On Saturday July 6, the trail running community will take on a route like no other – the First Blaze – registrants will run the full length of the Toronto Section of the Bruce Trail!  This race is endorsed by the TBTC and is hosted by an organization named Happy Trails as a 50km race, starting at the Cheltenham Badlands and ending at Kelso Conservation Area. There will also be a 25km option for some starting on Sixth Line between Silver Creek Conservation Area and Limehouse Conservation Area.

This race was Happy Trails’ fastest ever sell-out with 150 registrations in just 10 hours. The organizers ran the entirety of the course and after the 8hrs it took them, they said they loved every minute. Happy Trails has also committed to donate $20 from each registration to the Toronto Bruce Trail Club to go towards preserving and maintaining our trails.

If you are in the area, expect some extra people at Kelso Conservation area between 7am and 10am on race day as they prepare to begin, and again in the afternoon as runners finish up. The 50km race runners will be bussing from Kelso up to Cheltenham at 8am for their 9am start, while 25km race runners will be bussing up to Sixth Line at 9:45am for their 10:30am start. All runners will be running southbound towards the finish line at Kelso, with the first expected as early as 12:30pm, with a cut off time of 7pm.

A team of TBTC volunteers will be monitoring and helping out with the event, including sharing information about the Bruce Trail with registrants and their families. If you would like to volunteer to help contact us at information@torontobrucetrailclub.org.

If you are walking on the Toronto section on July 6th, please be aware that there might be a few more runners than usual. You are welcome to continue your regular use of the trail but stay aware (especially if you are a large group), and stay courteous. Runners will keep to the Main Trail and follow the white blazes. No extra flags will be added to the trail and aid stations will be available every 6-10km.

We are looking forward to welcoming a new community to our beautiful trail and sharing its beauty!  Until then, Happy Trails:)