Superior Fall Trail Race 2017 – Volunteer Email 2

Date: Saturday August 19th, 2017
Subject: Superior Fall Trail Race 2017 Volunteer Email 2

Hello Faithful Volunteers!​​

* We realize that this is a long email with a lot of information but please know that it is all very important – it will likely take you around 10 minutes to get through this email and the links provided.

We would like to officially welcome you to and thank you all for signing up to volunteer for the ​27th Annual Superior 100, 50 and 26.2 mile trail races September ​8 & ​9, 201​7! Superior was founded in 1991, it is one of the original ​ten 100 milers in the country (there are 150 now) and because of you it is one of the best organized, best staffed and most well reputed trail / ultra races in the country! Between the 3 race distances we are super excited to be hosting runners from ​34 states and 4 countries! So far we have about ​225 volunteers registered helping fill over ​400 volunteer positions!  You will most likely be seeing a couple additional emails from me between now and race day but this is the big one with most of the important information you will need!

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Volunteer Assignments:
Preliminary volunteer assignments have been made and they are available to view HERE ​https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/volunteer-assignments/
– you should search and sort both by last name and volunteer position (you can use the search box and can click on header rows to sort), please note that many of you have more than one assignment / job – please let us know if we have gotten anything wrong, assigned you to too much or if you want to do more / take on additional assignments!  Please note that to account for the highest traffic times at certain aid stations we have many of you working several aid stations (i.e. one person may work one aid station on Friday and three different aid stations on Saturday).  If you are really a glutton for punishment, we always need more help later in the day on Saturday at the finish line and on Monday at our home in the Twin Cities for cleanup – let us know if you are interested!​  Many of you are assigned at aid stations for very long durations, the idea is that you will work with your aid station captain and fellow volunteers to take breaks, naps etc.Volunteers are assigned to Volunteer Jobs – after you take a look at what you have been assigned to, you can learn more about your job HERE ​​ https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/volunteer-jobs​​ please keep in mind that as we get closer to the race we will have more volunteers signing up and needs might change so there is a slight chance that you could be reassigned, so please check the list of assignments around 10 days before the race.

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Aid Station Captains:
All aid station captains (and anyone else that has time) should read THIS ​​https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/as-captains-section/ Obviously during the busy times / when the aid stations are slammed captains will be hands on helping runners, filling water bottles etc. ​but the primary job that aid station captains are responsible to do is to manage the aid station and other aid station volunteers – this includes making sure long duration volunteers are getting some rest, keeping an eye on volunteer / spectator parking (making sure it is safe / people are parking in the designated places or on one side of the road only), making sure there are volunteers safely helping at the road crossings, making sure volunteers and crews are staying out of the road, working with the HAM Radio operators and generally overseeing the big picture at the aid station – in essence it is a management position, let your helpers do the smaller (albeit very important tasks) normally associated with working an aid station.  You in essence are my / the race directors surrogate at your aid station and we need your help focusing on the big picture since I cannot be there myself!

Captains, take a look at who you have been assigned, if you feel you need more help feel free to recruit (and have anyone you recruit sign up on the website) or let us know and we will look for more help.  For those of you that did not do most of your own recruiting we will put you in direct touch with the other volunteers at your aid station prior to the race via email.

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Road Crossings – ​VERY ​IMPORTANT:
For aid stations with road crossings and parking issues we have made specific assignments​ but ask that​aid station captain​s​ work with ​all ​volunteers to rotate folks in and out of these positions throughout the day.  This is one of the most critical volunteer positions we have as it is the interfacing between runners and roads / drivers and spectators and crews and roads that constitute the most dangerous aspect of the entire event.  We are making a huge push this year to see to it that spectators and crews are not hanging out on / standing or sitting on roads – please help us!  Remember that at road crossings we do not stop cars to let runners pass, we stop runners and let them pass when there is no traffic.

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Volunteer Lodging (If Needed, Please Sign Up Via Link Below):
We have some communal type lodging available at the Finish / Caribou Highlands for those that need it.  Complete details about his lodging can be found HERE ​https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/volunteer-lodging/ If after reading you decide you need a place to stay at any point during the weekend we ask that you please follow this link and indicate to us when / signup HERE​ https://goo.gl/forms/ybvfIgegHR3mw0Hu2 ​- if possible please do so SOON!

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Trail Markers and Trail Sweepers Specific:
Your names are on the volunteer assignment page but specific volunteer assignments for these positions will be made and emailed to you within the next ​ten days
or so – generally speaking markers will all need to be available to meet at Caribou Highlands on Thursday Sept 8th at 6:30 AM and be available until evening. Sweepers, the idea is that you are available for multiple sections on both Friday, Friday-Overnight and Saturday until the finish – some of you will be helping in other capacities as well (aid stations prior to a sweep).  We are looking pretty good for markers and sweepers – please note that at this time we are only taking on new markers and sweepers that feel they are interested in making a long-term multi-year commitment to marking and sweeping – if you feel you might be interested in this, please let us know.

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HAM Radio Operators Specific:
Your information is on the volunteer assignment page but specific volunteer assignments for these positions are made by the HAM Radio Coordinators Rick and Jayne Johnson and emailed to you, so if you have assignment specific questions please contact Rick or Jayne.  Thank you for taking the time to sign up on the website so we have your up to date emergency contact information, shirt sizes etc!

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Important Links To Review:
Please review everything you can at  http​s​://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/​​
in addition to the following links – this makes you the best resource possible for runners and other volunteers.

Volunteer Assignments
Volunteer Jobs / Aid Station Info
Aid Station Supplies
Aid Stations 101
Maps and Data

Overall the plan is coming together nicely, we are adding last minute volunteers and will be making tweaks to assignments over the next couple weeks.  Keep an eye on the volunteer assignments for changes and at a minimum look for one final email from me with info about revised volunteer assignments and communal lodging townhome unit numbers for those that sign up.  In the meantime, should you have any questions please feel free to email, Facebook message, text or call me!

John Storkamp
Race Director
[email protected]