Date: Friday May 10th, 2013
Subject: Superior Spring Trail Race Volunteer Email 2 2013
Hi All,
First off, if you missed the first volunteer email for some reason it can be found HERE. Thank you again for your generosity in volunteering for the Superior Spring Trail Race on May 17th and 18th – we have about 80 volunteers to help 500 runners reach their goal or finishing one tough trail race! These emails are a bit lengthy, but doing the job safely and correctly is very important to all of us so thanks for taking the time to read through this!
Volunteer Assignments have been made and are available HERE https://www.superiorspringtrailrace.com/volunteer-assignments/– if you see something that does not work for you, please let us know right away. You can search the list by volunteer position or by last name – be sure to do both as many of you are assigned to more than one position. Most of the volunteer assignments are pretty straight forward but you can find job descriptions and directions on how to get to where you need to be along with what equipment and food your aid station will be provided with and even how to work an aid station if you have never done on the volunteer section of our website – also be sure to read up on all the race info on the website especially that which is under the “Race Info” section(s) – so you have the best sense of what is going on at the race and can be a good resource for runners, spectators and other volunteers.
Medical / Safety and Runner Tracking:
- Our Medical Director will be stationed at the finish area. We also have some EMTs and other medical people out on course working at the aid stations, in the ‘notes’ section people are called out if they have some medical training. As always, if there is an emergency, we want to get the HAM Radio Operators involved right away. If it is something very minor, one of the medial people at the aid stations may be able to assist, if it is a bit more serious the HAMS will call to the finish and get in touch with the Medical Director for some direction and if it is a true emergency, the HAMS will call for Cook County emergency services to be dispatched. Cook County Emergency Services info. can be found HERE http://www.
superiorspringtrailrace.com/ emergency-contact-information/
- We have designated some Non-Ham Radio volunteers to work in conjunction with the HAM Radio Operators in helping to track runners through the aid stations – it is very important that since this is a wilderness race that we account for the whereabouts of everyone at all times. This will entail sitting at a table and writing down the bib numbers of runners as they come through – those volunteers can look for the HAMs when they arrive at their aid station for further direction.
- Road crossings – we need to have two volunteers where the Superior Hiking Trail crosses Sawbill Trail / Cook County 2 – we will have two people with vests and flags stationed here and signage on the road on each side of the crossing – although this road does not get a ton of traffic, this is a fairly high speed road so this is very important. We will also position two people at the top of Onion River Road where it dumps into the Oberg parking lot since right at this intersection, the Superior Hiking Trail comes in and it is always a chaotic mix of cars entering the lot at low speed and runners – these flaggers will help keep order at this intersection and in the parking lot where the aid station is also located.
Lodging:
- If you need a place to stay you are welcome to stay in the ‘Volunteer Townhomes’. These are communal accommodations and sometimes we have to cram a decent number of people in so please be sure to bring a sleeping bag and sleeping pad in case all the beds are taken. Here is a map showing how to get to the townhomes once you are at Caribou Highlands – our units are 532, 538 and 540 http://www.
superiorspringtrailrace.com/wp- content/uploads/Caribou_Highlands_Layout_ Superior_Spring_Map_Diagram_5- 10-13.pdf A few rooms will be labeled with names or labled for specific volunteer group, like ‘Trail Markers / Sweepers’ otherwise what is there is fair game. If you are not comfortable with this arrangement there are other good lodging options right a Caribou Highlands and camping options available in the area.
Last couple of things: If you are assigned at Oberg, it might seem like you have too many volunteers in the AM, this is because many of the Two Harbors Nordic Ski Team members have to leave early for prom! Secondly, if anyone who is not assigned to Saturday morning packet pickup wants to drop-in in the morning and help for a few hours, please drop us a line additionally, this applies to after the race on Saturday, we always need help in the final hours getting everything cleaned up and put away.
Finally, If you are assigned at an aid station we will send your volunteer shirts out to you – we will also send out a bagged lunch with a sandwich, chips and cookie. If you are assigned elsewhere, your shirt will be at the finish line area / race headquarters and you can eat chili at the post race meal / anytime after 11:30 AM – those at the aid stations are welcome and encouraged to come to the finish after their aid station closes to eat as well and visit.
As always should you have any questions, please contact us – preferably before next Wednesday since that is when we leave for Lutsen and communicating and making any changes is easier to do prior to us heading up. Looking forward to seeing everyone and another successful race!
Thank You,