Wikipedia

Cabot Trail Relay Race

The Cabot Trail Relay Race is an annual 276.33 km (171.70 mi) relay race around Cape Breton's Cabot Trail.[1] The race takes place over 24 hours in 17 stages and features up to 70 teams and 1,200 runners.[2][3] The race begins and ends in Baddeck, Nova Scotia.[4] The annual event began in 1988, when just 6 teams participated.[5] Since its founding, over 27,000 runners have participated in the event.[6]

Cabot Trail Relay Race
Cabot Trail Relay Race Logo
DateMay
LocationCabot Trail, starting and ending in Baddeck, Nova Scotia
Event typeRoad Relay
Distance276.33 km (171.70 mi)
Established1988
Course records15:43:23 - Team: Maine-iacs - Men (2023)
Official sitehttp://cabottrailrelay.com

Format

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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.[7] 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.[8] Leg 9 of the race, which runs over North Mountain, is generally considered the most difficult leg of the race.[9][10]

Race Map

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Full Race Map

 
Runners at the Cabot Trail Relay Race, in costume.

Entry lottery

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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.[11]

 
A runner approaches the finish line of the final leg.

Requirements

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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.[12] 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.[13]

Course records

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Male

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Team Time Distance (Km)[N 1] Year Pace (Min/Km)[N 1]
Maine-iacs 15:43:23 276.33 2023 3:25

[14]

Female

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Team Time Distance (Km)[N 1] Year Pace (Min/Km)[N 1]
Halifax Road Hammers - Women 19:18:07 276.33 2022 4:11

[15]

Mixed

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Team Time Distance (Km)[N 1] Year Pace (Min/Km)[N 1]
Halifax Road Hammers Mixed - Team 1 17:34:54 276.33 2023 3:49

[15][16]

Leg records

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Male

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The top male record holder is Dan Vassallo who holds six leg records.

Leg Difficulty[8] Runner Time Distance (Km)[N 1] Year Pace (Min/Km)[N 1]
1 3.5 Luke Marsanskis 53:17 17.00 2024 3:09
2 3.5 Dan Vassallo 56:37 17.92 2022 3:10
3 2 Lee Wesselius 41:31 13.46 2024 3:05
4 5 Dan Vassallo 1:06:36 20.01 2014[17] 3:20
5 3.5 Dan Vassallo 55:54 17.50 2015[18] 3:12
6 4.5 Dan Vassallo 57:17 17.50 2023[19] 3:17
7 3 Jesse Orach 44:02 13.10 2018[20] 3:22
8 2.5 Judson Cake 40:00 12.36 2012[21] 3:17
9 5 Alec Troxell 1:00:47 17.84 2023[22] 3:24
10 5 Ken Akiha 54:02 14.70 2016[23] 3:41
11 3.5 Erik McCarthy 43:48 14.00 2017[24] 3:08
12 3 Robert Gomez 50:53 15.78 2023 3:14
13 3 Robert Gomez 53:22 15.88 2016[25] 3:22
14 4 Dan Vassallo 1:02:17 19.81 2018[26] 3:09
15 2 Erik McCarthy 50:05 15.42 2018[27] 3:15
16 2 Aaron Willingham 48:05 15.35 2023 3:08
17 4.5 Dan Vassallo 1:00:44 18.7[N 2] 2015[28] 3:15
Total 276.27

Female

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Sheri Piers is the top female recor holder, holding four leg records (she also has the fastest time run on the longer course used for leg 17 in 2012 and 2013).[29]

Leg Difficulty[8] Runner Time Distance (Km)[N 1] Year Pace (Min/Km)[N 1]
1 3.5 Meagan Strum 1:03:06 17 2024 3:43
2 3.5 Colleen Wilson 1:05:21 17.92 2022 3:42
3 2 Sheri Piers 47:47 13.46 2012 3:33
4 5 Allie Sandluck 1:16:50 20.01 2024 3:51
5 3.5 Sheri Piers 1:04:29 17.5 2013 3:42[30]
6 4.5 Sheri Piers 1:03:59 17.5 2009 3:39
7 3 Kristin Barry 51:09 13.5 2014 3:48
8 2.5 Dana Ferguson 48:19 12.36 2014 3:54
9 5 Sheri Piers 1:13:29 17.84 2010 4:07
10 5 Caroline Schlosser 1:03:54 14.7 2010 4:21
11 3.5 Denise Robson 54:14 14.0 2018 3:53
12 3 Erin MacLean 57:41 15.78 2016 3:39
13 3 Allie Sandluck 1:01:19 15.88 2023 3:52
14 4 Denise Robson 1:16:59 19.81 2007 3:53
15 2 Kristin Barry 58:46 15.42 2010 3:49
16 2 Kristin Barry 55:25 15.35 2008 3:37
17 4.5 Colleen Wilson 1:13:18 18.7[N 3] 2023 3:55

[15]

 
Sheri Piers of the Maine Road Hags approaches the finish line on the final leg of the Cabot Trail Relay Race.

References

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Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Courses are not certified and distances (and therefore paces) are only estimates.
  2. ^ A longer 19.3 Km course was used in 2012 and 2013 due to a bridge closure. Adam Goode holds the male record on the alternate course, completing it in a time of 1:06:51 in 2012.[28]
  3. ^ A longer 19.3 Km course was used in 2012 and 2013 due to a bridge closure. Sheri Piers holds the female record on the alternate course, completing it in a time of 1:17:43 in 2013.[31] Her 4:03 minute/Km pace is the fastest pace run by a female on leg 17.
Citations
  1. ^ "Cabot Trail Relay Race - Things to Do - Cape Breton Island - Trip Planner". Cape Breton Island. Archived from the original on 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  2. ^ "Listing Details". Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. ^ "Cabot Trail Relay Race underway - Local". Cape Breton Post. 2011-05-28. Archived from the original on 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  4. ^ "Cabot Trail Relay Race". Cabottrailrelay.com. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  5. ^ "About | Cabot Trail Relay Race". Cabottrailrelay.com. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  6. ^ http://www.capebretonpost.com/sports/2017/5/19/cabot-trail-relay-race-to-celebrate-30th-anniversary-next-weeken.html[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Ultramarathoner sidelined on Cabot Trail". CBC. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  8. ^ a b c "Leg Descriptions" (PDF). Cabot Trail Relay Website. Cabot Trail Relay. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  9. ^ "Trail Blazers". Cape Breton Post. 22 May 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  10. ^ "1,200 runners headed for Cabot Trail Relay". The Chronicle Herald. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  11. ^ "Registration". Cabot Trail Relay Website. Cabot Trail Relay. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  12. ^ "About". Cabot Trail Relay Website. Cabot Trail Relay. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  13. ^ "CTRR Rules". Cabot Trail Relay Website. Cabot Trail Relay. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Results".
  15. ^ a b c Cabot Trail Relay Race Program. Baddeck: Cabot Trail Relay Association. 2013.
  16. ^ "2013 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Team Results)". Archived from the original on 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  17. ^ "2014 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 4)". Atlanticchip.ca. 2014-05-24. Archived from the original on 2015-01-17. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  18. ^ "2015 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 5)". Atlanticchip.ca. 2015-05-23. Archived from the original on 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  19. ^ "2023 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 3)". Atlanticchip.ca. 2023. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  20. ^ "2018 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 7)". Atlanticchip.ca. 2018-05-26. Archived from the original on 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  21. ^ "2012 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 8)". Atlanticchip.ca. 2012-05-27. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  22. ^ "Results - Cabot Trail Relay 2023". raceroster.com. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  23. ^ "2016 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 10)". raceroster.com. 2016-05-28. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
  24. ^ "2017 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 11)". Atlanticchip.ca. May 2017. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  25. ^ "2016 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 13)". raceroster.com. 2016-05-29. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
  26. ^ "2018 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 14)". Atlanticchip.ca. 2018-05-27. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  27. ^ "2018 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 15)". Atlanticchip.ca. May 2018. Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  28. ^ a b "1991 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 17)". Atlanticchip.ca. May 1991. Archived from the original on 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  29. ^ "Top American Sheri Piers Defies Age - Competitor.com". Running.competitor.com. 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  30. ^ "2013 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 5)". Atlanticchip.ca. 2013-05-26. Archived from the original on 2014-07-17. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  31. ^ "2013 results for Cabot Trail Relay (Leg 17)". Atlanticchip.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-07-17. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
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