The Creemore Vertical Challenge has an extremely special place in my heart. On August 8th, 2015 I ran the 25k distance. The course was described as 50% trail, 50% country road and almost no cliffs. It is very hilly, climbing the Niagara Escarpment twice with about 875 meters of vertical ascent over 25 kilometers. After three years of running reasonably flat road races, this 25 kilometer distance would be my 1st ever trail race. There was a 50k distance (two 25k loops) which I couldn’t imagine. In addition, there was also a 75k distance (three loops of 25k) added for 2015. Do runners actually go that far? What kind of deranged race director would add such a torturous distance? That’s six times climbing the Niagara Escarpment. Who in their right mind would sign up for something like that?

Directed by Pierre Marcoux and his late partner Lee Anne Cohen, even the 25k distance really scared me. And I almost didn’t register. An excerpt from a seasoned runners blog went like this, “A few weeks ago, I ran the Creemore Vertical Challenge, in oppressive heat. It was horrible. I don’t want to talk about it. It’s the second time in a row that I stagger through 30C+ weather while baking under the sun on those (expletive) rural roads. This is it. I’m never going back. Even the joy of sitting in the river after the race felt wrong. It reminded me too much of the joke: “Why do you keep hitting you head on the wall?” Answer: Because it feels so good when I stop!” I love the people there, but enough is enough. One can only take so much character building.” I ran the 25k distance of the Creemore Vertical Challenge in the end. It was tough, but I had such a great time.

I wrote my race recap and sent it to Pierre. He loved it. Pierre also has his own blog called Running Challenged. Also known as “Vertical Pierre”, Pierre’s personality really shines through his writings. Through our blogs a friendship grew. So naturally I registered up for the 50k in 2016. There were changes in the course for 2016, most notably was the addition of another escarpment climb (called “The Pitch”), which would bring the elevation gain/loss to around 2,000 metres for the 50k. With that additional elevation the Salomon Skyrunning Series Canada now had the Creemore Vertical Challenge included as part of their series. It was sure tough, but it went extremely well for me. On race day that year, despite all the pressures and busyness of that day, Pierre really went out of his way to connect with me. In the end this “deranged race director” actually has now become a wonderful friend. At the end of my race recap that year I mentioned that for my next Creemore Vertical Challenge I would be going for the 75k.

I had a feeling that race directors like Pierre and Lee Anne put a ton of hours into their grass root events. All for free. But I had no idea to what extent. The month following the 2016 Creemore Vertical Challenge, Pierre wrote an article on his website titled, “Creemore Vertical Challenge is No More”. It was such an honest, well written article, sharing all that is involved with putting on a race of such magnitude. With the 800+ hours spent on the race details each year for Pierre, plus Lee Anne working 200-300 hours in race food detail and hand making pottery for medals and winners prizes, it takes its toll. Then there is the dealing with more and more bureaucracy. There is the risk of liability and a high level of stress. Pierre was turning 60 at the time. With myself being the very same age as Pierre, I know there are a lot more physical limitations that come into play as we get older. I totally understood the decision.

A week after Pierre’s announcement, Kim Van Delst announced that she was stepping down as coordinator of OUTRace (Ontario Ultra and Trail Running Series). The very next day Pierre was informed that he was the new coordinator – there wasn’t even a vote! Just like that. Pierre did not protest, he did not raise a stink. He stepped up to the plate and the Ontario Ultra and Trail Racing Series never lost a beat. As Pierre and I continued to keep it touch, he offered me a proposal. Why don’t we together make an attempt at the Norm Patenaude Award, for the completion of 8 or more ultras in the OUTRace series the next year. I wanted to give it a shot so badly, but I was still working full time and on top of that, lay pastor of a church on Sunday. It would have been too much. Pierre did make an attempt on his own, but unfortunately fell just short of completing the 8 ultras in 2017. The next time I saw Pierre was in 2019 at the Spring Warmup that he organized. It was so wonderful running a 13 kilometer loop together and catching up. Then COVID hit. During that time Pierre lost his beloved wife Lee Anne to lung cancer. She never smoked a cigarette in her life. To my knowledge, Lee Anne still holds the Canadian 100-mile record for women 60-64. Lee Anne ran for 26 hours and 34 minutes.

So it was such a pleasant surprise to learn at this years Spring Warmup that the Creemore Vertical Challenge was being resurrected by a new director with Pierre’s blessing. The new director is Kathy Webber. In 2021 Kathy started a new local grass root running company called N89 Trail Series. To start this up during the pandemic has my total admiration. This would have been so challenging. Her races in 2021 were virtual/hybrid. Which means you would run the actual course. But on your own time so there is the social distancing. She directed two main live races in 2022, both held at the Mansfield Outdoor Centre. These two races were once again offered in 2023. Plus the addition of the Creemore Vertical Challenge held on October 21st. This race as well as the Great Mansfield Outdoors held in early June are part of the OUTRace Series.

I met Kathy Webber for the very 1st time at this years spring warmup. She kindly took on the responsibility of directing this event this year. I was so very impressed with her care for the runners safety and attention to detail. I only ran one 13 kilometer loop of the Spring Warm Up this year. So while other runners were running a second loop, I had a good visit with her. I was impressed with her environmental stance with her races. Her races are disposable cup free. And for the Creemore Vertical Challenge, which was still 6 months away, Kathy was sourcing out a long sleeve bamboo technical shirt that’s made in Canada for the runners. In addition a Canadian made buff and a Canadian made wooden medal. With over 90% of race medals coming from China at a huge environmental cost, it is so refreshing to have a natural wooden medal that is made right here in Canada. And Canadian made swag. A portion of the proceeds from race registration was in support of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority. This public agency in my area is dedicated to the preservation of a healthy environment.

With our planet in a climate emergency, the race was well within my own personal Green Runner pledge of being under a 60 kilometer drive to get there. I knew I wanted to run it. But what distance? As much as I wanted to make that attempt to run 75 kilometers, I pretty much knew I wouldn’t complete it under the 12 hour time limit. It’s been 7 years since the last time it was held. I’m getting older, I’m slowing down. And I’m okay with that. A portion of the course is on lightly used and very hilly back roads. It was important to make sure runners are finished before dark for safety reasons. Which I’m guessing is the reason for the 12 hour time limit. No matter how bright a headlamp, or how reflective our clothing is, if a runner is mowed down by a driver on a road section there is an unconscious bias that society will always favor the car driver. And the victim is blamed. What was he or she wearing? The runner must have been wearing earbuds. Roads are for cars, not runners. Shouldn’t have been on the road in the first place. And it goes on and on. Environmental psychologist Ian Walker calls this “motornormativity” or car brain. But that is an entire topic on its own.

After running my 96k in the middle of summer, I still ran in the weeks following. But nothing serious. No long training runs. The rest of summer went by, and before I knew it, it was October. The registration cutoff for the Creemore Vertical Challenge was only a week away. It was then a tossup between the 25k or the 50k. On the final day of registration I clicked 50k. I was now committed. On race day I arrived for the bib pickup in plenty of time, always hoping to catch up with old acquaintances. But I didn’t recognize anyone. Just then I heard a “Carl, Carl”. It was my organic farmer friend John and his wife Suzzanne. Several years ago I wrote an article about their organic farm and all that is involved for them to receive organic certification. John and Suzzanne were not runners that I was aware of, so I was a bit puzzled. It turned out they were there to support their son Jack (my youngest son’s age) who was running the 25k. It was really cool to see them there.

Five minute’s before the 50k race start Kathy gave us a quick briefing on the course. It was a cold, wet miserable day. But we were reminded that we were tough. On the other hand it was important to reach out for help if exposure to the cold was affecting any of us. Watch for the pink markers that mark the course. And have fun. There were a few changes in the course from the original Creemore Vertical Challenge. The one most noticeable was the start/finish was now at Mad River Park in Creemore. The former Creemore Vertical Challenge was also on the Mad River, but on the property of Pierre and Lee Anne. It was sold following Lee Anne’s passing. A prerace memo from Kathy read, “Significant rainstorms have changed some paths, and properties have new owners. Sideroad 3/4 is no longer on the course as there is a swamp in it. A big one. The infamous rope climb? It collapsed, along with its tree, into a ravine about 10’ deeper than it used to be (read: cliffs).” There was however much of the original course I remembered from 2015 and 2016. It was so wonderful being back out there.

The other big difference was the time of year. Those two blistering hot August races I ran while baking on those hilly backroads there was the concern of runners overheating or hyperthermia. And trying to keep hydrated. I had a 1500ml hydration pack that needed a full refill each aid station. At the new Creemore Vertical Challenge held mid October it was the opposite. The concern there was hypothermia, which occurs after exposure to cold, wet or windy conditions. The exposed wind whipped sections on top of the escarpment were ideal conditions for hypothermia. I keep putting layers on while on top of those extremely exposed escarpment sections. And taking them off while running sheltered forests valleys. Despite a memo that Kathy sent out to dress in layers, I was quite concerned for some runners who were very ill-equipped for the conditions.

I always love meeting new runners while on course and this race was no exception. There was Trevor who has a cottage not far away from where I live. And Kandice from Georgetown. She got into running from the legendary Joe Cleary, who lives in the same town as her. We had a great running conversation talking about Joe. I’ve met Joe twice. At 83 he is still running massive races. Including a race called “Three Days at the Fair” this past May. Joe ran a phenomenal 162 miles in that race. Despite the 25k runners starting 30 minutes after the 50k runners, young Jack Williams caught up to me 2/3rds into my 1st loop. We ran together a bit. He had a faster pace. I had another loop to go, so after a while I encouraged Jack to go on ahead.

Jack finished his loop, he waited for me to come in from my loop. Along with his girlfriend from the UK and parents John and Suzanne. This was very kind of them all and meant so much to me. After my 1st loop I briefly saw another ultrarunning legend named Ronald Gehl, who was getting ready to go out for his next loop. Every race now, a few runners are mistaking me for 74 year old Ron. Given that Ron has completed 272 ultras (including 9 this year in 2023), I’m taking this as a huge compliment. Seeing Ron was a huge morale boost for me. After talking to two separate 50k runners during the last couple of kilometers who were calling it a day at the end of one loop (for important reasons though), I really wanted to call it a day as well. Seeing Ron’s dear wife tenderly help him with some gear changes at the start/finish and the determination set on Ron’s face was what I needed.

Timewise I was in good shape to beat the 9 hour cutoff. It was nice not to have those pressures. Loop 2 was pretty much a repeat of loop 1. Made the necessary layer changes when it was needed. Spent a little extra time at each aid station. I appreciate those volunteers so much. And walked a few more hills than the first loop. The finish line was a welcome sight. Complete with having my water bottle filled with steamy hot apple cider by one of the dear volunteers. Boy that tasted so good.

So the million dollar question is, “How does the 2023 Creemore Vertical Challenge compare to the 10 years running of the Creemore Vertical Challenges from 2007 to 2016.” I’m sure there are other runners, but Ronald Gehl currently is the only other runner I am aware of that has run both. It would be interesting hearing different runners perspective. I didn’t have my Garmin GPS turned on, so I am not sure about elevation. It turned out through race results that each loop in 2023 ended up being 27.5 kilometers. I actually ran a 55k. And those hardy runners who ran 3 loops ran a 50 miler. There were some amazing runners on the course in 2023. When I compare the winning male and female times for the 50k in 2007 to 2016 to the winning male and female times in the 55k in 2023, every single year from 2007-2016 had lower winning finishing times. No disrespect at all to the 2023 winners. Could the 2023 Creemore Vertical Challenge have been tougher? Did the extra distance make that big a difference? Or did adverse weather conditions play a bigger factor this year? It would be so interesting to have elite endurance athlete Calum Neff return. Calum set a new course record in 2015 for the 50k in an astonishing time of 3:24:52. What would be his time on the new course? In the 75k, the course record of 6:34:03 still stands from 2015. In the female 50 miler in 2023, not only did Molly Hurford break the old record female time by 47 minutes with a time of 8:04:12, she also beat out 2nd place (the winning male) this year on the 50 mile by an astounding 37 minutes. On the course, she went by me on a dicey technical section, and was so fast and nimble. While encouraging me that I was doing great when she went by. In Ultrarunning Magazine, Molly has 8 ultras listed, and she has won 4 of them as overall winner. Including a 100 miler. An additional race she was the 1st female finisher. Here is her website. An incredible local athlete to keep an eye out for. It will really interesting to see comparable times from all runners in coming years of Creemore Vertical Challenge.

A big thank you to all the volunteers who braved it out in very cold conditions. Thank you for standing for hours at marshal stations, feeding, watering and giving encouragement to the runners. Thank you to the landowners who allowed us runners to run on your properties. Thank you Graeme Kennedy Photography for such great race photos. Thank you for your generous permission for me to make use of many of them in this article. These photo have the N89 Trail Series watermark on the bottom right corner. Lastly, thank you Kathy Webber for her stellar race director leadership. It was easy to tell she put in a ton of hours to make this race a huge success. It entails extremely long days and I’m sure an enormous amounts of stress. I really encourage all you runners and ultrarunners to support these grass root races such as those that Kathy directs in N89 with your involvement and volunteering. This year for the 1st time in my life I was on a committee that organized a race. It was a 10k race for the Monarch Ultra. I had no idea there was so much work, details and red tape involved. There was like 10 people on the committee. With myself living a quite a distance from the race, I felt I did the least amount of work. Sadly, these grass root type races are under threat of being trampled under by the big, corporate players.

Being…I’m not too sure. But it sure does look serious! Graeme Kennedy Photography.

The face of ultrarunning is changing. Sadly not for the better. Like many wonderful entities that have been gobbled up by big corporate, big corporate wants a bigger piece of the action of the trail and ultrarunning world. If they get their way this would become a monopoly. It is called the commercialization (or Ironmanization) of trail and ultrarunning. In May 2021 the international triathlon megabrand Ironman partnered with UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc), purportedly “the most popular and prestigious series of trail ultramarathons in the world”. Now called Ironman Group, a company worth $750 million and run by investors whose bottom line goal is to make the most profit. There are currently 35 UTMB world races. Each year that number is growing.

The UTMB “main premier event” is in the Alps in late August or early September and comprises of 7 different races with a total of 10,000 runners. I had qualified in 2018 for CCC (Courmayer-Champex-Chamonix), which is the last 62 miles of the main 107 mile UTMB. The qualifications came from a North Face 50k, North Face 50 miler and a 150k stage race called Bad Beaver Ultra. These races pay UTMB to be a qualifying race, resulting in a higher registration fee. Even though I qualified, I didn’t bother registering for the CCC lottery as I’m definitely not going to fly 6,500 kilometers to France just to run a race. The environmental impact is just too great.

The two North Face races were local, so I wasn’t running these races to qualify for UTMB. Still they were tough races for any runners trying to get points. However, runners are now able to get twice as many points (now called running stones) by running in any one of the 35 UTMB World Series Races. Despite much higher entry fees, runners will fly all over the world to run them, at an enormous environmental cost. Just to collect more running stones. Yes, it would be fun seeing new places and racing in exotic and adventurous locations. But flying to such events in a Climate Emergency is only going to heat up our fragile planet that much more. While continuing to pad the pockets of corporations operating in this planets capitalist economic growth system. We desperately need to ensure a livable planet for our kids and grandkids. The United Nations Environment Program introduces its Climate Emergency report with these words, “The science is clear. The world is in a state of climate emergency, and we need to shift into emergency gear. Humanity’s burning of fossil fuels has emitted enough greenhouse gases (GHGs) to significantly alter the composition of the atmosphere and average world temperature has risen between 1.1 and 1.2°C.

The face of trail and ultrarunning is changing. It is my hope that despite all the glitz and glamour of those corporate for profit races, both elite and ordinary runners like myself will still be drawn to those local, authentic, old school, grass root races like Creemore Vertical Challenge. And that these races will not only survive. But thrive, This is where my heart and soul is. Lower entry fees. Each race authentic in nature. Welcoming to newcomers to the sport. A spirit of community. Respecting the trails, public lands and wildlife. A much lower carbon footprint. Giving back to the environment. Giving back to the local community. See you on the trails.