Suffer on Centennial!

 Date: Saturday June 25, 2022

 Distance: 33ish km, 450m of elevation gain. 

 Location: Whiteshell Provincial Park 160km east of Winnipeg- Treaty No. 3 Land

Classic Canadian Shield running on 100% single-track trails. Expect 33ish km with 450m of elevation gain over a combination of technical, rooty and wet boreal forest, exposed granite ridge-lines, some short punchy climbs and the iconic red bridge at Hansons Creek!  

Centennial Trail was conceived by Vern "Skink" Dutton in the 1970's with further work done by the Scouts and Girl Guides to celebrate Manitoba's 100th anniversary. The route is now part of the Trans Canada Trail and travels from its start at McGillivray Falls to Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary in Rennie.   Over the last few years a lot of work has been put in to reclaim the trail with the help of some amazing Stewards of the trail including the Manitoba Association of Trail Runners!

2022 is our first year hosting an event on this amazing trail, with the event selling out within four hours of registration opening, thanks so much for the support!

Registration - SOLD OUT FOR 2022 

Entry Fee: $110.00 plus tax and service fee

  Whats included:

   -Over 33km of AMAZING single track running!        

   -Custom finisher medals from Aravaipa Artworx

   -Custom Suffer on Centennial technical running shirt

   -Suffer on Centennial decal

   -Trophies made by Aravaipa Artworx for top 3 Male and Female finishers

   -Donation made to fund signage on Centennial

   -Stocked Aid Stations

   -Collect Ut of MB points

   -Updated Ultrasignup rankings

   -Collect UTMB index points

The event is currently SOLD OUT for 2022 with a waitlist activated.  If you want to get onto the waitlist click the link below!

The following outline is for general information only,  it is not intended to be a navigational guide.   Anyone that uses it as such, does so at their own risk.  The course will be marked with a combination of marking tape, cairns, permanent trail signs, and coroplast signs for race day.  There is also very minimal cell service on trail.

The start is located at the McGillivray Falls parking lot, north of West Hawk Lake off of PTH 44, in Whiteshell Provincial Park.  The trail starts towards McGillivray Falls, crossing the metal bridge close to the parking lot and quickly taking a right up McGillivray Trail (Blue Highway).  After a short climb, the trail continues northwest following the blue CENTENNIAL TRAIL signs, and marker cairns.  The first intersection you will encounter is at roughly 8.5km in,  which you will turn towards Hansons Creek (hard left), continuing straight will take you to PTH 44 at Bear Lake. Aid Station 1 will be at Hansons Creek which is roughly 500m past the intersection where you will see gorgeous views of the creek and the iconic red bridge! 

You continue down Centennial and will pass both the Telford Pond (just over 4km from Bear Lake Junction) And Telford Trail (1.5km passed Telford Pond) access points to PTH 44.  If you end up at the highway, you took the wrong turn!  From Aid Station 1 at Bear Lake Junction to Aid Station 2 is just over 10km, or roughly 18.5km from the start.   

You continue along the trail for just over another 14.5km until you reach the finish area at the Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary parking lot, in Rennie where you will hear cheers from the finish line!  On the way you will cross Rock Ridge and HWY 307 access points.

INTERSECTIONS AND ACCESS POINTS PTH 44

9km - Aid Station 1 and Hanson's Creek 3.5km to 44

12.5km - Telford Pond 3km to highway

14km - Telford Tower 3.5km to highway

18.5km - Aid Station 2 and Powerline Access 1.5km to 44

27.5km - Rock Ridge 300m to highway

30.5km - 307 Access 200m to highway

33ishkm - FINISH! Alfred Hole Parking Lot

Suffer on Centennial 2022 Route

GPX:  https://www.strava.com/routes/2974332609631838384/export_gpx

Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/2974332609631838384

Trailhead: https://goo.gl/maps/bjs6RxEbfMzwi9Yb7

Package Pickup:

  -Race Day at Rennie Community Club 0630-0745

Start: McGillivray Falls Parking Lot at 0900

Pre-race Briefing: Mandatory 0855 at start-line

Finish: Alfred Hole Parking Lot

Parking: We have available parking at Alfred Hole, and the Rennie Community Club which is 300m from the finish at Alfred Hole.  Shuttle pickup will be from Rennie Community Club.     Very limited parking is available at McGillivray Falls start line for volunteers and spectators. We HIGHLY recommend car pooling to maximize the available parking.  All participants must pickup their bibs at Rennie Community Club.

Shuttle:  Pickup is at the Rennie Community Club near the finish.  The shuttle will be making two trips:

-0700 which will arrive at McGillivray Falls by 0730

-0800 which will arrive at McGillivray Falls by 0830

 Emails have been sent out to select your shuttle time, 45 people per shuttle. Reserve your spot ASAP! You can bring a bag with you on the bus to the start-line and we will drive them back to the finish for you for pickup. 

Aid Stations:  Things will be fairly basic as all aid must be hauled in but will include water and electrolyte drinks,  gels, fruit, nuts etc.  If you have specific nutritional requirements we recommend you carry those items in your running pack.

AS #1 Hanson's Creek -  9km with cutoff of 1.75 hours

AS #2 Powerline - 18.5km with a cutoff of 4 hours

The total cutoff for the course will be 8 hours. We will not be allowing drop bags, pacers, crew or pets on course! We DO encourage spectators to come out and cheer participants on though! Poles are ok, but not likely of much advantage on this course if using poles, please be careful of other participants!

Mandatory Gear: - Hydration - every runner must carry AT LEAST 1 liter of fluid on course be it in a vest,  hydration pack or handheld bottles, and come to the event with your fluids FILLED.  If the temperatures are high we recommend 2 liters as it is almost 15km from the second aid station to finish with essentially no natural water sources. If it is a hot day 2 liters may be mandatory so be prepared for that to change close to race day!

      -Nutrition - plan adequate nutrition for the race, aid stations are there for fluids and to     assist you along the way but should not be solely relied on.

      -This gear may change depending on forecast conditions. 

Other Recommended Gear:

  -Hat/Sunglasses

  -Sunscreen

  -Bug spray

  -Electrolyte Tables (such as salt sticks)

  -Anti-chafe cream (body glide, nut butter, etc.) 

  -Phone (although VERY limited cell coverage)

  -GPS tracker such as SPOT, InReach

  (these can be rented locally at Wilderness Supply)

  -Whistle

  -Small First Aid kit

Washrooms: There are basic pit toilets located at both the start and finish areas and a washroom at Rennie Community Club, otherwise there are no facilities along the route.  Please plan accordingly!  

Leave No Trace/Trail Etiquette: This is simple enough, pack out what you pack in! Anyone found to be littering on course will be disqualified and banned from further Trails of 'Toba events.  Although this is an individual race, please work as a team on the trails.  If you see someone in distress, please offer assistance if possible.  Be it staying with the participant until help arrives or taking note of their location and reporting it to the next aid station so appropriate support can be dispatched. 

Withdrawing from Race: If you decide to withdraw during the race, you must do so AT AN AID STATION and inform staff/volunteers that you have pulled out.  This is extremely important so we have accurate participant counts, and don't contact search and rescue for a missing person. 

Please remember, while you can cheer your friends on you are not allowed to provide any other form of support or supplies, as this risks their disqualification. 

Hansons Creek: We highly recommend this just over 7km out and back hike to the beautiful red bridge over Hansons Creek, which is one of the most spectacular hikes in the Province.  It is moderately difficult and an amazing location to cheer on you friends and family as they take on the Centennial Trail!  Pack some water, snacks and camera and get ready to cheer!  Parking is available at Bear Lake parking lot, click "Hansons Creek Route" button below for parking location and navigation via AllTrails.  The runners will be approximately 9km into their race at this point, so you should have plenty of time to hike back and meet them at the finish-line.  If you have a pet, they must be on leash at all times and kept at least 30m away from the aid station. 

Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary: This is located at the same area as the finish-line.  There is a great little trail to hike,  and the visitor center is typically open from 10am-3pm with June being one of the best times to visit! A little something to pass the time while waiting to cheer at the finish.  See link below for details!

https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/parks/education-and-interpretation/alfredhole.html

There are plenty of options close to the race venue, be it looking for cabins and camping to grabbing some grub pre or post race!  Below is a link to Explore the Whiteshell which is an excellent resource to help plan your race weekend!

These folks are the reason we can make events like Suffer on Centennial happen!  Their hard work and willingness to help out are the only reason we can exist.  Remember, if there are any issues they are to be taken up event staff at the start or finish and NOT the volunteers.  Please remember though, our volunteers DO have the right to remove participants from the course if they do not meet cutoff times or they feel the participant is not fit to continue.  

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, we do offer 25% off of registration to our events.  Click link below if you want to take part in our volunteer team!