New event coming to Ontario’s Bruce Trail: Tobermory trail race weekend

The small community of Tobermory, Ont., located at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, is getting its own trail race this fall. The inaugural Tobermory trail race weekend will take place Sept. 23-25, 2016 and features a 5K, half-marathon and marathon, all on trail terrain.

Tobermory is the northernmost community along the famous Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest marked footpath which spans 890 kilometres from Niagara Falls through southern and central Ontario up to Lake Huron.

The town is known as the “freshwater diving capital of the world” because of the shipwrecks found in the waters near the community.

“As someone who frequently enjoys running this section of the Bruce Trail I am excited to be part of this,” says race director Tara Harpur. “It offers runners a supported chance to challenge themselves on the Bruce.”

“It is a tough run, more of a scramble at times, but breaking it into four legs for relay teams makes it a very achievable goal,” says Harpur in reference to the marathon relay.

The shortest of the three distances, officially known as the Flowerpot Island 5K, will take place on the small island of the same name located just off the coast of Tobermory. The 5K race includes transportation from the mainland via a tour boat and includes breakfast at sunrise.

The marathon is an out-and-back route which begins in Tobermory and heads southeast. The turnaround point is located in the heart of Bruce Peninsula National Park at Cyprus Lake. The marathon can be done solo or in teams or two, three or four with varying entry fees depending on team size.

The trail half-marathon and trail marathon end at Tobermory Brewing Company, which is sure to be busy following the end of the 21.1K and 42.2K races. There will be a pasta dinner on Friday and a whitefish dinner on Saturday.

The event caps registration numbers to ensure the race has a low environmental impact on the community and the surrounding trail system. The Flowerpot Island 5K is one spot away from selling out as of April 26, according to the race’s Facebook page.

Events

Flowerpot Island 5K (Sunday): $65 until May 4, $79 until Aug. 30, $95 afterwards;
Half-marathon (Saturday): $59 (solo);
Marathon (Saturday): $79 (solo), $142-$162 (relay, dependent on the size of the team).

RELATED: Quebec’s David Le Porho joins U.S. running icons for French trail race.