This is definitely our fastest trail race and probably the fastest 100 mile trail race course in Canada. The course is as close to flat as you will find and the trail is wide, groomed, and accessible. All distances are run on an out-and-back course with plenty of aid stations along the way. The scenery is quite nice and runs alongside conservation land, a golf course, farmers' fields, lush forests, ponds, creeks, and more. For much of the race, there will be kilometre markers on the route.
This is a great opportunity to run a personal best or to try a new distance.
-100 mile finishers will earn a SWEET belt buckle. You can wear this with pride!
-100 km finishers will also earn a unique finisher's award. 100k is a long way to go!
-10k, 25k, 50k, and 50 mile finishers will all earn a really nice custom made finisher's medal.
The 50 mile, 100 km, and 100 mile events will have a 30 hour cut-off. The 10 km, 25 km, and 50 km events will have a 29 hour cut-off since they start 1 hour later.
Runners in the ultra-marathon distance events can carry a cell phone during the race. You will likely have cell service for the entire event- make sure your battery is fully charged.
Race Swag:
All runners will also receive a Foxtail Hundred Straw Hat. Life is simply more fun when you're wearing a straw hat- that's a fact. Hang around after the race in your new hat- you will get so much respect from everyone. It may change your life. These hats look especially cool if you have a belt buckle to go with it but that isn't mandatory. Just look how cool Heather looks in hers:
Although this is the exact hat you will receive (depending on product availability), the hat band logo will be a little bit different. There are 2 sizes available at checkout.
In addition, our friends at the Canadian Trail Running Co are creating really awesome special edition race gear for all of our events this year. You can check them out and order them online by clicking on their logo below:
RACE FOR FREE!
This race is in support of 'Achilles Canada'. Do you want to race for free? Raise $200 or more for 'Achilles Canada' and we will refund your entry fee for the 10k, 25k, 50k, or 50 mile. Raise $300 or more and we will refund your entry fee into any event, including the 100k or 100 mile. The participant who raises the most money will also receive free entry into any Happy Trails Racing event.
Location:
The Dundas Valley Conservation Area is the perfect starting point for an event like this. They offer some great services and the spectators will have plenty to do while they wait for friends/family to finish. Have a look around inside the Trail Centre, which is where the race starts and finishes, or enjoy a snack at the indoor concession stand. Spectators are also welcome to enjoy the shaded trails by going on a hike. There is plenty of room to have a picnic and we will be having a bon fire in the evening so bring your marshmallows! This will be a real community event and will be fun for the entire family!
We will have an area for participants/crew members to set up tents for those that will be on site through the night. There is no additional charge for this.
The Race Registration Fee includes entrance into the Conservation Area for the participants. All crew and spectators will be asked to pay a reasonable entrance fee at the park entrance gate.
Course Description:
All of the events will start and end at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area Trail Centre.
10k: Start at the Dundas Valley Trail Centre and head East on the Hamilton-to-Brantford Rail Trail to the 'Hammer View Aid Station', which is on the Main St West bridge, and then return to the trail centre.
25k: Start at the Dundas Valley Trail Centre and head East on the Hamilton-to-Brantford Rail Trail to the 'Hammer View Aid Station', which is on the Main St West bridge, and then return to the trail centre, where the 'Headquarters Aid Station' is located. Participants will continue West on the Rail Trail to the 'Opossum's Landing Aid Station', which is just before Hwy 52. They will then return to the Trail Centre where they will cross the finish line.
50k: Start at the Dundas Valley Trail Centre and head East on the Hamilton-to-Brantford Rail Trail to the 'Hammer View Aid Station', which is on the Main St West bridge, and then return to the trail centre, where the 'Headquarters Aid Station' is located. Participants will continue West on the Rail Trail to the 'Opossum's Landing Aid Station', which is just before Hwy 52. After stocking up at the aid station, they will continue West to the 'Friendly Coyote Aid Station' and then the 'Telephone City Aid Station'. Head West just a wee bit more and they will reach the 50k turnaround and then run all the way back to the Trail Centre to celebrate their finish!
50 miles: Start at the Dundas Valley Trail Centre and head East on the Hamilton-to-Brantford Rail Trail to the 'Hammer View Aid Station', which is on the Main St West bridge, and then return to the trail centre, where the 'Headquarters Aid Station' is located. Participants will continue West on the Rail Trail to the 'Opossum's Landing Aid Station', which is just before Hwy 52. After stocking up at the aid station, they will continue West to the 'Friendly Coyote Aid Station' and then the 'Telephone City Aid Station'. Continue West for a few kilometres to the clearly marked turnaround and then head all the way back to the Trail Centre. You are now 53.66k into this- don't even think about quitting. After fueling up and topping up your bottles, head out on a second loop. You will once again head Eastbound to the 'Hammer View Aid Station' and then past the 'Headquarters Aid Station' all the way to the 'Opossum's Landing Aid Station'. This will be your turnaround point. Once you leave the aid station, head back to the start/finish where you will get to moonwalk across the finish line to the sound of a roaring crowd of your biggest fans.
100k- Woah! Start at the Dundas Valley Trail Centre and head East on the Hamilton-to-Brantford Rail Trail to the 'Hammer View Aid Station', which is on the Main St West bridge, and then return to the trail centre, where the 'Headquarters Aid Station' is located. Participants will continue West on the Rail Trail to the 'Opossum's Landing Aid Station', which is just before Hwy 52. After stocking up at the aid station, they will continue West to the 'Friendly Coyote Aid Station' and then the 'Telephone City Aid Station'. Continue West for a few kilometres to the clearly marked turnaround and then head all the way back to the Trail Centre. You are now 53.66k into this beast. You are going to do it all over again but your second loop is slightly shorter as you will turn around at the 'Telephone City Aid Station'. Head back to the trail centre and get it done! Easy Peasy!
100 miles: Yikes! Are you sure? That's a long way to go. Basically, follow the first gigantic 53.66k out-and-back that the 50 mile and 100k runners start with and then repeat it 3 times. Spotting that finish line in your last loop will be absolutely glorious. Everybody is going to be so stoked to see you. You can hug, high-five, even shed a few tears if that's your thing. After you finish and before you sit down, grab your brand new super badass belt buckle that you just earned and show it off to your adoring fans. You're a rockstar!
Map/Elevation:
We will post this information soon- we are working on a participant guide at the moment. The elevation profile resembles a pancake. If I could describe the route in 3 words they would be: flat, straight, fast.
The course will be well marked and there is NO WAY you can get lost on this course.
Aid Stations:
There will be an aid station or water drop every 5-10km along the course. The aid stations will offer your typical ultra-running aid station goods. Sweet and salty snacks, water, Scratch Labs electrolyte drink, Pb and J, and more. In the night, we will also be serving hot food and soup to those still on the course. If you have run a Happy Trails Racing event in the past, expect the same. We like to overdo it a bit at our aid stations and try to have something for even the pickiest of eaters!
We are having a "Best Aid Station Contest". After the race, please vote for the aid station that you feel was the best.
We will be using our re-usable EcoCups at the Foxtail Trail Race. They can be washed, sterilized, and re-used over 100 times and then recycled. We are grateful to our sponsor, DKOS (www.DKOS.ca), for helping us make this green initiative possible and to Dream Zero (dreamzero.ca), who washes and sanitizes them between uses. The cups are made of rigid plastic and you throw them in the receptacle after using them, just like you would with a disposable cup. We will collect them, wash and sterilize them, and re-use them at our next event.
Drop Bags:
Participants can have a drop bag at the start/finish area of each loop. Participants in the 50 mile, 100 km, and 100 mile can also have a drop bag that will be brought to the 'Friendly Coyote Aid Station'. Having a drop bag at the 'Headquarters Aid Station' and the 'Friendly Coyote Aid Station' will allow participants to have access to their drop bag regularly as these aid stations are passed multiple times during the race. Please note that it is a drop BAG and not a drop BOX or drop SHIPPING CONTAINER as some runners like to use. Make sure your name is on it and keep it to a reasonable size. Coolers and Storage Bins will not be accepted- we simply don't have the space for that.
Pacers:
10k, 25k, 50k- Nope
50 miler- Pacers will be allowed after returning from the first 53.66k out-and-back.
100k- Pacers are allowed after returning from the first 53.66k out-and-back.
100 miler- Pacers are allowed anytime after 8:00pm or 107.33k, whichever comes first.
Pacer Rules: No muling: the pacer cannot carry anything for the runner. Pacers must sign a Pacer Waiver at the Start/Finish area. Only one pacer allowed at a time, except for in the last 1km, at which point the entire crew can join in but please be mindful of other runners and people using the trail. Pacers can start their pacing duties at either the 'Headquarters Aid Station' (start/finish) OR the 'Opossum's Landing Aid Station'. That is it. We are trying to minimize vehicular traffic at the other aid stations out of respect for the nearby residents.
CREW AND PACERS ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO MEET THEIR RUNNERS AT THE 'HEADQUARTERS AID STATION' AND THE 'OPOSSUMS LANDING AID STATION'.
All vehicles must be parked in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area parking lot.
Poles:
Sure, just watch where you point those things. Tips down please.
Post Race Food:
We understand that people have different dietary restrictions, needs, and preferences. Because of this, rather than include the cost of a post-race meal that you may or may not enjoy/ be able to eat, we do not include meals in our race registration fees. However, we do our best to provide a food vendor at our races that will offer various selections so that you can choose to purchase food if you wish. If you choose to do so, you will purchase the food directly from them and Happy Trails Racing will not benefit monetarily in any way. We do this to give you the biggest bang for your buck and to try to enhance your experience the best that we can.
Refund Policy:
Happy Trails Racing has a new policy regarding race refunds/transfers: register with confidence knowing that you can take advantage of our early bird pricing and, if you need to back out, you can do so up to 30 days before the race with a 100% race credit that can go towards any future Happy Trails event. It doesn't expire. From 30 days out to 15 days out, you can back out with a 50% race credit. Participants are also welcome to transfer their bib without any penalty up to 15 days before the race. Please keep in mind that everything we need to order to have you at our race is done so at least 30 days out.
Registration fees
Prices are inclusive of mandatory charges, items, and fees
10k Rail Trail Run Closed
Online registration closed-
5k out, 5k back on the rail trail.
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CA$45.00Mar 15 – Apr 1
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CA$55.00Apr 1 – Jul 26
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CA$55.00
Sorry, no hat for you!
Jul 26 – Aug 18
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25k Rail Trail Race Closed
Online registration closed-
25k out and back course on the rail trail. Flat and fast. Bring your sunscreen!
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CA$60.00Mar 15 – Apr 1
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CA$70.00Apr 1 – Jul 26
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CA$70.00
Sorry, no hat for you!
Jul 26 – Aug 18
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50k Rail Trail Race Closed
Online registration closed-
50k out and back course on the rail trail. The course is basically flat (slight incline on the way out, slight decline on the way back) and FAST!
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CA$70.00Mar 15 – Apr 1
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CA$80.00Apr 1 – Jul 26
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CA$80.00
Sorry, no hat for you!
Jul 26 – Aug 18
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50 Mile Rail Trail Race Closed
Online registration closed-
That's really far. Like, really, really far. Like all of the distances, it is an out-and-back course on the rail trail. Flat and fast!
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CA$80.00Mar 15 – Apr 1
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CA$90.00Apr 1 – Jul 26
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CA$90.00
Sorry, no hat for you!
Jul 26 – Aug 18
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100 Mile Rail Trail Run Closed
Online registration closed-
Really? Are you nuts? I don't even like to drive that far. You're just doing it for the sweet belt buckle, aren't you?
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CA$140.00Mar 15 – Apr 1
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CA$150.00Apr 1 – Jul 26
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CA$150.00
Sorry, no hat for you!
Jul 26 – Aug 18
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100k Rail Trail Race Closed
Online registration closed-
100k on the rail trail.
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CA$100.00Mar 15 – Apr 1
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CA$120.00Apr 1 – Jul 26
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CA$120.00
Sorry, no hat for you!
Jul 26 – Aug 18
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WAITLIST Closed
Online registration closed-
Waitlist for all distances.
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FREEMar 15 – Apr 1
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FREEApr 1 – Jul 26
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FREEJul 26 – Aug 18
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Event schedule
- Sat, August 24, 2019 9:00 AM - 50 mile
- Sat, August 24, 2019 9:00 AM - 100 mile
- Sat, August 24, 2019 9:00 AM - 100k
- Sat, August 24, 2019 10:00 AM - 10k
- Sat, August 24, 2019 10:00 AM - 25k
- Sat, August 24, 2019 10:00 AM - 50k
Contact information
- Event contact
- Jeff Rowthorn
- Website
- Visit website
