Niagara Popup Series- TRAIL Edition 2021

REGISTRATION LINK

**Heads up that it can take several hours for confirmation of your registration to arrive in your email AND it usually ends up in the junk box!

OVERVIEW:

Well…let’s be realistic, this may not work so let’s start with course #1 and see how the trail version of the popup series goes. Runners/walkers have two weeks to run their fastest time on each course & upload results. If all goes well, we will continue by revealing one course at a time with the routes having different levels of challenge and ranging between 5’ish k and 10’ish k

LOCATIONS:

Niagara Falls, St. Catharines/Pelham, Lincoln

COST:

Free

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE:

Runners, walkers, fast, slow, casual, serious…

DATES:

  • Route #1: Sat. January 9th- Fri. Jan. 22nd

FAQ:

Do I run by myself?

YES. You do these courses by yourself or with friends (practice social distancing please!)

Do I need to register?

YES. The link to the form to register is at the top of this webpage

Do I need to do every route to participate

No. You can pick and choose which weeks/routes you’d like to do

How do I track my time?

All routes are available on the FREE RUNGO app or, alternatively we provide a link to upload your results manually with each route

Maps aren’t my thing. What should I do?

Glad you asked. RUNGO has this AMAZING feature where you can listen to a very nice lady tell you where to turn AS YOU’RE RUNNING. Please download the RUNGO app to use this feature

Can I run a route virtually or on my treadmill?

No. There are plenty of virtual races out there to choose from. This challenge is different

How do I enter my time

If you use the RUNGO app to track your mileage, you can upload directly from the app post-run. Alternatively, each route will have a link to upload results manually

Why is my distance not the same as advertised on a route

Most people’s distance will be slightly off with these routes. Plotting routes on a map will render different readings than in the field and course “measurement” is based on following the fastest line possible, which not everyone does on a course. GPS devices may also render slightly different results, depending on reception. Not to worry, we’re sidelining the big prize money for now given the constraints of this Challenge. For your peace of mind, we do test the RUNGO voice guided feature on the routes

COME HANG OUT WITH US & CHIT CHAT ABOUT YOUR RACE!

QUESTIONS?

people@niagarafallsmarathon.com

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Route #3 – “Morningstar Trail POPUP #5” 6.33k

RESULTS:

Posted ~the Wednesday after the course closes

OPEN: Saturday, March 13th to Friday, March 26th

MANUAL RESULTS ENTRY

https://routes.rungoapp.com/virtual/race/form/YjMMaumkrI

Note: It would be great if you could link to your route when you upload results. If your Strava account is private can you please take a screenshot in case we need to verify your route, you fastie you!

COURSE https://routes.rungoapp.com/route/kOCKBtVcJP

Course Description

Course is flagged on BOTH Saturdays and Sundays it is open. Flags are hanging from trees. Note: 2-3 flags in a row means either a trail crossing or a turn

100% trail, rated 3.5/5 for difficulty. The nasty climb at the end? Pfffttt…you’ve done hard hills so many times already so YOU’VE GOT THIS!

***The voice navigation available on the RUNGO APP is invaluable in finding your way**

TAKING A PAGE FROM THE BARKLEY

No book this route!

LEADERBOARD

https://routes.rungoapp.com/virtual/race/leaderboard/YjMMaumkrI

START/FINISH & PARKING

Morningstar Mill

Free parking at the trailhead start/finish

Start/Finish is between the two bollards with “no parking” written on them, right in the parking lot. Head out, keeping the mill on your left. Just past the fence you will be going LEFT, following the gorge

Route #3 – “Queenston Heights Trail POPUP #4” 8.92k

RESULTS:

https://niagarafallsmarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/trailpopupresults-queenston-route4.pdf

OPEN: Saturday, February 20th to Friday, March 5th

MANUAL RESULTS ENTRY

https://routes.rungoapp.com/virtual/race/form/FxVzvBB15N

Note: It would be great if you could link to your route when you upload results. If your Strava account is private can you please take a screenshot in case we need to verify your route, you fastie you!

COURSE https://routes.rungoapp.com/route/4UwLSsPtdJ

Course Description

Course is flagged on BOTH Saturdays and Sundays it is open. Flags are hanging from trees. Note: 2-3 flags in a row means either a trail crossing or a turn

97.5 trails, 2.5% road, rated 3.5/5 for difficulty. And you thought Brock’s Hydro Hill was nasty…

***The voice navigation available on the RUNGO APP is invaluable in finding your way**

TAKING A PAGE FROM THE BARKLEY

A book of some sort is placed en route. Please feel free to rip a page, take a selfie & share on our FB page. Details of “where” are provided to registrants

LEADERBOARD

https://routes.rungoapp.com/virtual/race/leaderboard/FxVzvBB15N

START/FINISH & PARKING

Queenston Heights, Far west parking lot

Free parking at the trailhead start/finish

START/FINISH

From the western most point of the parking lot, follow the road around to the little white utility shed near the edge of the escarpment. You will be heading toward the river. Start and finish is in line with the west edge of the building. This is the side closest to St. Catharines

SELFIE IT! (Using the RunGo app) And share on our FB page…

Forthcoming

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Route #3 – “Brock Trail POPUP #3” 7.81k

RESULTS:

https://niagarafallsmarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/trailpopupresults-brock-route3.pdf

OPEN: Saturday, February 6th to Friday, February 18th

MANUAL RESULTS ENTRY https://routes.rungoapp.com/virtual/race/form/g9waS82edZ

Note: You MUST link to gps results or upload direct from RUNGO for your results to qualify. You CAN link to a friend’s gps results IF that friend tags you (e.g. on Strava) or you post photos on our Facebook showing you ran together

COURSE https://routes.rungoapp.com/route/4DpJlJkFgK

Course Description

Course is flagged on BOTH Saturdays and Sundays it is open. Flags are hanging from trees. Note: 2-3 flags in a row means either a trail crossing or a turn

97.5 trails, 2.5% dirt road, rated 3.5/5 for difficulty

***The voice navigation available on the RUNGO APP is invaluable in finding your way**

TAKING A PAGE FROM THE BARKLEY

A book of some sort is hidden en route. Please feel free to rip a page, take a selfie & share on our FB page. Details of “where” are provided to registrants

LEADERBOARD

https://routes.rungoapp.com/virtual/race/leaderboard/g9waS82edZ

LOCATION/PARKING

Decew Ruins parking lot

Free parking at the trailhead start/finish

START/FINISH

Start and finish at the CORNER wood post at the start of the parking lot

SELFIE IT! (Using the RunGo app) And share on our FB page…

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Route #2 – “Shorthills Trail POPUP #2” 8.22k

RESULTS:

https://niagarafallsmarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/trailpopupresults-shorthills-route2.pdf

OPEN: Saturday, January 23rd to Friday, February 5th. Note that Shorthills is CLOSED on Wednesday, January 27th

MANUAL RESULTS ENTRY https://routes.rungoapp.com/virtual/race/form/QWgnn81g6i

COURSE https://routes.rungoapp.com/route/qBjhx3x8rS

Course Description

Course is flagged on BOTH Saturdays and Sundays it is open. Flags are orange, staked into ground

100% trails, very hilly, rated 4/5 for difficulty

***The voice navigation available on the RUNGO APP is invaluable in finding your way**

TAKING A PAGE FROM THE BARKLEY

A book of some sort is hidden en route. Please feel free to rip a page, take a selfie & share on our FB page. Details of “where” are provided to registrants

LEADERBOARD

https://routes.rungoapp.com/virtual/race/leaderboard/QWgnn81g6i

LOCATION/PARKING

Wiley Road Entrance – Shorthills Provincial Park

Free parking at the trailhead start/finish

START/FINISH

Start in line with this sign. You will be running back down the road you drove up & heading into the trails on your left ~100m from the sign:

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Route #1 – “Fireman’s Park, West to East” 6.25k

RESULTS:

https://niagarafallsmarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/trailpopupresults-firemans-route1.pdf

OPEN: Saturday, January 9th to Friday, January 22nd

MANUAL RESULTS ENTRY https://routes.rungoapp.com/virtual/race/form/B8FRuX6MSO

COURSE https://routes.rungoapp.com/route/Xr0xOs4wvP

Course Description

***UNLESS YOU ARE A DIEHARD NAVIGATOR, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY FOLLOW RUNGO’S VOICE NAVIGATION FOR THESE ROUTES***

This first route is part trail/part road

Starting at the trail across the road from the LOWER parking lot of Fireman’s Park, just below the train tracks, head east out to St. Paul Ave. Go left on St. Paul, crossing the road when safe. Run/walk under the overpass, crossing Niagara Town Line & head onto the dirt path/roadway on your right. Near the end of the path turn left onto the Bruce Trail (slight decline onto path & marked by white paint on the trees). Follow as the trail gradually meanders up the escarpment. You’ll be running/walking flat trail for a bit before encountering the switchbacks, ascend CAREFULLY! Go RIGHT at the top & head toward the houses. Just before the houses/fence skirt down the small embankment that takes you to the road. This is Melrose Dr., which you will follow out to the T-intersection. Turn RIGHT & follow to the end. Turn left back onto St. Paul Ave. & follow the same route back to the start/finish

LEADERBOARD

https://routes.rungoapp.com/virtual/race/leaderboard/B8FRuX6MSO

LOCATION/PARKING

Fireman’s Park

Park on Dorchester, near/at the dead end in the road & walk back up to the start

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SEE RESULTS ETC. FROM 2020 ROAD POPUP SERIES