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. 

Joe Runyan 2012 race marshall for up200 and midnight run

THE UPSDA BOARD HAS ANNOUNCED THAT TOM SHEPKE, AL ORAZIETTI AND LYLE ROSS WILL ROUND OUT THE JUDGES FOR THE 2012 RACES.

The Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association is delighted to announce that Joe Runyan will be the Race Marshal for the 2012 UP200 and Midnight Run races! Joe is a well-known and highly respected judge and a familiar name to mushers. We’re happy to welcome him to the U.P.

The Midnight Run trail crew has been working since June to lay out a beautiful new MNR trail. The start will now be in downtown Marquette on Friday evening, with the first MNR musher leaving the chute 30 minutes after the last UP200 musher. The MNR will pass through the new Chatham checkpoint (the MSU Extension facility) and finish in Munising on Saturday. The first leg is approximately 51 miles, and the second leg is  39 miles for a total amount of 90 miles.

Our thanks to mushers Pete Curtice and David Gill, who spent many hours helping lay out the trail. Putting a new trail together is never easy,and we hit a few bumps along the way, but we think the results will make for a terrific race! Final mileage and maps of the trail will be posted shortly at www.up200.org. Early registration is open.

The UP200 trail has not changed, and a map will be posted shortly. Follow us on Facebook, too. 

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

REMINDER : ENTRY DEADLINE

Race rules state that entries will be accepted until 12:00pm on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012.  Currently there are 24 UP200 teams registered, 29 Midnight Run and 3 JackPine30 teams.  

Posted on January 19, 2012

THE MAGIC OF DOGSLEDDING FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART

The Magic of Dogsledding for the Young and Young at Heart set for Tuesday, February 7, 6:30 p.m., Peter White Public Library Community Room   A multimedia presentation by children’s author/sled dog musher Jackie Winkowski, musher Lisa Dietzen, and photographer … Continue reading →

Posted on January 18, 2012

JACKPINE 30 UPDATES

For full details of this post please utilize the link provided. http://up200.org/race-info/jp-30/ TRAIL:  The Jack Pine 30 sled dog race runs from Gwinn to Marquette on the original UP 200 trail established more than twenty years ago.  Jack Pine 30 … Continue reading →

Posted on January 16, 2012