Date: Thursday August 27, 2026
Subject: Superior Fall Trail Race Volunteer Communication 3 2026
Greetings Volunteers!
[ This is a VERY LONG email but it is VERY IMPORTANT that you review it in its entirety – it will likely take you around 10 to 15 minutes to get through this information and the links provided. If you do not review this email, you will be really lost come race weekend. Volunteer Emails 1 & 2 were recruitment and update emails respectively, if you did not see them, you do not need to go back and review them, everything you need to know is below. ]
Welcome:
We would like to welcome you to, and thank you for signing up to volunteer for the Superior 100, 50 and 26.2 mile trail races on September 11 & 12, 2026. Superior was founded in 1991, it is one of the original ten 100 mile trail races in the country (there are over 250 now) and because of you, it is one of the best organized, best staffed, and most well reputed trail / ultra races in the country. We have 370 incredible volunteers signed up to help. We have 999 registered runners coming from 5 countries, 39 states and 175 Minnesota cities: 100MI = 302, 50MI = 239, 26.2M = 459.
Additional Communications You Can Expect Between Now and the Race:
• Aid Station Captains will be emailing those assigned to their aid stations to introduce themselves and do some additional coordination.
• Armature (ham) radio leads Rick and Jayne from BWARC will be making and communication ham radio operators assignments and providing other pertinent details.
• I will be sending breakout emails to the following volunteer groups; Runner Tracking, Marking and Sweeping, First Aid, Logistics, Timing, Monday Cleanup, and those that require assistance with lodging.
Volunteer Assignments:
Volunteer assignments have been made and they are available to review HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/volunteer-assignments/ – you should search 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. I have been known to make some assumptions, take some liberties and make some mistakes, so please reach out if anything does not work for you / needs to be adjusted. 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 fine tune the schedule, take breaks, naps, etc., you can pitch a tent nearby, crash in the car, or while not as ideal, can go off-site if needed – for those at overnight aid stations, think of this as an overnight camping trip with very little sleep! (but seriously, get some rest and do not drive tired). 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(s) HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/volunteer-jobs/ please keep in mind that as we get closer to the race we will have a few final volunteers signing up and needs might change so there is a (very slight) chance that you could be reassigned, so please check the list of assignments again the week of the race.
We Will Still Take a Few More Volunteers in the Following Areas:
Let us know if you can / would like to help.
• Monday cleanup help in the Twin Cities
Aid Station Captains:
All aid station captains (and anyone else that would like) should read THIS https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/as-captains-section/
During the busy times / when the aid stations are slammed captains might be hands on helping runners, filling water bottles etc. but the primary job that aid station captains are asked 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, keeping track of DNFs, coordinating with the ham radio operators, and generally overseeing the big picture at the aid station – it is a management position. Our aid station captains are in essence the race directors surrogate at your aid station and will be focusing on the big picture.
Road Crossings, Parking and Traffic Control – VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT:
REMEMBER THAT AT ROAD CROSSINGS WE DO NOT STOP CARS, WE STOP RUNNERS, THEN LET THEM PASS WHEN THERE IS NO TRAFFIC. For aid stations with road crossings and parking issues, aid station captains will assign and rotate volunteers in and out of these positions throughout the day – if this is something you have experience with, think you would be good at, or enjoy doing, please let your aid station captain know. The interface between runners and spectators and roads and drivers makes this one of the most critical and important volunteer positions we have. That said, it is not everyone’s favorite position, so if everyone takes a turn, it spreads the load out nicely. We are making a huge push again this year to see to it that spectators and crews are not hanging out on / standing or sitting on roads – please be polite but assertive! You will want to review the page HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/wp-content/uploads/Superior-Fall-Trail-Race-Crew-and-Spectator-Guide.pdf that applies to your aid station – the info-graphics show exactly where course marshals are required (at all times) for your aid station.
*TIME SENSITIVE Volunteer Lodging (If Needed, Please Read then Sign Up Via the Link Below ASAP):
We have some communal lodging spots for volunteers who need it. Space is limited. Please review THIS https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/volunteer-lodging/ prior to signing up HERE https://forms.gle/7QqfjjdZ49Gov8e9A – if you need help with lodging, please indicate this to us AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
Important Links To Review:
Please review everything you can at https://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
Aid Station Captains Info
Aid Station Food & Drink We Provide
Maps and Data
Runner Emails and Other News:
This first runner email went out recently and I encourage you to review it https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/superior-fall-trail-race-2026-three-weeks-to-go/ we will send one more runner email a week before the race. We post all news and updates HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/news-and-updates/
T-Shirts:
If you are working at an aid station your t-shirt (this year’s giveaway) https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/2026-race-shirt/ will be sent out in the aid station bins. If you are working positions other than aid stations and will be at any of the pre-race(s) or at the finish, we ask that you pick up your own t-shirt at the same location we sell merchandise at the race check-in(s) and the race finish – tell the folks helping there that you are a volunteer and need to pick up your t-shirt. Anyone else, who is remote and we will not see at these areas, reach out and we will make arrangements.
See you at the finish!?
Please join us on Saturday / after your shift is done at Caribou Highlands and take in the atmosphere, cheer runners in, and have some food with us. We will be serving Captain Kens Chili and fixings, Best Day Brewing Non-Alcoholic Beer, and soft drinks.
In Closing:
We cannot thank you enough for giving freely of your time to your fellow runners. Should you have any questions please feel free to email me. We look forward to seeing you in just over two weeks!
Thank You,
John Storkamp
Race Director
[email protected]