You won’t believe the name of this upcoming trail race! (2 photos)

With an unusual name for a running competition, the first annual No Hassholes Trail Race will be held Sunday, Sept. 2, 190 kms north of the Sault and 30 kms south of Wawa.

Now before we go any further, where did the term ‘No Hassholes’ come about?

Dave Forbes, race director, has a heavy French Canadian accent, and when uttering the word ‘hassle,’ sounds like he’s saying ‘hasshole,’ explained Matt Trudeau, Wawa resident and event spokesperson, speaking to SooToday.

“We’re trying to leave our hassles behind (and enjoy nature),” Trudeau said.

The race begins and ends at Lake Superior Provincial Park, with high elevation and hilltop vistas along the way.

Runners can register for a 10, 20 or 30 km race (registration fees are $65 for 10 kms, $75 for 20 kms or $85 for 30 kms).

There will be a main aid station at the Rabbit Blanket campsite with electricity and showers available, with another remote aid station at Foam Lake with water and first aid only.

“People are welcome to hike it, but it is a run, and it is a race, but we are welcoming people to come out and hike it. It might be an introduction for a few people to the trail,” Trudeau said.

“It is a steep one, there are a few good hills.”

Not only will it be a steep run, but an extremely rugged one, Trudeau said.  

“This is not a groomed trail...by no means are you walking the boardwalk on the river.”

“This is very much a single track hiking trail, sections of it are going to be quite steep going up and down, and you can’t go 10 feet without meeting a tree root (along with boulders and marsh). For those who are looking for the more rugged trail running experience, this would be your event.”

Trudeau said those extra tough souls who would prefer a 50 km run will feel like they’ve run that far in the No Hassholes Trail Race after 30 kms.

Nevertheless, “there is talk of going bigger for the future, trying to get the southern Ontario contingent up here,” Trudeau said.

“The organizers are endurance runners from Wawa and area who travel to southern Ontario and take part in these events, but Dave Forbes, the race director, it’s his dream, and so with the cooperation of Lake Superior Provincial Park we were able to put this together. It’s a coming together of a group of runners, putting together our own event a little closer to home,” Trudeau said.

As of Monday, over 20 runners, including some from the Sault and southern Ontario, had registered for the event.

“There are no real age restrictions (too young or too old) but you should be self sufficient out there, in shape, and need to know you’re going to be able to finish this,” Trudeau said.

Registration deadline is 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1.

Race start time is 9 a.m. Sunday.

Photo I.D. is required when showing up for the race.

The race is hiker friendly but there is a cut off time of eight hours, states the event’s website.

A catered dinner by Wawa area chef Judy Page will be served at the end of the race, along with beer and prizes available, such as work by carver Shane (Spike) Mills, who is well-known in the Wawa region.

Registration fees go toward the caterer and insurance costs.

For more information, including the route, contact information and how to register online, go to the event’s website

You may also visit the No Hassholes Trail Race Facebook page.