2010 Trail Race Series Update

All of the 2010 Trail race series are set, renew your membership and sign up now!!

This year we are hosting the MN Trail Race Series, the Fab 5 Fifities, the Gnarly Bandit, as well as an all new 5k series.

Member of the Month: Kori Mortenson

How and when did you first become a runner?
I first became a runner about the age 9 or 10.  My dad trained my brothers and I for our hometown's summer celebration 5 mile run.  I continued to run in high school (Canby, MN) and in college (Moorhead State University, MN).  I raced heavily on the roads in the years following college.  I retired from running for a couple of years and then got back into it.  Last year was my first trail race - Harmon Farms.  I enjoyed it quite a bit and came across the UMTR website and decided to do the series this summer for a new challenge.
 
What's your favorite race or training run? 
I live in South Minneapolis close to Minnehaha Parkway so most of my training runs are going along the parkway, Mississippi River, Pike Island, Fort Snelling or the chain of lakes.  I do like to train at Hyland Park Preserve.  My favorite race is the next one I have scheduled - it is rare that I do the same race year after year.  I like to check out new races/courses.  So, being as this is my first year doing many trail races, I don't have a favorite yet - I can say with relative certainty that I don't have the desire to do a race longer than the marathon distance.

Tell about a memorable training run or race. 
My most memorable race wasn't all that pleasing to me - it precipitated my two year retirement from running.  It was the Marine Corps Marathon 1998 in Washington D.C.  I thought I was in about the best shape of my life.  My goal was another sub 3:00 marathon - I had a streak going.  I remember vividly how bad I felt - the side stitch, walking, how hot and humid it was, etc.  I just missed my goal but I decided to retire after that race.  With my return to running I have found a zest for running for runnings sake and less about racing - now it's more about being one with nature.

Do you have a piece of gear or shoe that you love?
I love Asics shoes - for training it's Nimbus, road racing Gel Speedstar, and I just got a trail racing shoe Asics Trail Attack 6.

What do you crave when you're out on the trail for hours? 
Coffee.  I love coffee and I usually run in the morning so I can't wait to get back home to have some!

What advice do you have for new trail runners?
I'm fairly new at trail running, perhaps I should be looking for advice... but, I'll say have fun, enjoy the scenery/nature, watch your footing, and keep your arms pumping as you grind out those uphills.  Oh, one more thing - see your chiropractor (I am a chiropractor).  Chiropractors help you perform at your best in all that you do including trail running!

What's the trail or race you dream of trying? 
Big Sur Marathon in California.  Not a trail race but very scenic from what I hear. 

UMTR: Who Are We?

Upper Midwest Trail Runners are looking for runners to be part of our new Member of the Month profile. It's an easy way to tell other runners about yourself, maybe meet new running partners, or find out more about that runner who always finishes ahead of you. If you'd like to sign up or know of another runner who you want to hear more about, email Steve Quick. Steve will send out seven quick questions that runners can answer online, and then we'll post the responses. Don't be bashful, sign up now.

About Our Wiki

Our site is a bit different than other running club sites because we've opened certain pages on our site for our members to edit; after all, it's our members who make up the community of Upper Midwest Trail Runners. After you submit your membership, you'll be granted access to the collaborative pages on the site, including the activity calendar, a list of trails in the upper midwest, internet resources, and an event archive. We're using a wiki to accomplish this purpose and we hope you find it easy to participate. And don't worry about messing things up; it's just as easy to correct mistakes as it is to make them. Note that our wiki does not use an invite key. After you receive the email from the wiki site, establish your own username and password to use the wiki in the future.