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travel / adventure zone
| The Adventure Zone |
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The tender leaves of summer are not quite out on Cape
Breton Island, by the last weekend in May, and the Gulf
of St. Lawrence pack ice is still a recent memory, but
athletes from across the continent are already pumped
for the annual Cabot Trail Relay Race (CTRR).
Founded in 1988 by a group of Halifax and Baddeck runners,
the race stretches the looping 298-kilometre length
of the spectacularly scenic Cabot Trail. From its inaugural
six 17-member teams, the CTRR has grown to all-time
high of 65 teams in 2004, making it the largest and
most popular running event in eastern Canada.
It's not surprising that the CTRR attracts runners
from near and far, given the area's legendary landscape,
once described by Alexander Bell as more beautiful than
the Rockies, the Andes, the Alps and the Highlands of
Scotland. The race, which takes a little more than 24
hours to complete, begins at the Gaelic College monument
at the trailhead. It traverses a mix of rolling terrain,
steep grades and flat patches around the island's northern
tip, through picturesque communities and past awe-inspiring
views. The organizers keep the CTRR competitive by dividing
it into 17 legs, or stages, each of which has a predetermined
start time. The overall winner is the team with the
lowest total time for all 17 legs.
The CTRR is a popular local event, and when anchor
runners cross the finish line at the Baddeck Court House
on Sunday morning, they're greeted by the welcoming
cheers thousand-plus runners and residents. Organizers
give back to their community by distributing a portion
of race proceeds as small athletic bursaries to four
schools along the route.
For racers and well-wishers alike, the CTRR is a refreshing
glimpse of Cape Breton in spring.
For more information on the Cabot Trail Relay Race,
visit www.cabottrailrelay.com
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