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The 2025 Two Hearted Trail Run escaped the record setting heat that encompassed the midwest on June 21, but captured the dynamic thunderstorms on its edge. Light sprinkles at the start transitioned to steady rain as the system moved out along the coast and into Lake Superior, the world’s largest fresh water lake. Runners reported stunning views of the storm from atop bluffs overlooking Lake Superior around the 11 mile point in the 50K. The trail was is its best condition in the event’s history, but runners still encountered the big water hole at around 24 miles, reported to be thigh deep. Half marathoners endured the infamous bog at 9 miles. As is true to the character of trail runners, many finishers exhibited broad smiles and variations of “That was awesome!” Complete results are now available for viewing.
Joe Power Wayvon of Detroit, MI took the lead early in the 50K and held it for the entire route, finishing first in 4:24:42. He was followed by Alexandre Rech of Curitiba, Brazil (4:37:29) and Matt Jones of Muskegon, MI (5:06:13). Zoe Thompson of Belmont led the women, crossing the line in 6:02:58. She was joined on the women’s podium by Lindsey McGlinch of Livonia, MI (6:07:03) and Alexandra Dober of Indianapolis, IN (6:07:24).
50K Champions Joe Power Wayvon of Detroit, MI (4:24:42) and Zoe Thompson of Belmont, MI (6:02:58)
The Marathon winners each hailed from Colorado. Daniel Humer of Morrison, CO covered the challenging 26.2 mile course in 4:17:24. Only two minutes back, Ethan Sendek of Millington, MI crossed the line in 4:19:45. Jeremy York of Ann Arbor, MI completed the men’s podium, finishing in 4:30:30. Marthe Naess, originally from Trondheim, Norway, now living in Boulder, CO had a good day at Two Hearted, winning the women’s marathon in 4:38:29. Autumn Saenz of Westland, MI finished 2nd in 4:53:52. The third podium spot was earned by Anni Maniglia of Ann Arbor, MI, finishing in 4:57:28.
Marathon Champions Marthe Naess of Boulder, CO (4:38:29) and Daniel Humer of Morrison, CO (4:17:24)
Fresh off his win at the Rock River Canyon 27K, Ryan Smith of Dexter, MI led start to finish in the men’s half marathon, crossing the line in 1:46:07. Brendan Conard (Westland, MI) was just a few minutes back in 1:49:47. Chasing Conard was Rob Kennedy of Wheaton, IL in 1:50:00. Fifteen year old Fenlynn Johnson, a high school XC runner from Rogers City captured the women’s half marathon title in 1:51:40, also good for 4th overall. Erin Cornwell from nearby Pickford, MI crossed the line in 1:58:00, good for 2nd, while Stella Warnes of Traverse City, MI completed the women’s podium, finishing in 2:07:30.
Half Marathon Champions Fennlynn Johnson of Rogers City, MI (1:51:40) and Ryan Smith of Dexter, MI (1:46:07)
The 2025 Two Hearted cohort was geographically eclectic, with runners coming from 21 states and 4 countries. The youngest runners were 13 year old Bjorn Johnson and 14 year old Genevieve Hanna of Detour Village, MI while the eldest runners were Gerard Wilbrink (Okemos, MI) and Todd Leff (Ann Arbor, MI), both 71 and Laura Norcutt (Sanford, MI), 66.
Still strong after all these years, top performing Senior runners at Two Hearted (L to R): Clare Mendelsohn, 61, of Deerton, MI (2:28:34), Todd Leff, 71, of Ann Arbor, MI (2:28:47), and Gerard Wilbrink, 71, of Okemos, MI (2:24:35).
Our thanks and gratefulness extend to our 50K aid station volunteers from the Tahquamenon Country Pathways Association, half marathon aid station crew of Roger and Diane Clark, the Shore to Shore Chapter of the North Country Trail (who cleared the trail including 10 downed trees between the mouth of the Two Hearted and Culhane Lake), radio communications provided by the Luce Amateur Radio Association and medical coverage provided by our great crew of EMTs: Peggy Moore, Amy Abram, Destiny Handrich and Amy Mayer.
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- Jeff Crumbaugh
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Race morning was cool with temperatures in the low 40s but abundant sunshine warmed the air to the low 70s by race finish. Runners from ten states assembled for the start for both the 50K and 27K races. The gently rolling single track featured over 4000 ft of vertical in the 50K distance. Race results are now available for viewing.
Ryan Smith looking strong crossing the finish of the 27K in 2:28:33.
Kaleb Klopfenstein of Florissant, CO led from start to finish in the 50K and was the only runner to dip under five hours on the deceptively challenging Rock River Canyon course. Klopfenstein who lives at 9000 ft in Colorado certainly had the altitude training to excel on the Rock River course. Jennifer Zettner of Detroit captured the women’s 50K title in an outstanding time of 5:15:57. It was Zettner’s first 50K and prepared her well for an upcoming 50K in Slovenia. Joining Klopfenstein on the podium for the men’s race were Mika Byer of Marquette, MI (5:12:12) and Levi Latulip of Negaunee, MI (5:23:49). Latulip ran most of the race with the 2024 winner, James Lilly of Trenary, MI before just edging him at the finish. In the women’s race, Zettner was followed by Liz Armstrong (5:50:59) and Lynn Marowske (6:18:53), both of Marquette, MI.
Catherine Zettner and Kaleb Klopfenstein, winners of the 50K.
Ryan Smith of Dexter, MI ran solo from the start to capture the men’s 27K title in 2:28:33, 30 minutes faster than his victory in the event two years ago. Kate Kuntze of Cedar River, MI finished 2nd overall and 1st in the women’s race (3:05:04). Kuntze was the 2024 50K winner, but dropped down to the 27K for this year’s race. Joe Jankowski (3:07:04) of McMillan, MI and Tom Hayward (3:10:10) of Negaunee, MI joined Smith on the men’s podium. Evie Rosen Cushman (3:27:03) of Alanson, MI and Anna Bertram (3:33:38) of Wixom, MI completed the top three positions in the women’s 27K.
Ryan Smith and Kate Kuntze, winners of the 27K.
Much appreciation goes to athletes from Superior Central High School who staffed the aid stations and to the Alger Amateur Radio Association who provided communications during the event.
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Great Lakes Endurance is pleased to announce its 2025 Race Calendar. Registration will open November 23, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.
Great Lakes Endurance 2025 Race Calendar
June 7 Rock River Canyon 50K & 27K. Zen quality single track from the Valley Spur Lodge to the Rock River Canyon Wilderness and back. Register.
June 21 Two Hearted 50K, 26.2M & 13.1M. Transformative journey through the Two Hearted wilderness, atop bluffs overlooking Lake Superior, along the shores of Culhane Lake, the forested banks of the Little Two Hearted River and a finish at the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. Register.
July 12 Waugoshance 50K, 26.2M &13.1M. Diverse single track from Cross Village to Mackinaw City including Wycamp Lake, the Sturgeon Bay bluffs, the wood bridge over the Carp River and shoreline of French Farm Lake. Register.
July 26 Grand Island 50K, 26.2M &13.1M. Twentieth anniversary edition of the classic trail run on Grand Island. Experience white sand beaches, 300 ft colored sandstone cliffs and the crystal aquamarine color of the world’s largest freshwater lake. Register.
August 9 Tahqua Trail 25K & 10K. A trail runner’s dream. Flowing single track through the Tahquamenon River wilderness including the mist of the Lower Falls. Register.
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Both of our Tahquamenon Falls trail races in 2024 provided runners with refreshing rain on the trail. In both cases, Two Hearted and the classic Tahqua, held on August 10, the rain helped runners earn faster times. Complete results for the Tahqua are available for viewing.
In the 25K Peter Shambaugh of Ontonagon, MI blazed through the course in 2:13:57. Andrew Jones of Boulder, CO was a little more than 5 minutes back n 2:19:16, while Jacob Koopman captured the third podium spot, crossing the line 2:24:44. In the women’s race it was 17 year old Emily Rather of Laingsburg, MI, demonstrating trail skills far beyond her age, winning the women’s race in 2:31:59. Showing the true skill of a master trail runner, Julia Lewis of Fort Collins, CO was second overall in 2:38:28, while also capturing the 50-59 age group title. A remarkable performance by 14 year old Fenlynn Johnson of Rogers City, MI, earned the third podium spot for the women, crossing the finish in 2:40:41.
Giant pines and single track, one mile from the finish at the Tahqua Trail Run (Scott Lawrence, photo).
The Tahqua 10K is considered the most challenging 10K in the midwest, but Evan Shambaugh of Sault Ste. Marie, MI navigated the roots, rocks and staircases in skillful fashion, winning in 51:48. High school runner David Mann of Sterling Heights, MI captured the second spot in 55:07 while Travis Sigman of Alanson, MI earned the third podium spot, finishing in 56:37. Amanda Wojan, a veteran of our Treetops Trifecta, captured the women’s 10K title in 1:02:46. Carrie Merrithew of Traverse City, MI was only 4 seconds back in 1:02:50, good for second overall. Olivia Weenum of Grandville, MI finished third overall in 1:03:59.
We are grateful to our aid station volunteers from the Tahquamenon Area Pathways Association, the Luce County Amateur Radio Association for communications and Roger & Diane Clark and Kent Walker for their help on the trail and finish line.
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- Jeff Crumbaugh
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Runners in the 19th edition of the Grand Island Trail Run enjoyed a spectacular sunrise over Trout Bay or the East Channel, depending on their start time. Participants arrived from 33 states and 3 countries to race the alluring trails of this Lake Superior island. Complete results are available for viewing. Images from the race were captured by photographer Scott Lawrence, including captivating drone shots featuring the island’s cliffs, sand beaches and lush forests. A slideshow of Lawrence’s images is available for viewing.
Crusing at a sub 8 minute per mile on the island’s demanding terrain, 19 year old Tyler Stark of Duluth, MN captured the 50K overall title. Stark and runner up James Lilly of nearby Trenary, MI ran in tandem, pushing the pace on the Trout Bay Beach and both beach to cliff ascents (East Rim at 8.5 miles and West Rim at 16 miles), however it was long flat stretch though a dense maple hardwood forest at 20 miles where Stark put the hammer down and built his lead. Stark finished in 3:56:04, the only runner to crack the 4 hour barrier. Lilly crossed the line in 4:10:18. Lilly had previously won the Rock River Canyon 50K in early June and finished second at the demanding Two Hearted 50K in late June. David Kirby of Huntington Woods, MI completed the men’s 50K podium, 3 minutes behind Lilly in 4:13:40. Natalie Anderson of Menominee, MI won the women’s 50K with a remarkable 4:21:22 performance. Katy-Jane Shanak of Wausau, WI crossed the line 30 minutes later in 4:51:04, good for second overall. Capturing 3rd overall, Lucy Campbell of Superior, WI covered the 31 mile course in 4:54:45. A total of 4 women and 11 men finished the 50K in under 5 hours.
Catherine Austin of Crystal Falls, MI at mile 21, enroute to a 5:14:08 finish in the 50K. (Photo: Scott Lawrence, Upper Productions)
Noah Krzan of Kalamazoo, MI was the top finisher in the men’s marathon, crossing the line in 3:17:42. Duluth’s Colin Willemsen was less than 8 minutes back in 3:25:14. The third podium spot went to Charlie Trense of New York, NY in 3:40:20. In the women’s race, Abigail Irvine, who hails from just down the southern coast of Lake Superior in Grand Marais, MI, captured the women’s title in 3:42:35, also good for 5th overall. Following Irvine was Gina Honkala of Calumet, MI (3:48:52). Completing and all Lake Superior watershed trio, Melinda Loubser of Marquette, MI earned the third spot on the women’s marathon podium (3:50:31).
Hailing from Vashon Island, WA, 16 year old Bodie Thomas captured the half marathon title in 1:30:28. Nearly 10 minutes back but 4 decades older than Thomas, Benedikt Schorner of Kentwood, MI finished 2nd (1:40:40) while William Wagner of Detroit, MI (1:41:32) completed the 3rd spot on the podium for the men. Kareena Clendening of Apple Valley, MN captured the women’s half marathon title in 1:43:07. Sophia Huber of Urbandale, IA (1:44:25) and Kelly Goodwin of Dover, NH (1:48:59) earned 2nd and 3rd spots on the women’s podium, respectively.
Mark your calendars. Big plans are being made for the 20th edition of the Grand Island Trail Run, set for July 26, 2025. Registration will open in November, 2023.