Grand Island Trail Marathon

New for 2010

• Medallions for all marathon finishers. Custom ceramic medallions will be provided to all marathonfinishers, except for the top three in each age group who will be awarded the traditional hand blown glass medallions. The ceramic medallions will be designed and crafted by Munising artist Thomas Baugnet.

   

• We have added a Youth 2K race to event. It will be held on Saturday, July 31 at 5:00 pm at the Bay Furnace Campground. This campground is on the mainland, not the island. It overlooks Grand Island. It is open to all kids 14 and under. Registration is available online . The addition of the 2K is motivated by the desire to encourage young people to take up running as a life long pursuit.

   

• Race day is now on Sunday. We have also moved our marathon and 10K events to Sunday. This gives runners more time to travel to the event and gives time for pre-race day trip to the island tocheck out the trails and terrain.

   

• Packet pick up time changed to 3:00 - 9:00 pm. Most people in the past showed up in this timerange, so we decided to move the start time for packet pick up from noon to 3:00 pm.

   

Registration

Registration is available online only. This is part of our ongoing efforts to minimize waste. The marathon historically fills early. In 2009, the marathon filled on March 10and the 10K filled on June

15. We expect both events to fill even faster this year so register early. The marathon is limited to 300 runners and the 10K is limited to 200 runners. The limitations are implemented by the U.S.Forest Service to minimize environmental impact, a measure we fully support. Registration will beturned off when events reach capacity. There is no waiting list. Please do not contact Great Lakes Endurance to request entry after the event reaches capacity. You many view the list of currently registered runners when it becomes available. REGISTER NOW http://www.active.com/running/munising-mi/grand-island-trail-marathon-and-10k-2010

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Packet Pick Up

Runners may pick up their packets on Saturday, July 31, 3:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express,overlooking Grand Island, M-28, 2 miles west of downtown Munising. Due to environmental reasons packet pick up will be minimalist. You will receive your race number, race shirt and ferry boat ticket(s). We will also have Clif Bars available for registered runners. Runners can also attend the Gear Expo and Interpretive Program on the Natural History of Grand Island, also held at the HolidayInn Express (See details below).

Information Downloads

Course Description

Bus Schedule

Checklist

Pre-Race Instructions

Events

Marathon:

The course follows the perimeter trail of the island counterclockwise up past Murray Bay and DuckLake. At three miles the course heads eastward into the Tombolo, up into the island's thumb and thenback along Trout Bay where runners can enjoy one of the most spectacular stretches of shoreline anywhere in the Great Lakes. Runners then head up the eastern shore of the island which treatsrunners to views of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The northern half of the island features 300ft colored Jacobsville sandstone cliffs and the remote and exquisitely beautiful North Beach. The return trail on the islandʼs western shore features remarkable vistas of Lake Superior. Much of the trailis shaded by lush hardwood forests. Exposed sections (atop cliffs) blanket runners with cool breezes off of Lake Superior. Trail includes single track, two track, and narrow dirt roads. The course is measured via GPS (+10ft). Each mile is marked.

Note: This is a trail marathon on a wilderness island. Do not expect large numbers of spectators and the comforts of a road marathon. Do expect extraordinary beauty.

Marathon Start: 7:00 AM. Sunday, August 1, 2010 Williams Landing. Map

Transportation to the Island

Runners will be transported to the ferry boat dock from their hotel or campground via shuttle bus.Those runners not staying in Munising may pick up the bus at Munising High School. A ferry boat will transport runners from the boat dock to Grand Island. After the race runners will board the ferry backto the mainland. When they arrive they will be transported back to their hotel or campground. You may purchase extra ferry boat tickets ($16 each) for family & friends. The bus schedule is available online (link to bus schedule).

Littering

If you leave any trash on the island or litter you will be disqualified and will not receive a medallion orother award. Do not expect to leave trash including plastic coffee cups, plastic beverage bottles (Gatorade, Powerade, etc), gum wrappers, food wrappers on the island. Do not throw these thingsin the porta-johns. Whatever you take to the island you must take back with you, including all yourtrash. If you have any reservations about this policy do not register for this event.

Gear Storage on the Island

There will be a large tent near the start/finish area to store your gear and protect it from the elements.The tent is not patrolled and we are not responsible for lost items.

Bikes & Dogs

Bikes are not allowed on the course during the race except for volunteers. This is for runner safety. Dogs are allowed on the island but must be on a leash at all times and all animal waste must bepicked up and removed from the island. Failure to abide by this policy will result in disqualification.

Aid Stations

Four aid stations will be located at 4, 7, 11, 16, and 22 miles on the marathon course. Runners in the marathon will be required to carry a 20 oz water bottle or other functional hydration system whichthey can refill at each station. Aid station volunteers will have large pitchers with cold water and cold HEED energy drink with electrolytes and will quickly fill your bottle or hydration system. Simply haveit open and ready to fill. Hammer Gel will be available at 11, 16, & 22 miles. The 10 Km will feature one aid station near the half way point with water only. Runners in the 10K are highly encouraged tocarry a water bottle, but biocompostable cups will be available.

Time Limits There is a six hour time limit for the marathon. This is strictly enforced due to safety reasons andthe remote nature of the race course. Do not register if you cannot finish within six hours. (However, early start times are available. Please contact the race director.) Aid stations will closed at times listed in the table below. Those runners who decide to drop out of the race are advised to drop out atan aid station where transportation back to Williamʼs Landing will be available. A sweep mountain bike with radio will follow the last runner throughout the marathon.

Aid Station Closing Times

Race Fees

Race fees include:

1. Roundtrip bus transportation from your hotel or campground to the boat dock.

    

2. Roundtrip ferry boat tickets.

    

3. Custom race shirts (see below).

    

4. Post race refreshments.

    

Note: 2K Youth Race Fee is $20 on Race Day (July 31, 2010).No refunds or participant transfers allowed. This means that once you register you will not receivea refund for any reason nor can you transfer your entry to another person. You may transfer from the marathon to the 10K with written permission of the race director up until and including July 31. $25 charge for cancelled and NSF checks.

Natural History of Grand Island:

Grand Island is a designated recreation area within the Hiawatha National Forest. It has a rich geological, biological, and cultural history. A US Forest Service Naturalist will provide an interpretive program on Saturday afternoon.

Holiday Inn Express Lakeview, Munising, 2-7 pm.

Awards

All marathon participants will recieve a custom printed technical eco-fiber shirt. The top three in each age group will be awarded a glass medallion hand blown by artist Rick Shapero of Cedarville, Michigan. All other marathon finishers will receive a custom ceramic medallion made by Munising artist Thomas Baugnet.

All 10 Km participants will receive a custom printed Organic Cotton T-shirt. Age group winners will receive a hand crafted ceramic mug by Thomas Baugnet Open Wings Pottery of Munising. Second and third place runners will receive Smartwool socks.

All 2 Km participants will receive a custom printed Organic Cotton T-shirt. The top three in each age group will receive Smartwool socks.

Age Groups Marathon: 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-69, 70+ 10 Km: 12-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-69, 70+ 2 Km: 6 & Under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14.

Lodging Host Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Lakeview , Munising, MI (overlooking Grand Island). Reservations recommended: 906.387.4800 Chamber of Commerce: 906.387.2138 Chamber of Commerce Website: www.algercounty.org

Trail Running Gear Expo

Downwind Sports, the areaʼs leading trail running gear shop, will provide an expo featuring a wideselection of shoes, socks, shorts, tops, hydration systems, and other essentials on Saturday, July 31 from 2-7 pm. The expo will occur next to packet pick up at the Holiday Inn Express Lakeview in Munising, Michigan. Great Lakes Coffee will have fresh organic, free trade coffee available. The Alger County Chamber of Commerce will have info on area attractions including hiking, mountainbiking, and sea kayaking. You may also sign up for a post race massage appointment at this time.

Important Race Information for Runners

Important race information is now available and should be read, reviewed, and studied byparticipating runners. The critical information is found in three documents: 1) Race information, 2) BusSchedule, and 3) Gear Checklist. These documents can be downloaded by clicking on the hyperlinked text. Print them if necessary and bring them with you. These documents will also be available at packet pick up. Remember, you travel to the island via shuttle bus from your hotel or campground (free, see Bus Schedule above) to the boat dock, where your are then transported viaferry boat to the island. General recommendation: Take the earliest shuttle bus possible. If you fail to make the boat, you start late. Also, bring a 20 oz water bottle - it is required in the marathon. If you forget one, you don't race. Littering and whining are not tolerated.

Environmental Measures

1. Each runner must carry a 20 oz water bottle or other functional hydration system. Why? Because cups are wasteful, end up in landfills, and donʼt work very well at hydrating runners. At each aid station runners can have their bottle or hydration system refilled quickly with either cold water orcold HEED via a pitcher poured by a helpful volunteer. All you have to do is open up your bottle orhydration system and request the fluid of your choice. This is an obviously superior system onecological grounds, however, we have found it results in less spillage (less waste) and better hydration for runners (they have access to fluid between aid stations as it is always with them).

    

2. Shirts for the marathon are made of recycled fibers. Patagonia Silkweight fabric is ultra light weightand fast wicking - plus it is one of the most ecological fabrics available. Shirts are sewn in the U.S. This minimizes petroleum use in shipping. Shirts for the 10K are made from 30 ply organic cottonand are sewn in the U.S. Most cotton shirts are 20 ply (ours are softer) and knitted fromconventional cotton grown with heavy use of pesticides (which end up polluting groundwater, streams, and lakes). Many brands of cotton shirts are sewn in Latin America with questionable labor practices.

    

3. Public transportation is provided to all runners and spectators free of charge. This means that youwill be picked up at your hotel or campground and transported to the ferry boat dock. When youreturn you will also be transported back to your hotel. If you are not staying local, there will be busstop at Munising High School.

    

4. Foods served after the marathon are either locally produced, organically grown, or both

    

5. Marathon medallions are made locally from hand blown glass (Rick Shapero, Artist) or are ceramic (Thomas Baugnet, Artist).

    

6. Food waste is composted and all other materials are recycled

    

7. Course is marked with reusable flags that are removed after the event

    

8. Proceeds from the event support native plant restoration on Grand Island and maintenance ofsilent sport recreation trails in the Munising area.