The Midnight Run February 20, 2009

he Midnight Run is an eight dog race. This race is typically a much faster race than the longer distance U.P. 200, due to the distance involved. This race has become one of the most popular races for the Upper Peninsula's sled dog racing weekend, primarily due to the fine field of competitors it routinely draws.

The Midnight Run begins with its starting chute in Gwinn. The first musher will leave the chute at 6:00 p.m. on February 20th, 2009 over a trail of approximately 91 miles.

Mushers and teams will proceed over Marquette Mountain, under US 41 at the Carp River Bridge, then swinging on to Harvey with a checkpoint in Deerton, MI. There will be a mandatory layover there.

Racers will then go from Deerton to the finish line in the downtown of Munising/Wetmore where it should end around a spectator friendly time of 9:00 or 10:00 AM on February 21st. A banquet will be held after the race tentatively scheduled at 4:00 pm on Saturday, February 21st. For more information about this area, see the Alger Chamber of Commerce website, the City of Munising, the Munising Visitors' Bureau or the Explore Munising websites.

Official Website: http://www.up200.org/checkpoints.htm