Announcement from American Trail Running Association (ATRA) member Birkie Trail Run Festival. ATRA hosts a dedicated webpage for USATF mountain, ultra and trail running news, race schedules, team selection criteria and more.
September 25, 2021, marks the 24th annual Birkie Trail Run Festival. The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is pleased to announce that the Birkie Trail Run half marathon, part of Birkie Trail Run Festival events, has once again been named the USA Track & Field (USATF) Half Marathon Trail Championship. USATF is the United States’ national governing body for track & field, road running, race walking as well as mountain, ultra and trail running. A total of $6000 in prize money will be awarded with $1000 and a pair of Salomon shoes for the winning man and woman.
Andy Wacker winning the 2020 USATF Half Marathon Trail Championship.
The American Birkebeiner Trailhead adjoins the historic Telemark trails where the 2021 Birkie Trail Run Festival events will be held. From forests and rolling hills, spectacular vistas, glacial geologic features, and the iconic Birkie Trail, the 2021 race courses will be varied and scenic and include single track trail sections. The Birkie Trail Run Festival is sponsored by ATRA member Salomon and is hosted by the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF), nonprofit organizers of the event. Runners will experience incredible vistas from the top of Mt. Telemark and even more, fun, CAMBA single track trails on their journey to the finish line.
The USATF Half Marathon Trail Championship event is a partnership between the ABSF and USATF. Elite athletes from across the nation and citizen runners alike will participate in the race. “It is an honor to host another USATF National Championship and welcome the nation’s best runners to the beautiful trails of the north woods,” said Ben Popp, ABSF Executive Director. “We are happy to offer $6000 in prize money for the Birkie Trail Run Half Marathon/USATF Half Marathon Trail Championships and are excited to welcome elite athletes to run alongside our citizen racers,” said Popp. “It’ll be an awesome day for all of our runners and trekkers.”
USATF masters prizes are awarded for 5 year age groups.
To ensure a clean sport and fair competition, athletes who participate in USATF National Championships and Team USA competitions are subject to drug testing performed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in accordance with the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing.
Nine events are offered including the fast-growing 100K ultra marathon, 100K ultra marathon relay (4 person), marathon, marathon relay (3 or 6 person teams), half marathon, Nordic Trek, 5K run/walk, and 1K Kid’s Fun Run (free for ages 9 and under), and Dive for the Dirt obstacle course for kids – there is a north woods trail experience available for every ability level. Register for all events at www.birkie.com.
As part of Birkie Green, the ABSF’s sustainability and environmental responsibility initiative, going cup-less at this event again will eliminate thousands of cups from landfills.
Start of the 2017 Birkie Trail Run and USATF Half Marathon Trail Championship.
About the American Birkebeiner® Ski Foundation and Birkie® Events
Located near Hayward and Cable, Wisconsin, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is known for its signature American Birkebeiner Ski Marathon held each February. Today, the Birkie brand has grown to encompass a year-round lifestyle that provides healthy, active events for thousands of outdoor fitness enthusiasts of all levels. Learn more at www.Birkie.com
