Everything is on track for the race!  We have over 20 registered racers with 3 months to go until the race.  Please email me with any questions.

Ultrarunning Magazine has ranked the Marquette Trail 50 as Level 3 for terrain, and Level 3 for difficulty (out of 5).  I would judge that to be about right.  The course is not easy nor especially difficult, but parts are hard and technical -- they just don't last very long.  Plus, I'm sorry to break the news to you, the "50K" race is coming out by GPS to be between 31.8 miles and 32.5 miles.  I suspect it is a little over 32 miles.

I can always use volunteers at any aid stations and trail marking and trail demarking.  Please drop me a line!

I'm happy to announce the Marquette Trail 50 is part of the Upper Midwest Trail Runners "Fab 50's races"!  Please see the website of the Upper Midwest Trail Runners:  www.uppermidwesttrailrunners.com  The other ultras in Wisconsin and Minnesota are well-attended and well-run events.

I've had a lot of interest in the race.  Please consider signing up early to avoid the cutoff.  When I get some more registrations I will post them on this site, probably in May or June.

If you think the 50k will be easy, please be advised that several experienced runners from last year said it was the hardest 50k they've ever done.  I didn't think it was THAT hard....well challenging might be a better word.  But beautiful vistas of Lake Superior.

Several runners missed turns last year after many runners in front of them made the correct turn.  Two runners did the challenging "Top of the world loop" twice.  Remember that part of running an ultra is to pay attention to trail and markings.  It's easy to get in the zone after hours of running and not be cognizant of the markings.  Several runners commented it was the best marked trail they've seen.

SOME NEWS: 

I've decided to add unmanned aid stations at mile 14 and halfway out on the 50 mile out and back (mile 31.5 and 40).

HEED is now a sponsor of the race and aid stations will contain HEED, water, PB&J, pretzel sticks, gel, coke, and fig newtons.  Bandaids, insect repellent.

Bathrooms are available at the start/finish.   You might want to bring toilet paper for the run but PLEASE dispose of it properly.

Entrant list will be posted here in about 2 weeks.

Total elevation gain for the 50K is estimated 3500-4000 feet.  The 50 mile race elevation gain is estimated 5000-5500 feet.

I will send an email out about 10 days before the start to all entrants with pertinent start information.  Again, feel free to email me for any questions. 

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 The out and back section of the 50 mile course is all "runnable" though there are a couple of areas runners may want to walk!  Oh yeah, there are also two footbridges and a bog with a wooden walkway to detour around -- and a few deer flies and mosquitoes just to keep it interesting!

  The fifty mile race incorporates the first 27.5 miles of the 50K course, but then heads out on an 18 mile out and back to CR 510.  There will be a manned aid station at CR 510 (mile 35.5) and an unmanned aid station (water and HEED) at about 31.5 miles and then again at about 40 miles.  You must check in at the aid station at CR 510 before you start heading back down to Forestville.

   This out-and-back section is about half rolling with a couple of good climbs, and about half flat.  This is not technical but is mostly packed dirt, and about halfway shaded.  Most of the course is overgrown two-track but there is a small section of dirt/gravel logging roads.  The course will be marked with lime/chalk lines and orange trail markers.

   The two pictures below show some of the trail.

The picture below is representative of some of the course from 13-18 miles.  Soft pine needles with little elevation gain.  Shady, with Lake Superior about 50 yards to your right! 

I ran the 50k loop course yesterday to measure the distances.  Well, I can say to you runners that unless this is your first ultra, it probably won't be a PR!  However, we will more than make up for that with a challenging beautiful course with terrific views of Lake Superior.  It is a course that will reward patience, especially the first 12 miles.

I have updated the course description and map.  Please note that the course travels the same 3 miles of trail out and back near the beginning.

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The first 10 miles of the course starts off with 1/2 mile of pavement in a little loop (to make the final mileage right) and heads onto the Noquemanon Ski Trail just one block off Lake Superior.  The course follows the ski trail for about 3 miles over fairly flat terrain to enter the North Country Trail.  This is a single-track with a lot of short ups and downs and some sections of quite technical terrain.  After a mile and a half of the NCT you are on a dirt and sand two-track which passes a small dump and heads slowly uphill untill the trail hits the NCT again.  You follow this single-track down to an old railroad grade and then follow a technical trail for about two more miles.  You then cross CR 550 0.3 miles north of Sugarloaf Mountain parking lot and run the shoulder to the parking lot which is the first aid station.  Coupled with the run up Sugarloaf, the first 10 miles is probably the hardest section of the course.  Since the course follows both rocky technical terrain, dirt roads, and gnarly, rooty, trail it is important to closely follow trail markers.  Below are some pictures of the first 10 miles:

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For those running in the race, Sugarloaf aid station will be a welcome relief after the first 9 miles.  At least six of those miles is on single-track with the last mile or so having some technical areas (read rocky/rooty).  This will be your first aid station.

Unfortunately, immediately after this Aid Station there is about a 400 foot climb to the high point on the 50k race.  For the 50 mile race, there are several higher points.  The race trail is seen in the background behind the sign.  SWEET!

After coming back down on the otherside of Sugarloaf Mountain there is some really nice running along the shores of Lake Superior.

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The snow is gone.  The trails are open!  Final GPS measurements are being done this spring to ensure accurate distances.  We have already received a few registrations.  Interest is building!  Note that commemorative shirts will be given to all registrants.

Start training!  (Actually, you should already be training!)

Joe

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I've been running on some of the trails for the Marquette Trail 50 and alot of them are now cleared of snow!  We already have registrants also!  I have run over Sugarloaf Mountain and also run along the lakeshore.  "Top of the World" is still snowed in but should be open soon.  Will post some pictures soon.

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Welcome to the website for the Marquette Trail 50!  The web site will be undergoing periodic updates regarding (minor) course changes and changes in design including more pertinent pictures instead of the generic pictures now on the web site.

At present we have many feet of snow on the trails and local runners are staying in shape by skiing.  I've been running some but am really looking forward to getting on the trails myself!

The course incorporates some of my most favorite, and challenging, running trails in the area.  Minor tweaking of the course will occur between now and race time to ensure the distances are accurate (using two GPS devices).

For questions contact me:  jjameson@chartermi.net

Check back periodically for new updates!