Participant instructions for 2026
- Chris
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
We're really excited about our 16th year oF running through the Copeland Forest
The first peek at a 14 day forecast shows that the weather is looking amazing for our race weekend! We've got so much more than just a race taking place on April 25th at the Heights of Horseshoe so bring the whole family and make it an outdoor experience weekend!
Race Day Schedule
All the action on race day happens at The Heights Ski and Country Club, aka your start line and your finish line. Pre-race kit pickup is at the Heights Ski and Country Club on Friday, April 24 from 1pm-4pm but if you can't make it, grab your kit starting at 7:00am on race morning, Saturday, April 25.
Fri, Apr 24
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: pre-race kit pickup @ The Heights Ski & Country Club
Sat, Apr 25
7:00 am: kit pickup
8:00am: 50k race start
8:30am: 25k race start
9:00am: 12.5k race start
Heads up 12.5k runners: your start is 30 minutes earlier than in previous years.
We recommend arriving at least an hour before your start time to park, pick up your kit, and get those nerves going.
The Course
The 🅿️☠️🅿️ course dishes out roughly 400m of elevation gain per loop, so buckle up. The good news? The first 3km are relatively gentle; enjoy it, because it doesn't last. The mid-course climbing block (we're looking at you, Splits 4–8) packs in the bulk of the elevation gain including the day's steepest climb, and the late-race sections will test every bit of energy you've got left. You'll want to save some for the finish. As you come down that final hill, you'll be treated to our legendary ski hill finish chute, and yes, it gets longer every year (the finish chute, not the course). Before you head out on that last segment, make absolutely sure you've loaded up at The Oakley's Safe Haven aid station. It's a doozie out there and you want to come in hot, not crawling. Check out the aid station locations on our elevation profile map, or download the GPX here.
Navigating
Pink flags will be on your right the entirety of the course. There will be a pink flag every 100m. If you go more than 30 seconds without seeing a pink flag you are off course. 1m high 🅿️☠️🅿️ signs will be marking hard turns. It is unusual for people to go off course because of the density of flags but it can happen if you let your mind wander in nature. Just re-enter the course where you left it and continue your race.
Hydration
Our aid stations are ready to keep you hydrated! We're excited to have Hammer Nutrition lemon-lime and orange Heed sports drink available for all runners to give you sustained energy and buffer lactic acid.
We are a cupless event which means you need some way to transport and drink your liquids. Reusable cups, hydration vests, and handheld bottles are all great examples.
Aid Stations
We'll have Hammer Nutrition Canada gels in vanilla, chocolate, orange, tropical and chocolate peanut butter.
In addition we'll have standard aid station food available at all three aid stations including:
pickles
potatoes
bananas
oranges
chips
gummies
avocado or nutella wraps
apple sauce packs
M&Ms.
Ski Hill Aid Station (#1) @ 4.5km
You'll see it from the bottom of the ski hill. You just have to climb the first hill to get to it!
Oakley's Safe Haven (#2) @ 8.0km
While this isn't a long distance from the last aid station, you start to see some of the first course climbs. You'll want to top up and be prepared for the last section. No jokes, it's the longest, and hardest. If you're to take any advice from the RDs, don't underestimate fuel you need to get through the final section!
New this year we'll have a porta-pottie at the Oakley's Safe Haven.
The Heights Aid Station / Start-Finish @ 12.5km
Well at least the final approach is downhill because nothing else leading up to this was, including Little Katie, and Katie's climb. Oh wait, before you get to the aid station, you'll be heckled for 500m by the Grim Reaper! Back at the heights, there's full service bathrooms, your drop bag and you can see your crew before you head out on the loop to do it all again.
Crew Points/Drop Bags
Crew can only access runners at the main aid station at the Heights Ski & Country Club. Drop bags can be placed at the start/finish and we will have a designated area with shelter.
New to crewing? Check out this great article on how to support your runner!
Bathrooms
The Heights Ski & Country Club has full service bathrooms and we'll have the door on the lower floor open to access them without having to use stairs during the race. Look for the signs within the first 20m of the course. Please do not pee in the parking lot or outside the main chalet. Use the inside bathrooms at the chalet or go discreetly in the woods. If caught peeing in the parking lot, within sight of the chalet or outside the chalet you will be immediately removed from the race and banned.
Other
Poles: yes, you can use them.
Dogs: welcome at the start/finish on-leash. Please don't run the course with them or bring them in the building. Standard Ontario health laws and all.
Finish Time: all runners have until 5:00pm to finish their race. Final lap must be started by 2:30pm. For safety reasons, you cannot start a new lap after 2:30pm.
Food and Beverage
Lunch is provided for runners at the Heights Ski & Country Club. When you registered you chose your lunch options including letting us know about dietary restrictions. If you do not remember what you ordered for lunch please ask our volunteers at registration and they will be able to confirm your choice.
Families and friends of runners are more than welcome to enjoy the pub inside the Heights Ski & Country Club where they can get food and drink. Runners may also enjoy a frosty beverage at the pub after but please, no outside alcohol in the venue or parking lot. Being caught consuming alcohol you did not purchase at the Heights Ski & Country Club pub will result in an immediate disqualification and a permanent ban from the race.
Official Timing
Our race will once again be timed by our timing partners Chip Timing. Winners are based on gun time (not chip time) and the top 3 female, male and non-binary will be awarded in each distance.
Awards
We are very excited to have some great gift packs full of local small business supplied gifts for our top runners this year. Thanks to our sponsors - please do support them in return.
Handmade 🅿️☠️🅿️ medal display hanger (Evans Tree Work)
Grab bag of Hammer Nutrition Canada gels (Hammer Nutrition)
Limited edition almond and honey soaps (Sue's Soap Creations)
Locally roasted coffee (Epic North)
Finisher Awards
Finish the distance that you signed up for and you will receive the coveted 🅿️☠️🅿️ socks!
On Course Photography
We're excited to once again have Sue Sitki photography on course capturing the highs and lows, the fun and the grind of your race.
Please ensure that your bib is worn on the front of your body and clearly visible to camera to enable Search By Bib within the gallery. Where bibs are not visible to camera, Search By Selfie will find your photos within the gallery. The new gallery used by Sue only searches by bib number and selfie/facial recognition. No names are associated with your images for online privacy reasons. Photos will be available 24-48 hours after the race. Announcements and links will also be posted to Facebook and Instagram @suesitkiracephotos. Your high resolution digital images are free to download, courtesy of 🅿️☠️🅿️.
Bookmark this page - https://sue-sitki-photography.photohawk.com/pages/events
Post Race Massage
We are so excited to have partnered with Oxford College to have their massage therapy students provide massage therapy for runners, friends and family.
Supporting Local Canadian artisans
We really want to create sustainable partnerships with our sponsors and as part of that, we'll have Sue's Soap Creations soaps and Evans Tree Works medal hangers available for purchase on race day. You can pre-order your medal hangers in your choice of wood and Evans Tree Works will have them available for pickup on race day.
We'll also have 🅿️☠️🅿️ swag for sale and all proceeds go towards the Canadian Mental Health Association Simcoe County. Last year you helped us make a $1,240 donation to this great cause!