The Sunburn Solstice Trail Run 2024

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We are proud to announce that this event is sanctioned by Athletics Ontario.

The Summer Solstice represents the longest day of the year with 15hrs, 23minutes, 31 seconds of sun. That's certainly a long time for the sun to be gloriously sending light our way. Do you think that you can shine for that long as well? How far do you think that you can run in 15:23?

Race Details:

The race will be run on approximately 3.7 km trail loop. There are a couple of short rolling hills (that will feel as though they are growing with each loop). The course will be a mixture of tree covered trails and open field so bring your sunscreen! The exact course length won't be available until a couple of weeks before the race because we are going to design the course to be the best we possibly can, which means we are going to use the trails that are in the best condition and offer the most scenic options for race day. Last year, we were able to utilize a 3.7 km section of trail that was beautiful. Our intentions are to mostly use the same section of trail but that will depend on the weather leading up to the race, since sections of the route are prone to becoming soggy if there is a lot of rain.

Don't feel like racing for the entire solstice? No problem, you can do it as a relay, which is SO MUCH FUN! If you don't have a team, you can register as a single and we will put you on a team- run as much or as little as you want!

Full Solstice: 15:23 (Starts at 5:39am - Ends at 9:03pm)

Full Solstice Relay: 15:23 (Starts at 5:39am - Ends at 9:03pm)- For the Relay Race, teams can have up to 5 runners per team. They can switch runners as frequently as they wish but each runner must run the full loop and all transitions must occur in the designated "relay transition area". Each member of the team will receive a shirt and a finishing medal. Only the top team in each category (All Men, All Women, and Mixed Relay) will receive an award. It is entirely possible for a speedy team to collectively reach 100 miles or more in the time provided. Only the team captain needs to register, we will contact you closer to race day to get all of your deets! This event is an absolute blast- last year each team set up a tent, table, and chairs and had so much fun hanging out and cheering on their teammates.

Yeah, we know, this is a weird race times but they are based on the sun. Besides, why not do something a little different? Regardless of how far you get, it is likely to be a personal best for you since you probably haven't raced for this exact length of time before!

The vibe at the finish of the race is magical with an outpouring of support from all of the runners just as the sun is setting.

Are you a collector of race medals? All of the Happy Trail Racing events include a cool finisher's medal. Participants will also get a soft-spun t-shirt and some other race goodies. Check out the 2023 MEGA medal below:

Runners will now have the option to choose either a Unisex Shirt or a Women's Cut Shirt during the registration process. The title "Women's Cut" is the actual name of the cut. Any person is welcome to choose whichever option they wish. Please note, the women's cut shirts do tend to fit a bit small.

These shirts are from a previous year and the design changes each year.

Race Site:

The Sunburn Solstice Trail Run will take place at the AMAZING Marydale Park in Mount Hope, ON. The facility itself is beautiful and offers very close parking, scenic grounds, excellent washroom facilities, and an enormous pavilion to shelter spectators from the sun. We are very fortunate and excited to have the opportunity to host a race here and even more excited to have the Marydale Park "One-to-One" camp program, which offers unbelievable opportunities for children with special needs, as our primary charity. Please consider making a donation or raising funds for this great cause. The impact we can make is substantial and close to home.

Aid Stations:

There will be an aid station with lots of goodies to keep you energized and you will pass it every few kilometres. This is a very spectator friendly event as the runners can be viewed many times each loop. The location is absolutely ideal for an event like this as it offers amazing facilities, which both runners and spectators will appreciate.

Stock up in between loops. There will be water, an electrolyte drink (Skratch Labs), and all of your typical ultra running fare including sweet and salty snacks, pb and j sandwiches, potatoes, and chips.

Charity:

The charity that will benefit from this race is the C.Y.O. "One-to-One" camp program, which is an incredible cause. The money raised will go towards sending children with disabilities to Marydale Park, where they will get to experience an incredible week at camp with 1:1 support. The camp is fully accessible and offers campers an experience that they will forever cherish.

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.

Refund Policy:

Happy Trails Racing has a 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. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate cancellations within 30 days of the race. However, participants are welcome to transfer their bib to someone else without any penalty up to 5 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.

Race Reports:

All photos below care of Sue Sitki Photography