Sudbury Rocks Marathon

Named after the local running club that founded it, Sudbury Rocks Marathon has become one of Northern Ontario’s most popular spring races, although it still only draws about a hundred registrants for all distances. The course is a rather flat single loop for the half-marathon, which is repeated for the full marathon. If you’re looking for a fast time and you like small, friendly races, consider this race.

Despite Sudbury’s reputation as a mining town and the hoser capital of Ontario, it is surprisingly urbane. Although the city now has three article-secondary institutions, its roots as a hardworking, multicultural mining town are reflected in an unusual diversity of restaurants that serve cuisine from all over the world. Major hotel chains and several privately owned hotels offer a range of lodging options.

After- or pre-race attractions include Science North, with its broad range of scientific displays and exhibitions, and the Dynamic Earth mining museum which still displays the Big Nickel, one of Canada’s kitsch icons and the inspiration for the Sudbury Rocks race medal. There are nine provincial parks, including the world-famous Killarney, all within a 90-minute drive. Right in town, the A.Y. Jackson Lookout provides a taste of the nearby wilderness where you can take in a scene immortalized by the Group of Seven painter and enjoy nature trails.

In early May, the nighttime temperatures can dip to 4 C in Sudbury and the daytime highs hover in the low teens, which can make for great racing conditions.

Location: Sudbury, Ont.

Date: May 3, 2009

Categories: Marathon (Boston Qualifier), Marathon Relay, Sun Run Half-Marathon, Sun Run 10K, Sun Run 5K, Kids Fit N’Fun 1K

For more info visit: www.sudburyrocksmarathon.com