I met Jeffrey Mann ( founder of the UP200/Midnight Run ) in the summer of 1989. He was busy planning the first race and trying to develop a trail that would not only include Marquette, but smaller communities he would call checkpoints. He was also ‘selling’ his idea to all who would listen and ultimately convinced some to invest in his vision by becoming cash sponsors. The Mining Journal was our first major sponsor, and the 2009 race will mark their 20th year.
Jeffrey asked if I would help him mail musher packets. I remember spending hours at NMU copying thousands of pages. I think he mailed a packet to EVERY musher who ever entered a sled dog race. I guess he wanted to be sure that some would show up in February ! ! When I reflect on the first race two things stand out. I remember how happy we were when we actually saw dog trucks pulling into the Holiday Inn. I also remember Stan Wittler ( Trail Boss for many years ) choosing white trail markers with white reflector tape. What was he thinking ?
Shortly after the first race, Jeffrey asked if I would write a few thank you notes and pay a few bills. I knew his bookkeeping system consisted of paper plates, so when Sharon Nelson Curtice ( Secretary/Treasurer for a brief time ) brought me the box, I knew I was up to the challenge. As they say, the rest is history. When Jeffrey’s family moved from Marquette, he appointed a Board to which I became a charter member. I remember sitting with eight others and after a very brief discussion, it became clear that none of us knew much about the sport of sled dog racing. Somehow we pulled together and made contacts with people we knew, talked to businesses, did presentations to service groups, churches and potential sponsors and put on the next race and the next. I have seen this race grow from a vision Jeffrey had to a major production every year. We have secured more sponsors, made trail changes, have become a qualifier for the Iditarod, and have attracted mushers from throughout the US, Canada and Alaska who choose to join us every February.
We have a very active Board of Directors who serves three year terms. Board meetings are held monthly all year long, and each board member also serves as a chair to another committee. I can hardly believe that it has been twenty years since I told Jeffrey I would mail out those packets. We are so fortunate to have sponsors committed to seeing this race takes place each year, and grateful to the hundreds and hundreds of volunteers. I encourage you to join us either in downtown Marquette for the start of the UP200 or in Gwinn for the start of the Midnight Run, or at one of the checkpoints along the trail in celebrating this wonderful winter event and our 20th running.
Pam Forsberg
Secretary/Treasurer
UP200/Midnight Run
