Prairie to Peak Running

27 weeks until spring! If training blocks range from 16-20 weeks, it seems like a good time to highlight some spring races in Canada. 

1. With Covid and then a few pregnancy deferrals, I have yet to be able to run a race hosted by Coast Mountain Trail Running.  Diez Vista 50 km, one of the most historic ultras in Canada, is their first ultra of the season and the course looks rugged, rooty, and beautiful. Located on rainforest trails on the west coast (around Port Moody, BC), it boasts over 2000 metres of elevation gain & loss on trails and gravel roads. This race sells out FAST, so set a reminder for 7 am (PST) on Nov. 22 to register. https://trailrunning.ca/race/diez-vista/
2. My first backyard ultra was Beat the Buzzer put on by Dirty Feet Trail Series and I still remember the warm welcome we received. They put on a great race and have built a great community of runners and volunteers. The Dirty Feet Kal Park 50 (in Kalamalka Provincial Park near Vernon, BC) has been on my radar for a few years now and looks to be a great early season race (May 4, 2025). They have 8 km, 25 km, and 50 km options, all of which wind through forest and grasslands and then finish at the beach. Check out their race page for more information – ​​https://dirtyfeet.ca/product/dirty-feet-kal-park-50/  
3. Trails of Toba races are nearby for me and Suffer on the Centennial may be one I add to my race calendar for 2025. Located at Whiteshell Provincial Park (160 km east of Winnipeg), they offer distances of 100km, 100km relay (6 runners max), 50km, 25km, 8 km – options for everyone! Described as, “classic Canadian Shield running on a mashup of sweet single track and flowy runnable trails, with less than 1 km of roads”, this race is set on some of the most rugged trails on the prairies. Registration opens January 1, the perfect way to kickstart the new year! https://trailsoftoba.com/suffer-on-centennial 
4. Early in my ultra running career I knew friends who ran the Blackfoot Ultra, located at the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation area. They have distance options ranging from 100 km to 25 km, as well as two kids races. Known as the race that is “death by 100 hills”, it’s a great early season race to prepare yourself for a mountain ultra in the summer. Registration opens Oct. 1, for more information check out their site here: https://www.blackfootultra.com/ 

What spring races are you looking at for 2025? Check out the next blog post for highlighted international spring races.