The Suntrail – Source for Adventure Course, or the “Suntrail Course”, for short, is a 25km taste of adventure racing with no navigation required. Part of the larger Bruce Peninsula Multisport Race (BPMR), it will begin at 10am on Saturday August 8, 2015.
The only unmarked section of the Suntrail Course is the 4km paddling stage, where canoe teams and kayakers will travel across crystal clear water and historic shipwrecks on their way to the first transition area. In the event of high winds or severe weather, the paddling section will be shifted to land and the racers will join the run-bike-run duathlon competitors.
After the first transition area, a 15km mountain bike section features some bumpy terrain, some short climbs, and a couple of technical sections that riders may find easier to dismount and push. All sections of trail and gravel road are well marked so it’s just a matter of pushing on! This grind finishes in a very amicable fashion with approximately 5km of speedy straight sections and a scenic return to the transition. From here, all competitors follow the white flashes of the Bruce Trail through the village of Colpoy’s Bay and back into the forest. Once back in the bush, the run section covers some rugged terrain for a couple of kilometres before descending the famed spiral staircase & following the shoreline road back to Wiarton with a big finish in Bluewater Park.
The live entertainment follows on-stage with some old-time country music to accompany the mix of the Summer House Park Kids Race participants and Buff® Long Course participants crossing the finish line throughout the afternoon. Local musician Steenika Gilbert will kick off the musical entertainment on the stage in Bluewater Park at noon.
“Suntrail is proud to be a part of such a great event, right in our own backyard,” says Suntrail owner Marcie Matthies. “We wish the best of luck to all the course athletes!”
Suntrail will be giving away a free entry to the Suntrail Course in-store, starting Friday. Details will be announced very shortly on their Facebook page.
“If you have the endurance to run 5K and the ability to properly paddle a kayak and ride a mountain bike, then you will enjoy completing the Suntrail Course” claims director Leigh Grigg. “If you’ve raced other adventure races, sprint triathlons, mud/obstacle or themed endurance runs, then you’re going to love every moment of the BPMR. It’s a great challenge in a picturesque part of the world. The Bruce Peninsula is home to UNESCO’s Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve, and most people don’t know just how close it is from Southern Ontario.”
“In my opinion, the best way to experience the BPMR is to camp out in one of the many parks on the Bruce Peninsula or take advantage of the great accommodation and hospitality available in and around Wiarton,” continues Grigg. There are also kayak & mountain bike rentals available thanks to Suntrail and Alternative Wheels, respectively. All rentals are in great condition and are available at a big discount, with transportation included.
“For the same price, you can actually pick up the mountain bike as early as the Tuesday, which allows you to explore trails on the Bruce throughout the week leading up to the race,” says Grigg.
You can register now at http://www.brucepeninsulamultisportrace.ca or just stop in and talk to the staff at Suntrail in nearby Hepworth, Ontario to learn more. Registrants must sign up by Wednesday August 5th when the event goes off-sale and starters lists are finalized. Late fees apply after August 1.