Runners battled their way through the forest and field course set out at the Brauwerk Hoffman Brewery on Saturday as part of a fundraiser trail run organized in support of the Campbell’s Bay-Litchfield Fire Department.
The event saw 26 racers of all ages complete 5 km, 10 km, or 1 km trail runs.
Runners navigated a course of bush, fields, and water. Those in the 10 km race completed two full loops of the 5 km route that led them through a creek crossing where, for many, the water came up above the waist.
Some even encountered two people dressed in dinosaur costumes, hiding along the trail.
Mary Thompson, winner of the women’s 10 km with a time of 53:12, said she’s run the course a few times before and always enjoys it, even if she took the creek portions “pretty slow.” Thompson noted that she, along with some other runners, returned this year because of their connection to one of the organizers, Paul Shea, and the running group Natural Fitness Lab out of Gatineau.
Nathan Aligizakis won the men’s division of the 10 km race with a time of 51:44. Liza Rozina won the women’s 5 km race with a time of 27:45, while Emerie Strang took first place in the men’s 5 km with a time of 32:55. All winners were given sticky buns from the Pontiac Home Bakery.
The 1 km children’s race was affectionately called the Popsicle Race, named after the frozen treats given to kids at the finish line, this year donated by Croghan’s Grocery in Campbell’s Bay.
“We’ve been blessed with a ton of people who’ve supported our race and helped out,” said Stephanie Hébert Shea, a volunteer firefighter with the department and one of the organizers of Saturday’s event.
The organizing committee also included Paul Shea, Martin Shea, Natanya Dubeau, and Vince Belland. With the support of additional volunteers, they were able to offer a barbeque, official time keeping for the races, and have people along the trail to act as check points and others to offer some comedic relief along the trail.
“We tend to call this the ‘foodie race,’” Hébert Shea added, pointing to giveaways like boxes of barbecue meats, honey, and baked goods as evidence of this unofficial theme.
In keeping with that theme, every runner received a free hamburger, with the meat sourced from Bowers Freshmart in Fort Coulonge and buns from the Pontiac Home Bakery.
“We felt it was important to make sure the event was as locally sourced as possible,” Hébert Shea said.
Profits from the race and supporting barbeque and raffle prizes will be put towards buying lifesaving equipment for the fire department.
