Oh Canada! My Home and Native… Runner’s Paradise

Happy Canada Day!

The true north running strong and free…

To the rest of the world Canada may be best known for hockey (especially after this year’s unforgettable Olympics), cold winters and so called ‘Canadian bacon’, which isn’t even Canadian (note to non-Canadians: we don’t know where you got this funny idea – our bacon is just regular, ol’ bacon) but ask a few Canadians (and I asked plenty) and you’ll soon learn something else about Canada: it’s a great place to run.

In honor of Canada’s 143rd birthday, RunMamas asked runners from across the country to share their favorite races and running places (and great Canadian running tunes, see Canada Day Playlist) and they did, from the shores of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia on to the edge of the Pacific in Nanaimo, British Columbia (BC).

Unparalleled scenic beauty, friendly and enthusiastic running groups and a slate of races running the gamut from family fun runs to extreme Arctic challenges are just a few reasons to consider making Canada your next running destination.

So lets take a tour from coast to coast and discover what makes Canada run.

Run in the Land of the Midnight Sun

“There are strange things done in the midnight sun,” according to the poet Robert Service, but I don’t think he had running a marathon or 55km ultra in mind. If you do, you might want to consider the northernmost marathon in the world the Northwest Passage Marathon held on Somerset Island, Nunavut on August 1st.

Polar Bear Point, Nunavut

Josee Auclair of race organizer Canadian Arctic Holidays invites you to “discover the mythical Northwest Passage and experience beluga whales playing in shallow water while you run. That is a chance of a life time!” In addition to baby beluga, you might also see icebergs, polar bears and muskox as you run under the 24-hour arctic sun.

BC…it really is SUPERnatural

And all that nature has inspired some pretty impressive sounding runs, such as “The Grouse Grind”. “The Grouse Grind is what all the Vancouverites do,” says former resident Sherry Mcphail. “You run up the freaking mountain(all 2,830 stairs and 853 meters of elevation).” For those seeking a slightly more level challenge McPhail recommends the seawall, around downtown and Stanley park.

Emerald Lake, Yoho NP, by Christian Abend

And she has some tips for running in the rockies too: “In Yoho NP we would run around Emerald Lake. Once a friend was charged by a moose on that trail. Running the trails in the Rockies is always a bit dodgy as the animals can’t hear or smell you coming fast enough to make off! Unless you make a lot of noise singing.”

And from the home of the gooey and delicious Nanaimo bar, runner Ross Palfery offers up a race called The Nanaimo Gutbuster : “a half marathon and a 12.5 km trail race with water hazards, hills and great single track trail.” Ross also hand-picked two other choice trail runs: “The Fletcher Challenge is another race with great trails and climbs and the Cedar 12 K is a road race featuring rolling hills, flats and great country scenery.”

Banff National Park, by Jedphoto

Rocky Mountain High

Alberta runner Aimee Kozun chose a race in the heart of the Rockies:

“I would have to say my favourite race right now would be Melissa’s 10K in Banff, Alberta,” says Kozun. “Not only do you get the most beautiful scenery with trees stretching as far as the eye can see, and the cool calm waters flowing in the distance, you also get to see the truly Canadian mountains across the horizon. And along with the beautiful view this race presents you with the challenge or powering up the side of the mountain and back down again! (If you’re doing this race, I hope you worked your hill training in, because you’ll need it!)”

And for visitors to Calgary, Alberta looking for a nature run right in the city, Sherry McPhail suggests, “Nose Hill park, a crown of native prairie, in fact “a significant rough fescue grassland ecosystem” at the top of the city.” McPhail says the park features, “loads of trails where you can see deer and the coyotes that eat them.”

Running Back to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Saskatoon Skyline in Winter by ThomasKelly

Maybe this flat prairie province is where you’ll set your next p.r. Their marathon is an official Boston qualifier.

Saskatoon Road Runners Association president Lorren Dobni sent in a plug for these favorite races:

• Aug 15th  River Run Classic  5km / 10 km / half marathon
• Oct 23  Sask 50km Ultra Marathon and Relay
• Nov 6  Prediction Mile

See the Saskatoon Road Runners website for more details and other races:www.saskatoonroadrunners.ca

10k run Toronto by Danielle Scott

Along the Lake and Around the Bay, Ontario Runners Are on the Move

Ontario runners are full of suggestions. Patty Scott votes for the Around the Bay 30K in Hamilton, Ontario, a great distance for those wanting more than a half-marathon, but not quite a whole.

Jonathan Hughes of Toronto’s Running Rats picks www.nightcrawler.to He say it’s “a fantastic race, that we love as a group.”

And Glenn Gabriel of the Toronto Penguins offers up some favorite Toronto races:

Longboat Toronto Island 10K & Races (September)www.torontoislandrun.com
* A great location, a great course and well-organized by the Longboat Roadrunners. Where else can you take a ferry to the race site?

Sporting Life Downhill 10Kwww.canadarunningseries.com/
* If you like “big city” races, nothing beats the sight of thousands of runners zooming down Yonge Street.

…and running places:

High Park
* Beautiful location in the west end of the Toronto. A runner’s favourite and the venue for many of our city’s races.

The Beach (Ashbridges Bay & the boardwalk)
* A place to be seen. Not uncommon to see cyclists, dog walkers and rollerbladers share the path with runners and walkers.

Ottawa, The Nation’s Running Capital?

With an amazing network of mult-use pathways and a world-class marathon my own hometown of Ottawa, Ontario is certainly a contender for the title, and runner Tiina Podymow agrees.

“Let me be the first to vote for Ottawa!” Podymow told me,  ”I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know; Ottawa is a major running town with the canal and and river parkways offering miles of beautiful, at times, tulip decorated paths.”  ”The May marathon weekend is amazing,” she adds. “It starts in the center of town, winds down the canal all the way to Hog’s Back Road and then back again, with thousands of cheering fans along the way: gorgeous and invigorating.”

The Nation’s Capital takes Canada Day very seriously, so it’s no surprise they boast two different Canada Day Races. According to local runner Carlene Paquette, “This allows us to burn a few extra calories and justify the BBQ and extra beer later in the day.” One race is the Canada Day Run (5K, 3K and 1K) in downtown Ottawa: http://www.canadadayrun.ca/ The other, the Bustukah Canada Day Road Race (10K, 5K, 1.2K and 300m tot trot) is out in neighboring Kanata: http://www.runottawaclub.com/events/detailsB.html

Carlene added, “I have run the Kanata races for a number of years and love the family atmosphere there.  This is also a great event for families since the 10K and 5K are at different times.  So one parent can do each race and take turns watching the kids while the other is running.  And there are kids distances like the 300m tot trot and 1.2K fun run too.  Plus face painting, etc to keep the kids busy.  It’s a great event.”

And she also put a plug in for her free running group in Kanata.  ”We meet at Sports 4 in Centrum every Wednesday night,” she says, “Many folks also meet in the weekend for runs, bike rides or brick (bike/run) workouts.  Here is the link to our group: http://www.paquettefamily.ca/Sports4/index.htm”

Québec – La Belle Province

And it is très belle, indeed as many Ottawa runners know only too well. Ottawa resident Sherry Mcphail loves to slip across the border to run the trails of the Gatineau hills. “Any of the routes up to Ridge Road get the heart going,” she says, “then the road itself goes on forever, up and down and on and on.” And the best time to run here is in October when the fall color is on fire.

Running Room Quebec Events Coordinator Caroline Kronlov shares a newer race one of Quebec’s largest and most beautiful National Parks.

‘’La Course au Parc National d’Oka Race’’ was such a great success last year, over 650 participants for a first edition, that I am presently planning the 2nd edition with great excitement,” she says. “Last year we offered a 5km walk and run as well as a 10km walk and run…This year, I will be adding a 21km run on this spectacular site…Participants will be starting the race at Le Littoral Service Centre to then follow the bicycle path…the 21km runners will most probably also experience beautiful trail running on a portion of their run (to be confirmed…).  Proceeds for this event will go to the WIAIH (West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped. [Race info: Saturday November, 6/2010, 8h30 am for the 21km, 8h45 for the 10km, 9h00 for the 5km To register: on-line at :http://www.events.runningroom.com/hm/ or in all of the Running Room stores  Participants will also be able to register the morning of the race between 7am-8am on site.]

Hello to Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia coach and runner Steve Morley gets the prize for the most comprehensive guide to races and running places.

Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia, by Chensiyuan

Judging by his suggestions there mustn’t be a square inch of the island that isn’t runnable and by the sounds of it he’s run it all.

Nova Scotia also gets the prize for best race names. According to Steve, “racing in Nova Scotia has to include a few of the following:”

• Johnny Miles Marathon, named after 2 time Boston Marathon winner Johnny Miles, which has just celebrated it’s 35th running.
• Antigonish Highland Games 5 miler on Friday July 9th.  These highland games are occurring for the 147th year.
• Halifax/Dartmouth MacPass Bridge Mile on August 1st (http://www.macpassmiles.com/)
• Dartmouth Natal Day 2 Mile & 6 Mile road race on August 2nd, which celebrated it’s 100th in 2006, and is the 4th oldest road race in North America.
• Not Since Moses run on the Bay of Fundy at low tide in Parsborro on August 14th.http://www.notsincemoses.com/
• Rum Runners Relay from Halifax to Lunenburg September 25th.http://www.rumrunnersrelay.ca/ (sold out)”

And Steve also has a great list of places to run in Canada’s ocean playground:

And if you have any energy left after running the length and breadth of Nova Scotia, head on over to New Brunswick and try one last run offered by Sherry McPhail, who seems to have one for every region of the country. In New Brunswick she runs “from Shediac to Parley Beach along the reclaimed railroad track through raspberry and blueberry bushes, and then through the completely sweet old cottage neighbourhood called Pointe-du-Chêne. It’s always hot, so hitting the Atlantic after the run is a good reward.”

And another good reward is a nice cold beer at your Canada Day celebration. So, cheers! And Happy Canada Day, eh!

If you have any favorites you’d like to add to the list, please submit a comment – we’d love to hear ‘em.

Tags: Canada, destination running, half-marathon, marathon, racing