American Birkebeiner

Click Here for 2012 Results

The Birkie Trail Run events take place on the famous Birkie Trail. The Birkie Trail offers a challenging race course for trail runners, on a mowed and relatively smooth grass covered surface from start to finish. The trail is free of rocks, roots or other obstacles.The Birkie Trail, however, is very hilly. Please see our Birkie Training Articles for tips on preparing for this event.

The Birkie Trek is a "Nordic walking" event where use of poles is suggested. The Trek is a non-competitive, un-timed walk on the beautiful American Birkebeiner Trail. The Trail, used in the Winter for the American Birkebeiner Cross-Country Ski Marathon, is mowed, relatively smooth, but hilly and challenging.

Autumn will be a great time to trek on the trail whether you’ve been on it before, or if it’s your first visit. This is intended to be a challenging, but fun event! All participants will receive a great looking Birkie Trail Run & Trek tech T-shirt and a finishers medal.

A "trekking warm-up and stretch" will take place at the start at 8:45, just before beginning your trek. The warm-up will be lead by the "Queen of Nordic Walking", Linda Lemke, from Hoigaards in the Twin Cities.

The Trek is 13.1 miles (21 kilometers) in length. Minimum age for the Birkie Trek is 16. If you don’t feel you’re ready to tackle the trail and its hills you are welcome to register for and Nordic walk the 5K Run/Walk.

Thanks to our Sponsors we will have a limited supply of “loaner” Nordic walking poles for you to use. You just need return them at the end of the trek.

THERE IS NO RACE-DAY REGISTRATION
FOR THE BIRKIE TRAIL RUN EVENTS!

• Register online through Wednesday, September 18th.
• Register at the Birkie Office in Hayward (across from Marketplace parking lot) on Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and at Telemark Lodge from 5 pm until 8 pm.
• Bag & Bib pick-up is Friday at the Birkie Office  9 am to 4 pm, Friday from 5 pm to 8 pm at Telemark Lodge and Saturday at Telemark Lodge starting at 6 am

CLICK HERE
To Register for Any
of Our 5 Trail Events

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CLICK HERE
To Confirm Your Registration

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CLICK HERE
To Receive Updates for Any
Athlete on the Course

All Birkie Trek participants must park at Telemark Resort (finish area) and ride a bus to the start of the Trek. Parking is limited at the start area at the "OO" Trail crossing. Buses for the Birkie Trek Start will leave Telemark promptly at 8:15 AM.

There will be NO bus transport back to the start area after you finish your event.

To assure the safety of all participants and spectators, pets and strollers are not allowed on the course. Pets are also not allowed on the event grounds, which include the finish line, tent, and food and spectator areas. Signs will be posted as a reminder. If you must bring a pet, please confine it to the parking area.

Birkie Trail Trekkers start at "OO" at 9:00 a.m.

Distance - 2.7 miles/4.3K

Easiest - The shorter length and moderate hills and flats make for the easiest leg of the event.

Distance - 5.9 miles/9.5K

Most Difficult - The longest leg with a major climb to the highest point on the course near the top of Fire Tower Hill. This section will be a challenge!

There will be an intermediate water stop at the Fire Tower aid station, 3 miles (4.8K) into this leg.

Distance - 4.5 miles/7.3K

Moderate to Easy - Flat and rolling makes it easier as you make the final push to the finish line!