Running kilometre after kilometre through the woods and the mud while carrying your own water and snacks might not seem like an ideal way to spend a weekend away in the mountains. To some, it might seem like a scene from a horror film. But an increasing number of people consider this an exhilarating, adventurous form of exercise. It’s called trail running and it’s a sport currently experiencing a boom in participation.
What is trail running?
Trail running can be done within city limits – think Nose Hill Park or Fish Creek Provincial Park – but part of its appeal is it gets runners away from the city. Trail running, like hiking, is best in the mountains or national parks. Adam Campbell, the Calgary-based co-owner of 5 Peaks, a trail-running company that organizes races across Canada, believes that the adventure factor is part of the sport’s appeal. “Trail running, regardless of distance, is a different kind of challenge from road running,” says Campbell. “You’re in an unfamiliar environment, which adds a certain amount of excitement. And holistically, I think it’s so much nicer to do [running] events in nature.”
The growing popularity of trail racing
A 5 Peaks race at Sikome Lake in Calgary.
It’s hard to quantify, but participants in trail running meccas like Golden and Revelstoke have noticed an increase in trail runners in the last couple of years. Magi Scallion, the race director for the Golden Ultra trail race, says she used to know everyone she encountered while out running Golden’s 129 km trail network. But in 2015, for the first time, she saw runners she didn’t know. It turns out they were visitors, registered to run the Golden Ultra, which debuted that year.
As more organized trail races are popping up across Alberta and British Columbia, even more people are travelling to the mountains to trail run. Revelstoke’s first trail race, TrailStoke, was in 2014. The inaugural Golden Ultra was in 2015. Interest has increased so much that Mountain Equipment Co-op Calgary introduced a city-based Trail Race Series for the first time this year.
Racing as a weekend getaway
TrailStoke race in Revelstoke. The inaugural race was in 2014.
Registering for a race is a also a great way to get away for the weekend and experience some of the best trails within a few hours drive of Calgary. And more and more runners are doing just that. Registration for the Golden Ultra almost doubled from 2015 to 2016. The Okanagan-based trail series Dirty Feet has also seen an increase in Alberta runners since launching in 2011. Closer to home, 5 Peaks Central Alberta‘s events allow as many as 800 runners per race and almost always sell out.
According to Campbell, this increased interest in destination trail races is partly due to the variety of race-distance options, which makes the sport accessible to runners of all abilities – plus there’s lots to do in these destinations when the racing is over. “Trail races are great for people who want a natural experience but in a bit of a controlled environment,” Campbell says. “Some people get intimidated being out in the woods by themselves, so trail racing is a great way to introduce people to that environment.”
Many runners also love that trail racing is not just a race against the clock. Because each race has different terrain, elevation and conditions, trail races provide a challenge that many fitness-enthusiasts have a hard time turning down.
Destination trail races to know about this season
Pick a destination, plan a weekend getaway and start training.
The Dirty Feet Trail Race in Vernon, B.C.
North Face Dirty Feet Trail Race Series
When: Various dates from March to November, 2017.
Location: Various locations in the B.C. interior.
Distance: From 5 km up to 50 km, depending on the race.
Make a note: With races in Vernon, Penticton, Kelowna, Kamloops and Sun Peaks this series is the biggest trail-running series in the Okanagan. There is also a Dirty Feet race in Revelstoke.
5 Peaks Alberta Central Series
When: Various dates from May to October, 2017.
Location: Various Calgary parks and the Canmore Nordic Centre
Distance: From 6 km up to 20.2 km, depending on the race.
Make a note: If you’re new to trail running, start here. There are five races in the series, so you can start easy with a short run through Fish Creek Provincial Park and work your way up to a longer run in Canmore.
Powderface 42
When: July 1, 2017
Location: Station Flats near Bragg Creek.
Distance: 21.1 km or 44.4 km.
Make a note: After the run through K-Country trails, there’s pie at the finish line!
Moose Mountain Trail Races
When: Aug. 26, 2017
Location: West Bragg Creek Recreation Area, Bragg Creek.
Distance: 16 km, 29 km, 42 km.
Make a note: This grassroots event is not packed with people – registration is capped at 150 runners – and there are aid stations with water, chips and candy along the way so you don’t have to carry too much yourself.
Transelkirks Run
When: Aug. 28 to Sep. 1, 2017
Location: Revelstoke.
Distance: 160 km over five days, completed solo or as a two-person team where the runners must run the entire course together.
Make a note: This inaugural trail race is extreme. The multi-day event challenges runners to complete distances of up to 50 km per day.
Golden Ultra
When: Sep. 22 to 24, 2017
Location: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and Spirit Square, Golden.
Distance: 43 km or 85 km over three days.
Make a note: You can choose to avoid the big distances by registering for any one day of the event and make this trail race as challenging as you want.
Grizzly Ultra Canmore Marathon and Relay
When: Oct. 8, 2017
Location: Canmore Nordic Centre, Canmore.
Distance: 50 km completed solo, as a two-person relay or as a five-person relay.
Make a note: Proceeds from race registration support MitoCanada. Dressing up in wacky costumes is encouraged, especially if you’re racing as a team.