Volunteer Communication 2 2012

Hello All,

You are receiving this email because you have signed up to volunteer for the 2012 Superior Fall Trail Races.  It is impossible to keep this short so please bear with us and read the entire email when you have time, review the links provided  and the entire website http://fall.superiortrailrace.com/ and print the items you think you will need to have with you.  Please let us know if you have any questions.  Keep in mind that this information is subject to some revisions so please check back within a couple of days of the race.

So first off, thank you for volunteering for this years race.  The Superior 100 is one of the oldest, toughest and best run 100 milers in the country and you should be proud of your involvement with it – once again I am sure that we are going to put on a great show for the approximate 450 runners who will line up for the 100, 50 and Marathon combined.  Of note, we are hosting runners from 36 states and Canada!  Thank you for your patience in waiting for Volunteer Assignments to be made as it takes awhile to get all the names together then make assignments based on peoples preferences, skills, available times etc.  To date we have about 100 volunteers signed up, we cannot thank you enough for taking the time out of your busy lives to volunteer at the race!

Volunteer assignments have been made based off the information you have provided to us and and you can view them HERE http://fall.superiortrailrace.com/volunteer-assignments/ (Click the column headers i.e. ‘Last Name’ to see where you are assigned and ‘Job Name’ to see who you are assigned with at a given job) – keep in mind many of you have multiple assignments.  Unless you had specific requirements your assignement times are listed as “Open to Close” or “Start to Finsh” per the job’s time requirements. To learn everything you need to know about the job you have been assigned go HERE http://fall.superiortrailrace.com/volunteers/resources/volunteer-jobs/ – this page includes info about the open and close times, directions to, and peripheral information about the aid stations.  Aditionally this document is very helpful  http://fall.superiortrailrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Superior-Fall-Races-MASTER2-Aid-Station-Logistics-REVISED-8-9-12.pdf  – you should also read the info about the races and fully review the website to learn as much as you can about the event.  If you are unfamilair with working an aid station at a 100 mile race this might be helpful http://fall.superiortrailrace.com/volunteers/resources/aid-stations-101/ and a complete list of equipment, supplies and food provided to you and dropped off for you is available HERE http://fall.superiortrailrace.com/volunteers/resources/aid-station-supplies/ – As always please feel free to put your touches on the aid stations, feel free to plan one or two special food items (this always really sticks out in the runners memories by the way!)  We will provide a generator for each of the following aid stations County Road 6, Sugarloaf, Cramer Road, Temperance and the one from County 6 will be transferred to Crosby Manitou if Matt cannot find one – if you have some old christmas lights you would like to donate to the event, bring them!  Sonju, Sawbill and Oberg I believe all have their own and the earlier ones (Tettegouche and before Tettegouche) should not need one.We have some fast people coming to run the race this year – the current aid station open times are setup for 21 Hours which is just under the previous course records of 21:42:00 that has stood since 2006!  It is always a struggle to not get there too early but still be there in time for the first runner.  In general, the rule is, the earlier the better.  We will have a roving volunteer / HAM Radio Operator, Brendan Johnson, who will be the stop-gap in case someone is slated to really beat the open times, who will setup the aid station and have a few things ready should the aid station workers not be there early enough. We are looking at options for consistently updating Facebook and / or the website but as you know cell and web coverage is limited up there.As mentioned, we have townhomes available for you to stay at Caribou Highlands should you need a place to crash before or after your shift – there is a ton of space and beds but we ask that you bring a sleeping bag and pillow just in case all are taken – once you sleep, please remove your items and place in a common are and make the bed for the next person that might need to come in and crash after a shift.  These are nice modern accomodations with all the amenities, so feel free to cook, shower etc.  The unit numbers SHOULD be 531 & 532 at Caribou Highlands http://fall.superiortrailrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Caribou_Highlands_Superior_Finish_Diagram.pdf – even if their is a change in town-home numbers you will be able to find them by the reflective course markers out in front leading to the door of the units.  Also, after the race please come to the finish, we will have a simple bag lunch for everyone and the restaurant at Caribou Highlands is good.  Your shirts will be delivered to the aid station that you are working.

HAMS, your assignments will be made by Rick Johnson and emailed to you.  COURSE MARKERS, be at the townhomes at 6:30 AM on Thursday morning for a meeting with Matt Long the Marking and Sweeping Coordinator where he will provide the days assignments for marking for the day and transportation out to where you are marking will be arranged.  SWEEPERS, Matt (and I) will be in touch with a separate email regarding your schedule / where to be when.If you look at your assignments and think we have not given you enough to do – we ALWAYS need more help at the finish, especially in the late afternoon until the finish – this is when everyone is getting tired and we really need to be on top of our game at the finish line.  Drop me a line if you want to be assigned to the finish after your primary shift if you have not been already.  We still need some help at the pre-race for the marathon and the 50 miler Friday Night at Caribou Highlands.  Some of the late aid stations are probably still a little light on help for when the Marathon and 50 Mile come through – as we get more volunteers signing up this next week, we will assign them there, but please feel free to recruit friends and family for your aid stations – just have them signup and make note in the notes section where they want to be assigned.   http://fall.superiortrailrace.com/volunteer-signup/ – many of our aid stations have been manned by the same people for a couple to many years now, thank you.  A couple have been manned by the same crew since the inception of the race (1991), including the Banks at Cramer Road and the Immerfalls (do the Spring Races as well) at Sawbill.  Long term, we are looking for the same situation at each aid station – out at Western States there are multi-year waiting lists to run an aid staiton – believe me, it is fun, so have fun, make it yours and enjoy!I know it is a lot of information but I hope / think I covered everything here – should you have any questions please feel free to contact me.  Feel free to be in touch with those working your aid stations with you to coordinate decorating and an additional food item or two.Thank you all again, so much.  I am getting excited!

Thank You,

John Storkamp

Race Director
Superior Trail Races
http://www.superiortrailrace.com