CAMBRIDGE, Ontario — Who says you have to travel far to run a trail race?

Every year runners from all over Ontario come to Cambridge specifically to run the Conquer the Canuck trail race. The race is organized locally by co-directors Marjolein Wijbenga-Groot (Hespeler) and Tony Martin (Nova Scotia), with trail technician Mark Emery (Galt) and volunteer coordinator Maria Michel (Clyde). It is known for its ultra distances of 50 km and the 12-hour long race, but it also brings 12.5km, 25 km and 42.2 km races.

Conquer the Canuck is held in the beautiful Shade’s Mill Conservation Area, a real hidden gem in Cambridge. The trails provide a 6.25km loop in the hardwood forest and switch between grass trails, pine alleys, rocky roads, and gravel sections.

The park is open to the public on race day, May 13th, 2023. While regular visitors enjoy the natural playground, beach or trails, runners run their race cheered on by family and friends.

In addition to being a great event for the runners, it will also be a big win for the local community. This year, the Conquer the Canuck team is fundraising to support KidsAbility, a centre that helps children with different needs.

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