So, here’s some exciting local news, that our good friends at 5 Peaks will host the 2017 Canadian Mountain Running Championship in Canmore on June 10.
Canada’s top mountain runners are expected to compete for the Canadian title up and down the beautiful trails at Canmore Nordic Centre. Prize money will be awarded to the top Canadian finishers in the men’s and women’s races.
The Canadian Championships are the qualifying race for the Canadian national mountain running team which will compete at the World Mountain Running Championships in Italy on July 30, 2017. You can find out more about qualifying for the national team here.
A wee footnote to all this. Before you rock up to the Nordic Centre on June 10 with your Speedcross and a burning desire to race, you do have to have qualified which you can do by meeting any one (or more) of the following criteria:
- You’ve previously competed for Canada in Mountain Running or Cross-Country Running at the international level in the last 5 years (NACAC, Worlds or Commonwealth Championships)
- You’ve finished in the top three in your age group in a Canadian Regional Mountain Running Qualifying Series race:
Eastern Qualifying Race: Xtrail Mont Sutton, May 27, 2017 [qualify in any distance – 6.5k, 11.8k or 22k]
Ontario Qualifying Race: 5Peaks Terra Cotta, April 22, 2017 [qualify in either Sports Course or Enduro Course]
Prairies Qualifying Race: 5Peaks Terwillegar, April 29, 2017[qualify in either Sports Course or Enduro Course]
BC Qualifying Race: Loop the Lakes, May 13, 2017 [qualify in any distance – 8k, 15k or 21k]
- You’ve run under 36 minutes (men) or 40 minutes (women) for 10km in 2016 or 2017 in a sanctioned road or cross-country race or any other equivalent race result.
I’m guessing you probably also need to be Canadian too…for which there is increasing demand these days it seems. And, of course, if you do qualify and you get to race, don’t forget your bear spray!
Meanwhile in Geneva, i’ve been busy tackling my inspiration deficit. First, i’m making my way through this mighty tome by Jason Koop, and rather enjoying it too:
Second, i’m also making a distinct effort to seek out trails, as opposed to tarmac, in and around my current stomping ground, and that do not involve a 40-plus minute drive to and from the trailhead. Last Saturday saw some success in the company of Ms Canmore Runner with a great little 7km run which involved a superb 4km stretch and some bushwhacking along the banks of La Versoix:
True, Canmore and the Bow Valley it is not, and the sound of gun fire from the nearby shooting range was a little off-putting, but it’s still pretty special. And you’ve got to make the most of what you’ve got.
Until next time, happy trails.
Canmore Runner 
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