Rugged runners take on Lake Superior Provincial Park (4 photos)

As reported earlier by SooToday, the first annual No Hassholes Trail Race was scheduled to be held Sunday, Sept. 2, 190 kms north of the Sault and 30 kms south of Wawa.

32 runners, including some from the Sault and southern Ontario, ran the rugged trail in 10, 20 and 30 kilometre distances.

Matt Trudeau was on the trail to snap photos and voice words of encouragement to runners along the way, and sent SooToday photos and a written recollection of the race.

“At 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning and under questionable skies, six participants set out on 20 and 30 kilometre treks. 30 minutes later, 24 more participants would venture out through the Rabbit Blanket camp ground of Lake Superior Provincial Park. The inaugural No Hassholes Left Behind Trail Race was underway,” Trudeau wrote.

“On race day I got up as I normally would, fired up the stove and got the coffee on. Priorities. Everyone had the same question in greeting one another, ‘What’s the weather look like?’ With cameras, lenses, a couple of speed lights and remotes, I set off up the trail 30 minutes before the 20 and 30 km runners. I didn’t have to wait long before Emily Kinnumen and Heather Musgrove emerged from the sheltered forest below. With smiles and a sense of confidence these two made their way past.”

“At this point on the course, runners are coming up through the fog on the hill side. This is just the first hill. It’s also wet. Its overcast, foggy and under the canopy of the old growth maples, you can be straining to see the trail in front of you. The rest of the field was only a few minutes behind. A few words of encouragement to them and they disappeared over the rounding horizon. A bit of a wait and the first of the 10 km runners would make their way through. The message is ‘the hill hurts,’” Trudeau wrote.

Trudeau recalled, at the end of the race, “I waited for one more runner to come off the hill, cheered her on from my vantage point to let her know I was on the trail and snapped the last runner. It was Heather (Musgrove, overall 30 km winner). Third and final lap.”

“As she passed a few words of encouragement were given and I ran in the opposite direction to retrieve my speedlight. I quickly packed up the bag and took off in chase with the confidence that I could run the trail and shortcut the course through the campground catching her at the finish line with a final shot...with camera in hand and pack bouncing around, I was still confident that I had the time to get there before our lone 30 km participant. I knew I was wrong when I heard the cheers and whistles of a supportive crowd. With a quick congratulation and an apology for not getting the shot Heather offered to re-run the finish.”

“With a quick award presentation consisting of hand carved works by local artist Spike Mills, and draw prizes by many sponsors, we rolled out the serving tables and broke bread. The meal can be summed up as the best post meal ever,” Trudeau wrote.

Best times in each category included: