It’s almost time to lace up for this year’s Pure Grit race which will be held on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. Previous participants will notice that this is a few weeks earlier than last year, but race organizers are hoping that the move will provide racers with cooler temperatures and fewer conflicts with end-of-the-school-year activities.
While Pure Grit is part of the Ontario Ultra and Trail Race Series (OUTrace), it’s not only for Ultra runners. The vibe is definitely family-friendly, which is one of the reasons that runners love the event. Local runner Kate Manwell keeps coming back because the race is “well organized” and “there are many distances to choose from for other family members who want to run.”
Siblings Lily and John Shute both won their respective categories in the 2.5 km kids’ race last year. Lily Shute thought it was nice to run with friends and family, while her brother John liked the prize table and almost beating his older sister!
Pure Grit offers six different race distances ranging from 2.5 km to 52.5 km,so there’s something for all ages. There are medals for the top three finishers in each category and additional pottery medals, made by local potter Timothy Smith, for the top three racers in the 30 km and 52.5 km races. All competitors are eligible for some excellent draw prizes donated by local businesses and families. Popular prizes from last year included maple syrup, pottery, running gear, GBN swag, and even some local rhubarb!
Another change that racers will notice this year is to the race course itself. The Sawmill trails are on Grey-Sauble Conservation land, and logging needed to be done last fall resulting in some trail rerouting.
Proceeds from the Pure Grit race go to support Georgian Bay Nordic, a youth cross-country ski race team located at the Sawmill Trails. The team was out in full force last weekend preparing the trails for the race. The event is entirely run by volunteers, both big and small. While many skiers will trade their boots and bindings for running shoes and participate in the event, others will provide aid to the runners on the course. All will be around to help cheer runners to the finish line!
This grass-roots event is fortunate to have many great sponsors like Suntrail Source for Adventure, GM Blue Plan Engineering, the Bruce Ski Club, and Runner’s Den. Asked why she supports the race, Marcie Ashelby, the owner of Suntrail Source for Adventure, said: “I love seeing athletes coming together in pursuit of outdoor recreation on our local trails.” She also values the relationship between the Conservation Authority and the people who use the trails. Runner’s Den owner Scott Greig is also excited to see the return of Pure Grit. “The event offers a fun environment and arduous mix of distances over challenging sandy terrain to support a great cause being the Georgian Bay Nordic ski club.”
Pure Grit is the first race in the OUTrace series, and race organizer Tony Martin loves the “small and big rolling hills.” The terrain is also a draw for many runners. While most of the trails in the area are rocky, the Sawmill trails are very sandy, and runners really love soft sand and spongy pine needles underfoot. The softer surfaces are especially forgiving after 52 km!
Seasoned ultrarunner Ron Irwin, who has run the race every year that it has been offered, also loves the looped course with its “little ups and downs,” but more than that, he appreciates the cause and the people behind it. “Your volunteers and race organizers really make me feel welcome and it's clear that everyone appreciates the participants,” said Irwin about last year’s race.
Just because it is a friendly event, doesn’t mean that there aren’t some serious competitors at the race. In fact, last year’s 15 km women’s winner Rachel Hannah from Port Elgin just set a new course record at the Toledo Glass City marathon, and the 30 km women’s winner Brianna Cavan won the Hamilton Road to Hope marathon last fall.
The earlier date may also coincide with the first trillium blooms of the season! Runners will be in for a treat, as the woodlands around Sawmill are often home to a beautiful display of this iconic Ontario species.
Registration for Pure Grit closes on May 2nd, and runners can sign up through Race Roster or follow the link on the OUTrace webpage. Donations are also accepted online and volunteers can contact organizers if they want to lend a hand. Running Pure Grit won’t be as easy as tip-toeing through the tulips, but we think that treading through trillium trails has a nice ring to it too!
Michelle Lafleur
Pure Grit registrar, [email protected]
