THREE RACES OFFERED

UP200       MIDNIGHT RUN      JACKPINE 30

The UP200 is one of America’s premier 12-dog, mid-distance sled dog races and draws mushers from around the United States and Canada. The first UP200 was run in February, 1990, after two years of planning by sled dog racing enthusiasts. The current race covers approximately 240 miles from Marquette to Grand Marais, with a return to Marquette along the same trail. The terrain includes stretches of near-wilderness, creek crossings, hills and valleys, and heavily forested land. Mushers say this is one of their favorite races, not only because of the challenging race, but because of the cheering crowds and warm welcome they receive here in the Upper Peninsula.

The UP200 is an Iditarod qualifying race. Registration is limited to 40 teams, and mushers are required to have finished the Midnight Run or other equivalent sixty (60) mile continuous running race within the past three seasons.

Coinciding with the UP200 is the eight-dog Midnight Run, a race from Marquette to Munising, Michigan with a checkpoint in Chatham.  The Midnight Run, or MNR, draws premier teams wanting to test their skill on a technically challenging trail.  This year the Midnight Run has a new, improved trail and will start in downtown Marquette approximately 30 minutes after the last UP200 musher has left the starting gate on Friday, February 17, 2012.  The teams will rest the required 5 hours at the checkpoint in Chatham, and finish in Munising on Saturday.  Registration is also limited to 40 teams.

The JackPine 30 rounds out the weekend’s fun with a six-dog, 30-mile sprint from Gwinn, Michigan to Marquette.  The JP30 will start on Saturday morning, February 18, 2012 from the parking lot of Larry’s Family Food’s in Gwinn.  From there, it’s a race to the finish!  The teams are expected in Marquette late morning or early afternoon on Saturday.

The rules for each race are posted here on the website, and mushers will also find registration forms and an online payment option through PayPal. 

Jackpine 30 Registration

Calling all sprint mushers! We have seven teams signed up for the Jack Pine 30 on February 18th and we need 10 to run the race. If you are considering signing up, the deadline is February 5th (this Sunday). If … Continue reading →

Posted on February 2, 2012

SILENT AUCTION ITEMS SOUGHT

STILL SEEKING DONATIONS: The UPSDA is still looking for and accepting donations for the Silent Auction and also donations for the Musher Gift Bags.   Silent Auction donations are on display at the Holiday Inn from Wednesday, February 15th through the … Continue reading →

Posted on January 31, 2012

MIDNIGHT RUN TRAIL UPDATE

Midnight Run trail update: Posted by Peter Curtice II   Snowmachined a good portion of the first leg of the new MNR trail yesterday with Ron Hewson, VP Board of Directors. We ran the section from where the competitors will … Continue reading →

Posted on January 30, 2012

ATTENTION – MUSHER INFORMATION

Mushers please be aware that updates have been made to the MUSHER INFORMAITON page. For your viewing please click on link below. Contingency Plan (If Applicable) Midnight Run Mushers Chili Fest- Friday from 1-3pm http://up200.org/musher-information/

Posted on January 24, 2012