Scott Rokis

Hi Friends,

We hope this email finds you well as we approach the New Year.

We are excited to announce the 2024 Rocksteady Running race schedule and are looking forward to an amazing year ahead on the trails!

Registration for all of our races will open on Monday January 1, 2024 at 9:00AM CST.

All of our individual race websites, race info pages and registration detail pages have been updated. Please read through all of these pages for each race that you plan on running, prior to signing up.

Volunteer registration is open for each of our races as well. Please see the volunteer section of our website(s) to learn more and get signed up. Having volunteers commit and sign up early is super helpful, thank you!

Some basic information and links for each race can be found below.

Zumbro Endurance Run
100MI, 50MI, 34MI & 17MI
Friday April 12 & Saturday April 13, 2024
Zumbro Bottoms Management Unit near Theilman Minnesota
https://www.zumbroendurancerun.com/

Superior Spring Trail Race
50KM, 25KM & 12.5KM
Saturday May 18, 2024
Lutsen, Minnesota
https://www.superiorspringtrailrace.com/
* 15 day lottery registration window opens on January 1 and closes on January 15, drawing is held by January 25.

Afton Trail Run
50KM & 25KM
Saturday July 6, 2024
Afton State Park, Minnesota
https://www.aftontrailrun.com/

Superior Fall Trail Race
100MI, 50MI & 26.2MI
Friday September 6 & Saturday September 7, 2024
North Shore of Lake Superior, Northern Minnesota
https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/
* 15 day lottery registration window opens on January 1 and closes on January 15, drawing is held by January 25.

Endless Summer Trail Run Series
Lebanon 10KM – May 22
French 5KM – June 26
Lebanon 7MI – July 10
Spring Lake 5MI – July 31
https://www.estrs.com/

As always, review our websites and if you still have any questions, please reach out and I will get right back to you.

Gratefully,

John Storkamp

Rocksteady Running
Zumbro, Superior(S), Afton, Superior(F), ESTRS
john@rocksteadyrunning.com
https://www.rocksteadyrunning.com/

Unveiled – the 2024 Afton Trail Run ‘Cool Operator’ Hat!  All runners and volunteers will receive this awesome, super breathable, quick drying, crushable, run hat! We purchased extras of these so if friends, family, crew or pacers would like one, they may purchase one on race weekend.  If you want to add a shirt or different style hat to your collection this year as well, we have some available for purchase HERE