Description
This is a really great trail- it is a lot of fun to run. Although there will likely be mud on the course (there almost always is) and there are plenty of rocks and roots, we consider this to be a very fast and fun course. There really is a little bit of everything on this course and, although there are some climbs, we do not consider this to be a hilly course. There are lots of great lake views and there are plenty of long, winding flat sections where runners can really rip, if they so choose.
For those of you who enjoy running in the woods at night, this might just be the event for you! It is also a great opportunity for runners who are training for an upcoming 100k/100mi race that will require you to run through the night.
If you are new to night running, we've got some tips that you might want to consider:
1) The brighter your light, the safer it is. A bright light will allow you to see all of the rocks and roots and, as an added benefit, it will most likely help to keep the sasquatches at bay. Everyone know that bigfoot hates bright lights.
2) Animals sound 100x bigger at night so don't be afraid if you think you hear something. A chipmunk frolicking amongst the fallen leaves will sound like a medium-sized dog and a raccoon will sound like a bear. There is nothing to fear on these trails. There certainly is no shortage of wildlife in the Conservation Area, just nothing to worry about. In the past years, participants have seen frogs, snakes, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, a skunk, fox, an owl, and countless deer.
3) Running at night is way more fun with friends. Don't worry, you will not be alone out there. There will be LOTS of other runners with you on the trail and we will have "sweeps" on the course making sure that nobody gets left behind.
Race Schedule:
Saturday, May 4, 2024:
3:00pm- 25 km day race start
4:00pm- 50 km race start. Everyone must be off of the course by 10:30pm. If you require more than 6.5 hours to complete the course (which many participants will), we will be offering an early start option, which will start at 2:00pm. If you need more than 8.5hrs to complete the course, we can start you earlier- no problem!
7:00pm- 25km night race start (sunset is at 8:33pm on May 4th). Everyone must be off of the course by 10:30pm. If you require more than 3.5 hours to complete the course (which many will), we will be offering an early start option, which will start at 5:30pm. Walkers are welcome but will need to start at 5:30pm.
8:30pm- 10 km run start (cut-off time is 10:30pm- walkers are welcome).