We are back for another exciting fundraising event for one of our favourite not-for-profit organizations, Roots to Harvests! Routes 4 Roots is a semi-virtual trail running event for runners of all abilities that will take place at Centennial Park from Friday, July 9th until Sunday, July 11th. Please read below for more details.
Roots to Harvest is a local not-for-profit organization who have stepped up in a major way during the pandemic, by shifting their focus to provide essential food distribution to those in need. Through food, they connect people and promote belonging, education, and skills development. They run a wide range of remarkable programs and we're excited to be working with them again.
COVID-19 has greatly impacted their ability to run a number of fundraising events, so we've decided to support them by hosting a virtual race to provide financial support for their ongoing efforts.
If you would like to be a part of the fundraiser, registration for Routes for Roots is $30 (plus booking site admin fee). Entrants will receive a fun route to run, a virtual bib, a chance to win some prizes and the warm feeling of knowing they helped a wonderful community minded organization. We will also have a commemorative race T-Shirt available to order for an additional $25. You can wear it with pride knowing you've supported Roots to Harvest by running with UpRiver Running.
*PLEASE NOTE: If you want to order a shirt, you'll need to order it by Thursday, July 8th 11:59pm at the latest. All shirts will be ready by the following weekend.
Men's shirt - sizing chart
Women's shirt - sizing chart
How does Routes for Roots work?
We have mapped a race route on Strava. The course is between 6 and 7 kilometres. Participants have 3 days to run the route. You can run it more than once if you choose and then submit their best time. The route is intentionally easy to follow, on a course that allows for appropriate social distancing, should you encounter another runner. It’s not the technical single track you’re used to from UpRiver but we haven’t made it easy ;)
Participants will record their lap of the route using Strava on a gps watch or smartphone and submit their fastest lap. We will tabulate the entries in real time to the best of our ability. Keeping a virtual leaderboard for the 3 days the race is open. At the conclusion of the 3 day race period, we will crown the winners and give away some prizes for participation.
If one lap isn’t enough, do the double. The same course, run twice, back to back, washing machine style. One lap counter clockwise and then one lap clockwise.
At UpRiver we are about building community, and supporting a great local not-for-profit like Roots to Harvest is a great way to do that.
If you would like and are able to donate beyond the registration fee, you may do so on the registration page. Roots to Harvest will do great work with your money, in our community.
**Do you live outside of Thunder Bay, but still want to be involved? Scroll to the bottom of this page***
Course Description:
You will start at the main doors of the Chalet and head down to the small bridge and down the Centennial Cabins Trail that follows the river on your right. Stay on this trail and head for the highway bridge. Once you run under the bridge, keep going straight and follow the yellow trail that runs alongside the river. After about 2.22Km/1.38miles, you'll take a left up the blue trail (we call this Mother Hill). Follow this trail for about 2.6Km/1.6miles until it opens up to where the bench is (on your right). At this point, you will have covered about 4.67km/2.9miles. Don't turn left on the red trail and don't turn right to the blue trail. Keep moving forward and head down the trail which leads you to Hydro Hill. Run down hydro hill, and hang a right to go under the highway bridge. Stay on that same trail that you ran up. Follow this all the way back. Run over the small wooden bridge and hang a right to finish at the main doors of the Chalet.
If you've signed up for The Single, congratulations, you're done! If you've signed up for The Double, follow the same loop in reverse (clockwise). This means that you'll be heading back out the same way, but once you go under the highway bridge, you'll need to take a left to go up the Hydro hill. Stop your watch once you're back at the main starting point by the main doors of the Chalet.
Now just submit your time by emailing us your Strava run activity with your elapsed time and you’re finished. Follow along daily and we’ll do the rest.
The event will run from Friday, July 9th until Sunday, July 11th. Challenge yourself to better your time by submitting your fastest time in that time frame. Results must be submitted by emailing your recorded Strava link* to upriverrunning@gmail.com. We will use your elapsed time, and segment time to estimate your official finish time. Please make sure you TURN OFF your AUTO PAUSE feature. Final results must be submitted by 10pm on Sunday, July 11th.
Strava course links
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The Single: https://www.strava.com/routes/2868575
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The Double: https://www.strava.com/routes/28624840
COURSE PREVIEW VIDEO: Follow Ms. Sadie Puppers to preview the course
Trailforks labeled Routes (The Double): https://www.trailforks.com/route/routes-for-roots-2-loops/
*If you don't have access to a GPS watch or a smartphone, please contact us: upriverrunning@gmail.com
OUT OF TOWNERS:
**For those of you who chose the 'Out of Towners' option:
We have decided to open up a separate category for Routes for Roots to anyone wishing to support Roots to Harvest by taking part in the virtual race.
So, to our friends beyond our city, here are the few simple rules:
1) Choose an 8Km trail course to run on.
2) Submit your fastest time during the same race period, July 9th - July 11th by emailing us your run Strava link to: upriverrunning@gmail.com
3) Stay tuned for a chance to win prizes: (We will crown a winner of the overall fastest 8Km runner, and have a draw prize, to be drawn from for anyone who participated in the 8km run).
The same $30 registration fee will apply with an optional $25 for a commemorative Routes for Roots t-shirt.
REMEMBER: if you want to order a shirt, you'll need to order it by 11:59pm on July 8th at the latest. All shirts will be ready by the following weekend.