The Cabot Trail Relay Race is an annual 276.33 km (171.70 mi) relay race around Cape Breton's Cabot Trail. The race takes place over 24 hours in 17 stages and features up to 70 teams and 1,200 runners. The race begins and ends in Baddeck, Nova Scotia. The annual event began in 1988, when just 6 teams participated. Since its founding, over 27,000 runners have participated in the event.http://www.capebretonpost.com/sports/2017/5/19/cabot-trail-relay-race-to-celebrate-30th-anniversary-next-weeken.html
Format The race takes place over approximately 24 hours, beginning on a Saturday morning and continuing to Sunday morning. The race is divided into 17 stages which are unequal both in distance and difficulty. Typically each leg is run by a different runner, but runners can run multiple legs. In 2010 ultramarathoner Mark Campbell attempted to run the entire relay solo, but fell ill and could not complete it. The race begins at the Gaelic College monument outside of Baddeck and completes the Cabot Trail in a counter-clockwise direction, ending in front of the Baddeck Court House. Although some sections of the race are relatively flat, others ascend mountains including Cape Smokey, North Mountain, and MacKenzie Mountain—climbing as high as 460 meters. Leg 9 of the race, which runs over North Mountain, is generally considered the most difficult leg of the race.
Race Map Full Race Map
Entry lottery The race is limited to just 70 teams. 45 teams are drawn from a hat of registered entrants. Another 25 teams are selected by members of the tech crew and organizing committee. The remaining teams are placed on a wait list. A list of accepted teams is posted in January of the year of the race.
Requirements Runners must be 18 years of age to participate in the race. Additionally, runners must be able to run a minimum pace of 9:30 per mile. Runners are expected to finish each leg within the time allotted by this pace. Runners who fail to finish a leg within the allotted time are assigned the time of the slowest runner to complete the leg, plus 5 minutes.
Course records
Male Team Time Distance (Km) Year Pace (Min/Km) Slow Ships 15:19:34 276.33 2024 3:21
Female Team Time Distance (Km) Year Pace (Min/Km) The Boys 18:18:39 276.33 20253:59
Mixed Team Time Distance (Km) Year Pace (Min/Km) Halifax Road Hammers Mixed - Team 1 17:34:54 276.33 2023 3:49
Masters Team Time Distance (Km) Year Pace (Min/Km) Toronto Harriers Masters Team 18:03:16 276.33 2024 3:56
Leg records Leg distances are not formally certified. The Cabot Trail Relay is run on public roads that are subject to periodic maintenance, closure, and detours. Leg start and finish locations are occasionally altered for logistical purposes, and these changes may not be reflected in the officially published leg records.
Male The top male record holder is Dan Vassallo who holds three leg records. Leg Difficulty Runner Time Distance (Km) Year Pace (Min/Km) 1 3.5 Luke Marsanskis 53:17 17.00 2024 3:09 23.5 Dan Vassallo 56:37 17.92 2022 3:10 32 Lee Wesselius 41:31 13.46 2024 3:05 45 Dan Vassallo 1:06:36 20.01 2014 3:20 53.5 Ryan Jara 55:24 17.50 2024 3:10 64.5 Alec Troxell 57:02 17.50 2024 3:16 73 Jesse Orach 44:02 13.10 2018 3:22 82.5 Judson Cake 40:00 12.36 2012 3:17 95 Alec Troxell 1:00:47 17.84 2023 3:24 105 Joel Gallant 52:27 14.70 2024 3:35113.5 Erik McCarthy 43:48 14.00 2017 3:08 123 Maksym Pokotylets 50:03 15.78 2024 3:11 133 Aaron Manning 52:49 15.88 2024 3:20 144 Dan Vassallo 1:02:17 19.81 2018 3:09 152 Erik McCarthy 50:05 15.42 2018 3:15 162 Aaron Willingham 48:05 15.35 2023 3:08 174.5 Jacob Benoit 1:00:02 18.7 2024 3:13 Total 276.27
Female
Sheri Piers is the top female record holder, holding four leg records. Leg Difficulty Runner Time Distance (Km) Year Pace (Min/Km) 1 3.5 Meaghan Strum 1:03:06 17 2024 3:43 23.5 Colleen Wilson 1:05:21 17.92 2022 3:42 32 Sheri Piers 47:47 13.46 2012 3:33 45 Sheri Piers 1:17:43 20.01 2008 3:53 53.5 Sheri Piers 1:04:29 17.5 2013 3:42 64.5 Sheri Piers 1:03:59 17.5 2009 3:39 73 Kristin Barry 51:09 13.5 2014 3:48 82.5 Dana Ferguson 48:19 12.36 2014 3:54 95 Colleen Wilson 1:11:37 17.84 2024 4:01 105 Caroline Schlosser 1:03:54 14.72010 4:21113.5 Grace Richard 53:53 14.0 2024 3:51 123 Erin MacLean 57:41 15.78 2016 3:39 133 Allie Sandluck 1:01:19 15.88 2023 3:52 144 Denise Robson 1:16:59 19.81 2007 3:53 152 Kristin Barry 58:46 15.42 2010 3:49 162 Kristin Barry 55:25 15.35 2008 3:37 174.5 Meaghan Strum 1:09:03 18.7 2024 3:43
References Notes
Citations
External links Official Site