RAD Updates

Hello fellow mountain bikers!

Thank you for signing up for the second edition of the Race Across Duluth!  We are stoked to have you and can’t wait to showcase the Duluth Traverse for a full day of mountain biking fun!  Please keep your eyes on the webpage (raceacrossduluth.com) as that will have the most up to date information.  Planning continues to move forward nicely and we are doing our best to create a grass roots race with lots of local flair.  We are excited to open the event to more participants this year with the untimed Ride Across Duluth category.  We are all passionate about the trails and want to reiterate that all proceeds are going back to COGGS and the trails.  This is a volunteer run event and we will provide specific financials afterwards so you know how your registration money was spent and the positive impact you have made on the Duluth trails community.  With the event being 100% volunteer run, please be patient as we work through success and difficulties alike.  An additional plug, safety is our number one priority!  Trails for the event will be open to all community users, so please be cautious.  There are numerous road crossings, look both ways and cross safely!  We appreciate you all and look forward to a great day on the trails!

Hello Race Across Duluth participants,

The day is coming closer and we couldn't be more excited!  Some details to note, we are unable at this time to provide transportation between the start and finish of the race.  Please coordinate carpooling or work with family and friends for transportation.  Parking is limited at both the start and finish area.  We have overflow parking at the start at the old Lester Golf course and at the finish with Mont Du Lac Ski area.  Please park in the back to allow customers priority parking.  

We will have the course marked to the best of our abilities, but mistakes can happen.  Course will be marked with signs, pink pin flags, pink colored tape, and chalk.  We stress the use of a GPS unit to help with navigation.  The GPX file can be found here (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44253365) and on the website.  We will be doing a roll out on the Lester Trails before jumping right into the Traverse.  Aid stations will be at about miles 10, 21, and 33.  We will have mechanical support from the great people at The Ski Hut and Continental as needed.  

We want to once again stress safety!  Trails are NOT closed for the event.  We have put up signs informing the public of the event, but make sure to ride alert!  We are using an enduro chip timing system.  The big advantage is we can stop timing during major road crossings.  Missed that light?  Don’t fret, the clock is paused.  Stopped road crossings include Owatonna Road (1st aid station) to Hartley, Rice Lake Road to Central Entrance, 24th ave west (2nd aid station), and Geobic street (3rd aid station).  Other road crossings are often lower traffic, but please look both ways and cross carefully.  We have volunteers helping throughout for safety.  Additionally, one of the swag bag items for this years event is a custom RAD Timber Bell.  We advise using the bell to help alert fellow trail users and pedestrians of your location.  (Thank you Stewart’s for the awesome engraving!!)

FYI, there are still a few spots available for the untimed event, recruit your friends and family!  Weather is looking great and we have some awesome swag and food/drinks for all participants!  I’m talking about your registration including custom Timber Bell, RAD Purist water bottle, finish line beer, brats, and ice cream, and stocked aid stations.  It is gonna be a great day on the trails!  Please reach out if you have any other questions (RaceAcrossDuluth@COGGS.com).  Thank you everyone!

Hello Race Across Duluth participants,

It is race week!  We look forward to seeing you all!  Packet pick up will occur at Ursa Minor Brewery (2415 W Superior St Suite B, Duluth, MN 55806) on Friday September 6th from 6 to 9.  Pick up your number plate, race swag, and have some pre race carbohydrates!  Saturday morning we will distribute all of the race chips that will go on your right wrist.  Try to get there a bit earlier to ensure time to pick up your timing chip.  Race will start at 9am for the timed wave and 9:15 for the untimed wave.  We will be implementing a cut off time of 6pm (recommending leaving Spirit mountain no later than 4pm) for rider safety and time to pack up and get to the after party.  Please remember to return your chip after the race, they are expensive and we certainly don’t want to be sending anyone an unexpected bill.  

We will have 3 well supplied aid stations along the way to help get you happily to the finish line thanks to some wonderful local restaurants!  Aid station #1 will include Duluth Coffee Company and baked goods from Positively 3rd Street Bakery.  Aid station #2 will have Corktown Big Dill Sliders.  And aid station #3 will be putting together grilled cheese sandwiches with Duluth’s Best Bread and Burnetts Dairy Cheese.  Each aid station will additionally have more traditional race foods such as cookies, fruit snacks, granola bars, bananas, etc.  At the finish line we have Yker Acres grillables, Love Creamery Ice Cream, and Ursa Minor Beer for all participants!  These are included in your registration (the food/drink ticket will be given to you at the finish line so you don’t have to worry about forgetting it).  If you would like another or family and friends want to enjoy a brat or beverage, they will be for sale at the finish line for a COGGS donation.  Talk stories from the day and enjoy food and drink from our amazing sponsors!  

Starting at 7 at Ursa Minor Brewery, the after party begins.  They have amazing beer and kombuchas on tap.  By the way, Ursa Minor pizzas are amazing!  We will be doing race awards and giving away some awesome prizes!  3D printed metals for top performers in each category of the timed event.  Prizes will be given to randomly drawn participants (timed or untimed).  You will need to be present to win.  It would be amazing to fill the brewery with racers!  Once again, reach out to RaceAcrossDuluth@COGGS.com if you have any other questions.  Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

Hello RAD people,

We are excited for an awesome day on the trails tomorrow!  Weather looks perfect and the recent rain has the trails running as good as ever!  Does not get much better!  Once again, packet pick up is tonight from 6 to 9 at Ursa Minor Brewing.  The swag items turned out awesome, we can’t wait to share them with you all!  Registration at Lester opens at 7am to pick up timing chip (for all riders) or packet pick up if you are unable to make it tonight.  Mandatory racer meeting at 8:45 and then race start at 9am for timed wave and 9:15 for untimed wave.  Enjoy the trails and stay fueled with the 3 aid stations along the way.  Finish party will have beer (and NA drinks), brats, and ice cream.  Enjoy the beautiful afternoon!  After party at Ursa Minor Brewing beginning at 7pm for awards and general enjoyment.  If you have any questions, reach out to raceacrossduluth@coggs.com.  

We are all super excited with the Race Across Duluth logo!  You will get a logo water bottle and custom engraved Timber bell with registration.  If you would like additional RAD merchandise, we have opened up a storefront through Duluth Screen Printing.  Check it out and purchase some RAD gear!  https://dspondemand.com/collections/race-across-duluth

Finally, this event showcases our strong Duluth mountain bike community.  Many thanks to our sponsors that helped support this event!  Please remember to share the love back to them.

Ursa Minor Brewery, The Ski Hut, Continental Ski and Bike, Stewar’s Bike and Trophies, Yker Acres, Corktown, Love Creamery, Minnesota Power, Positively 3rd Street Bakery, Bernicks, Whole Foods Co Op, Super One Foods, Duluth Coffee Company, and Kwik Trip!

Thanks and see you all soon!

Hello RAD Participants,

Simply WOW!  What an amazing day to enjoy the Duluth trails and community!  Thank you for being a part of the second annual Race Across Duluth!  You are all totally RAD!!

The Race Across Duluth is a labor of love and 100% volunteer organized and run.  Updated financials will be added to the webpage so you know exactly where and how registration dollars were used and how much was raised for COGGS and the Duluth trails.  Thanks to your participation, we raised $16,256 for COGGS and the Duluth Trails!

Reminder, if you would like additional RAD merchandise, we have opened up a storefront through Duluth Screen Printing.  Check it out and purchase some RAD gear!  Small portion of all sales goes back to COGGS! https://dspondemand.com/collections/race-across-duluth  

Plan on one more email as I put together a post event survey and to showcase some of the wonderful pictures our photographers captured of the event.  

Finally, this event showcases our strong Duluth mountain bike community.  Many thanks to our sponsors that helped support this event!  Please remember to share the love back to them.

Ursa Minor Brewery, The Ski Hut, Continental Ski and Bike, Stewart’s Bike and Trophies, Yker Acres, Corktown, Love Creamery, Minnesota Power, Burnett’s Dairy, Duluth's Best Bread, Whole Foods Co Op, Super One Foods, Duluth Coffee Company, and Kwik Trip!

Thanks and see you all next year!  Planning has already begun, so mark September 6th off on your calendar!  Till then, stay RAD!